Did I Calculate Electric Potential Energy Correctly?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the electric potential energy between two point charges, A nC and -B nC, separated by D meters. The user applied the formulas for electric potential difference and energy, concluding that the total potential energy is negative due to the negative charge. There was uncertainty about whether gravitational potential energy should also be considered in the calculation. However, the problem was later canceled by the professor due to a grading error, leaving the user feeling validated in their approach. The focus remains on the correctness of the electric potential energy calculation despite the cancellation of the problem.
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I did all I can, and I'm stressed out over this. Thus, here I am. :(

Here's the question (I substitute the numbers with alphabet letters):

>Two point charges of magnitude of A nC and -B nC are separated by D m distance.
>The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2. The Coulomb constant, k, is 9x10^9 N*m^2/C^2.
>What is the potential energy of the PAIR of charges? Answer in units of J.

So, what I did was find the potential difference, V, between the 2 charges, q1 and q2, at their respective points which has the distance of D using the equation:

V1 = (k*q1)/D
V2 = (k*q2)/D

Then find the electric potential energy(EPE) for each charge with the equation:

EPE1 = V1 * q2
EPE2 = V2 * q1

*(EPE1 and EPE2 are basically the same number)

And the total potential energy of the 2 charges is:

EPE(net) = EPE1 + EPE2

Answer is negative because q2 is -B which has negative value x 10^-9

If anyone spot any error or have any idea of what I did wrong, please do tell. Perhaps, I missed a step of taking acceleration of gravity into account somewhere? Thanks.
 
Last edited:
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You have calculated the electrical potential energy, but what about gravitational potential energy?
 
I've just now received an email from my professor that this problem was canceled due to computer grading error. I believe what I did as correct though. Thanks for all the help :)
 
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