Question

For a pair of like charges, the positive potential energy (U > 0) physically signifies that:

Options

• The charges attract each other and release energy

• The charges are in the reference state

• Work is done against repulsion; energy is stored

• The system is bound; work is required to separate the charges

Answer 1

Positive potential energy for like charges means that during assembly, work is done against their mutual repulsion, and this work is stored in the system as electrostatic potential energy.