What phenomenon occurs when like charges repel one another, leading to positive potential energy?

When like charges are close to each other, they experience a force that causes them to repel. This repulsion arises due to the fundamental properties of electric charges, where similar (like) charges—such as two positive charges—push away from one another. This phenomenon is rooted in Coulomb's law, which states that like charges repel each other while opposite charges attract.

As the like charges move closer together, they gain potential energy. The work done against the electric force to bring them to a certain distance apart contributes to this positive potential energy. This means that as they are pushed together, energy is added to the system, making it more energetically favorable for them to move further apart.

The other concepts, such as the attraction of electric charges, resonance of electric charges, and magnetic repulsion, do not accurately describe the described scenario of like charges repelling each other and the resulting potential energy. In the context of this question, the focus is solely on the interaction and behavior of like charges, confirming that repulsion is the accurate phenomenon being described.