Question

two objects attract each other through a field. the objects are held at rest some distance apart.
complete the statements.

• moving the objects farther apart will the potential energy stored in the system.
• moving the objects closer together w the potential energy stored in the system.

options: increase, decrease, not affect

Explanation:

For the first statement (Moving the objects farther apart...):

When two objects attract each other (like gravitational or electrostatic attraction for opposite charges), to move them farther apart, we have to do work against the attractive force. Work done on the system increases its potential energy. So moving them farther apart (against the attractive force) will increase the potential energy.

For the second statement (Moving the objects closer together...):

When moving the objects closer together (in the direction of the attractive force), the attractive force does work on the objects. This means the system is losing potential energy (since work is done by the system's internal force, reducing the stored potential energy). So moving them closer together will decrease the potential energy.

Answer:

s:

• Moving the objects farther apart will $\boldsymbol{\text{increase}}$ the potential energy stored in the system.
• Moving the objects closer together will $\boldsymbol{\text{decrease}}$ the potential energy stored in the system.