How does electric potential energy differ for positive and negative charges near a positive charge?

The potential energy of a charge q at any point is defined as the product of the charge and the electric potential (V) at that location ($U=qV$). When considering a positive charge (+Q) as the source, the resulting potential energy "landscape" differs significantly based on the sign of the test charge.12

• Positive Charge (+q): Because the electric potential due to +Q is positive, the potential energy of a positive test charge is also positive. As the charge approaches +Q, it experiences an increasingly repulsive force, creating a "steep hill" in the potential energy landscape. An external agent must perform work to push the charge closer to +Q.12
• Negative Charge (-q): Although the electric potential due to +Q remains positive, the potential energy of a negative test charge is negative. This creates a "deep funnel" in the landscape. Consequently, the negative charge is naturally attracted toward the origin where +Q is located, behaving in a manner analogous to a particle under the influence of gravity.12