spheres 1 and 2 both carry positive charge and are connected by insulating strings to a ceiling. when the two spheres hang in equilibrium, they hang at the same height, but sphere 1's string is more vertical. based on this observation, what can be assumed about the charges of the two spheres and why?

The way I understand the situation, it tells you that the mass of Sphere-1 is greater than the mass of Sphere-2, but it doesn't tell anything about the charges.  

Whatever the amounts of the charges are, the repelling forces on the spheres are equal.

answer would be letter choice (a),   a ball resting on a shelf. would be another example of potential energy   >   stored energy > not moving.

a ball spinning on a finger   >   kinetic energy > moving energy

a ball rolling on the ground   >   kinetic energy   > moving energy

a   ball flying through the air   > kinetic energy   >   moving energy

hope that                                         : )