Question

A magnet is removed from a refrigerator door and placed on a table. In 1–2 sentences, explain how the potential energy of the system changes in this process. (2 points)

Answer 1

You must do work against the attractive magnetic force to pull the magnet off the door, so the magnetic potential energy of the magnet–door system increases. (If you then set the magnet on a lower table its gravitational potential energy decreases, but net you supply energy to overcome the magnetic attraction.)