Why Do Electrons Further Away from the Nucleus Have More Energy?

[henry3369]

Why do electrons further away from the nucleus have more energy? When my book mentions energy in different orbitals, is it talking about potential energy? If it is, I'm confused because potential energy is inversely related to distance, so if distance increases, the potential energy decreases.

 

[Borek]

potential energy is inversely related to distance,

That depends on the charges involved and whether they repel or attract. Try to think in terms of work done to change the distance between charges. How does the work done change the potential energy of the system?