A hydrogen atom consists of a proton and an electron.If the orbital radius of the electron increases,the electric potential energy of the electron due to the proton

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electric potential energy of an electron in the field of a proton is given by $U = -\frac{k e^2}{r}$, where $k$ is Coulomb's constant, $e$ is the charge of the electron (or proton, since they are equal in magnitude), and $r$ is the distance between the electron and the proton. As the orbital radius $r$ increases, the magnitude of $U$ decreases (since $U$ is negative, this means $U$ becomes less negative), which corresponds to an increase in the electric potential energy.

A Hydrogen Atom Consists of a Proton and an Electron