The potential energy of a 3.5 pC charge separated by 6.2 cm from a 1.6 μC charge is

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential energy (U) between two charges can be calculated using the formula $U = \frac{k \cdot q_1 \cdot q_2}{r}$, where $k$ is Coulomb's constant ($8.987 \times 10^9 \, \text{Nm}^2/\text{C}^2$), $q_1$ and $q_2$ are the charges, and $r$ is the separation distance in meters. Converting charges to Coulombs (3.5 pC = $3.5 \times 10^{-12}$ C and 1.6 μC = $1.6 \times 10^{-6}$ C) and distance to meters (6.2 cm = 0.062 m), and substituting these values into the formula gives a potential energy of approximately $8.1 \times 10^{-7}$ Joules.

The Potential Energy of a 3