Answer to Question #1447 in Electricity and Magnetism for Nick

Question

If a small positive charge is brought near a large positively charged conductor, what happens to its electrical potential energy?
a. because the charges are the same the energy is reduced
b. because they repel, its potential energy will increase
c. because the charges are the same. the energy will not be changed
d. there is not enough information provided to determine

Answer 1

b. because they repel, its potential energy will increase.