A positive test charge is moving between two oppositely charged plates. As the charge moves toward the negative plate, its potential energy?

does it decrease, increase, or remain the same?

it decrease

It will decrease

As the positive test charge moves toward the negative plate, its potential energy decreases.

The potential energy of a positive test charge decreases as it moves toward a negative plate. This is because the positive test charge is moving against the electric field created by the negative plate. The electric field has a direction from positive to negative, so the force on the positive charge is in the direction opposite to its motion. As a result, the work done on the positive test charge is negative, indicating a decrease in potential energy.

To further understand this concept, you can use the formula for electric potential energy:

PE = q * V

where PE is the potential energy, q is the charge, and V is the electric potential. In this case, the charge is positive, so the potential energy is negative when moving toward a negative plate. Since potential energy is associated with the ability to do work, a decrease in potential energy signifies that work is being done on the charge.