Finding electrostatic potential energy

[chiddler]

Homework Statement

Homework Equations

PE = -Fdcos(theta)
PE = -(qE)dcos(theta)
PE= -pdcos(theta) or PE = - pd since all the angles here are nice.
where p is dipole

The Attempt at a Solution

:(

beyond trying to find what looks like the answer, I'm not sure

many thanks!

 

[tiny-tim]

hi chiddler!

hint: which ones do you think would feel most "springy" if you tried to push them together?

 

[chiddler]

hi chiddler!

hint: which ones do you think would feel most "springy" if you tried to push them together?

hey and thanks for the response!

that's a nice way to put it. C is clearly the most springy.

Now I'm trying to translate this concept to generating electrostatic potential energy. The reason there exists this potential energy, besides the obvious repulsion, is that negative charges spontaneously move up in potential. So...the potential at the negative charge can be considered most negative and to move up is to move away.

and two adjacent charges produce more potential than one.

well that was easy...