Question

jamal is playing with magnetic toy vehicles. he has two identical magnetic vehicles (purple and green) on different sides of a center magnet that cannot move. his friend simone challenges him to move one vehicle one space to the left or right in order to get the largest increase in potential energy. that means jamal can move the purple car to point a or point b, or he can move the green car to point c or point d. explain which movement jamal should make (which car and which point), and why that movement will result in the largest increase in potential energy. describe the magnetic force that will act on the vehicle he moves. write here...

Explanation:

Magnetic potential energy increases when like - poles are moved closer (repulsive force) or opposite - poles are moved apart (attractive force). Assume the center magnet has a north - south orientation. If the purple car is on the north side of the center magnet (and has a north - facing pole) and the green car is on the south side (with a south - facing pole). Moving the purple car to point A (closer to the center magnet's north pole, increasing repulsive force and potential energy) or the green car to point D (closer to the center magnet's south pole, increasing repulsive force and potential energy). But if we consider the direction of movement for maximum change, moving the green car to point D (assuming the green car is repelled by the center magnet's south pole and moving it closer against the repulsive force will increase potential energy more than the other options. The magnetic force acting on the green car when moved to point D is a repulsive force (since like poles repel) that resists the motion (as we are moving it against the force to increase potential energy).

Answer:

Jamal should move the green car to point D. The magnetic force acting on the green car is a repulsive force (assuming like - pole orientation between the green car and the center magnet's adjacent pole). Moving it against this repulsive force (to point D) will result in the largest increase in potential energy because potential energy in a magnetic system (for like - pole repulsion) increases as the objects are moved closer against the repulsive force.