The greater the distance of an electron from the nucleus, the higher its energy. Here's why:

* Electrostatic Attraction: Electrons are negatively charged and the nucleus is positively charged. This creates an electrostatic attraction that pulls the electron towards the nucleus.

* Energy Levels: Electrons occupy specific energy levels around the nucleus. The further an electron is from the nucleus, the weaker the electrostatic attraction, and therefore the higher its energy level.

Think of it like this: It takes more energy to "push" an electron further away from the nucleus and overcome the electrostatic pull.