A proton consists of 3 quarks, two with charge +2e/3 and one with charge -e/3. Of the following, which is closest to the approximate potential energy of the arrangement of the two positive quarks if they are separated by 10^-15 m?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential energy between two charges is given by Coulomb's law: $ U = \frac{k \cdot q_1 \cdot q_2}{r} $. For two quarks with charge $ +\frac{2e}{3} $, the potential energy is approximately 1 MeV when separated by $ 10^{-15} $ m.

A Proton Consists of 3 Quarks, Two with Charge +2e/3