Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Coulomb's Law
Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic force between two point charges. It states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is essential for calculating the force acting on the charges as they move closer together.
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Conservation of Energy
The principle of conservation of energy states that the total energy in an isolated system remains constant. In this scenario, the kinetic energy and electric potential energy of the system must be considered. As the spheres move closer, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, affecting the speed of the moving charge.
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Electric Potential Energy
Electric potential energy is the energy a charge possesses due to its position in an electric field. It is calculated using the formula U = k * q1 * q2 / r, where k is Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between them. Understanding this concept is crucial for determining how the potential energy changes as the distance between the charges decreases.
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