Question #21390

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Answer 1 · 2017-02-28T22:37:16

The potential energy of the electron decreases as it comes near to a proton.

We know from physics that the potential energy #U# of a charge #q# at a distance #r# from another charge #Q# is given by the formula

#color(blue)(bar(ul(|color(white)(a/a)U = (kqQ)/rcolor(white)(a/a)|)))" "#

where #k# is a proportionality constant.

The charge on an electron is -1, and the charge on a proton is +1.

Thus,

#U = (k"(+1)(-1)")/r = -k/r#

This means that, as the electron gets closer to the nucleus, the potential energy becomes increasingly negative.