A hydrogen atom consists of an electron (with negative charge) orbiting a proton (with positive charge). With the conventional definition of the reference position for electrostatic potential energy, the electrostatic potential energy for this system

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The electrostatic potential energy in a hydrogen atom is negative because the electron and proton attract each other due to opposite charges, and the reference position for potential energy is typically taken at infinite separation where the potential energy is defined as zero.

A Hydrogen Atom Consists of an Electron (With Negative Charge)