---
title: "A positive point charge \\(+q\\) is located a distance \\(r\\) from a fixed negative point charge \\(-Q\\). The zero of electric potential energy is defined at infinite separation. Which of the following best describes the graph of the electric potential energy \\(U\\) of the two-charge system as a function of the separation distance \\(r\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118045/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:04:52+00:00"
---

# A positive point charge \(+q\) is located a distance \(r\) from a fixed negative point charge \(-Q\). The zero of electric potential energy is defined at infinite separation. Which of the following best describes the graph of the electric potential energy \(U\) of the two-charge system as a function of the separation distance \(r\)?

A positive point charge \(+q\) is located a distance \(r\) from a fixed negative point charge \(-Q\). The zero of electric potential energy is defined at infinite separation. Which of the following best describes the graph of the electric potential energy \(U\) of the two-charge system as a function of the separation distance \(r\)?

- **A.** The graph lies entirely in the first quadrant, decreasing monotonically toward zero as \(r\) increases, with a concave-up shape.
- **B.** The graph lies entirely in the first quadrant, increasing monotonically toward zero as \(r\) increases, with a concave-down shape.
- **C.** The graph lies entirely in the fourth quadrant, increasing monotonically toward zero as \(r\) increases, with a concave-down shape.
- **D.** The graph lies entirely in the fourth quadrant, decreasing monotonically toward negative infinity as \(r\) increases, with a concave-up shape.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118045/*