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Electrostatic potential energy is the potential (stored) energy associated with the position of charged particles. When two particles separated by an infinite distance, Eel = 0. We are likely familiar with the idea that opposite charges attract. In this scenario, Eel < 0 (negative) because the system (the charges) will do work to bring them closer together. (Think about having to put energy into the system to pull those particles apart to get back up to E = 0.) For like charges, Eel > 0. The surroundings must do work on the system to bring those particles closer together. According to Coulomb's law, Eel depends on the magnitude of charge and the distance separating the particles.

In this mathematical representation, you can easily see how changes in charge and distance will affect E_{el} . (Don't forget that as a number gets more negative, it is actually getting smaller!)

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