Question

An electron moves away from a proton. Describe how the potential it encounters changes. Describe how its potential energy is changing.

Short answer

Answer: As the electron moves away from the proton, the electric potential decreases and the electric potential energy of the system also decreases.

Step-by-step solution

Explain the formula for electric potential

The electric potential between two charges is given by the formula: V = k * Q / r where V is the electric potential, k is the electrostatic constant (approximately 8.99 * 10^9 N m^2 C^-2), Q is the charge (in this case, the charge of a proton), and r is the distance between the charges.

Describe how the electric potential changes when the electron moves away from the proton

As the distance r between the electron and the proton increases, the electric potential V will decrease according to the formula V = k * Q / r. This means that the electron encounters a lower potential as it moves away from the proton.

Explain the formula for electric potential energy

The electric potential energy between two charges is given by the formula: U = k * Q1 * Q2 / r where U is the electric potential energy, Q1 and Q2 are the charges (in this case, the charges of the electron and proton), and r is the distance between the charges.

Describe how the electric potential energy changes when the electron moves away from the proton

As the distance r between the electron and the proton increases, their electric potential energy U will decrease according to the formula U = k * Q1 * Q2 / r. This means that the potential energy of the system is lower as the electron moves away from the proton.