Current Electricity: Understanding Potential Energy concepts..?

Question

This is not a problem that I need help with. I rambled on and on for 5 minutes with teacher, eventually giving in and pretending that I understood..

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/pugfug90/CEPE.gif
Umm..
Perhaps I'm having more of a hard time than necessary because I keep thinking magnets when I see this diagram..

Basically, the diagram is representing a "situation" "as is".. When you manipulate the lower case +"q" to go towards +Q, PE increases, but PE decreases.. What? Or when you move +q away from Q-, PE increases but potential energy decreases? Too confused..

@LeAnne
...
I would think that pushing two opposing forces would require more potential energy? Well, at least more physical energy if I pretended it was magnets..
...
"If it will require energy, than the potential energy of the charges is small, if it uses it's own energy to move - obviously, the potential energy was greater."
Positive to positive requires energy, therefore, according to you, small potential energy, while positive to negative, natural attraction, it's own energy, greater?
...
That doesn't explain why the diagram says
"- Potential energy decreases
- PE increases as charge is forced toward a point"

Answer 1

Your magnet analogy will work just fine.
Consider that if the unlike charges are latched together - the potential energy is zero. Conversely, if the like charges are forced together, the potential energy is at a maximum.
Look at it like this - will it take energy or need energy to move the charges to each position as illustrated? If it will require energy, than the potential energy of the charges is small, if it uses it's own energy to move - obviously, the potential energy was greater.

Answer 2

if it became into water rather, voltage would characterize the stress of the water. incredibly that's the stress distinction yet we will save it basic for now. you've a huge and a small water pipe on an identical stress, once you enable water flow, the massive one facilitates greater water by despite the fact that that is an identical stress. that's the present, the quantity flowing. In electricity the voltage is all with reference to the electrical powered distinction between 2 factors, that is no longer a level of how lots is flowing. a bigger ability distinction has greater charm to the different pole of the electrical powered device and can leap super distances as sparks or lightning does. yet there is no longer that lots present day flowing, and we are able to stay to tell the story lightning strikes at tens of millions of volts yet be killed by ability of domicile home equipment. Like a water pistol would have the flexibility to pressurize the water as much as a fireplace engine. The water pistol can hearth extremely a protracted distance utilising extreme stress, so a techniques as a fireplace engine hose ought to however the hearth engine hose has extreme present day to boot as extreme stress and can provide a good bigger ability to you. All home equipment is on your place hook up with an identical voltage furnish, yet all will use diverse currents. home equipment like warmers, toasters, ovens etc all use extreme present day.