Electric Potential Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: A point charge is released from rest in a region containing an electric field. The charge will start to move: (A) in a direction that makes its potential energy increase (B) in a direction that makes its potential energy decrease (C) along a path of constant potential energy (D) Either A or B, depending on the sign of the point chargeA point charge is released from rest in a region containing an electric field. The charge will start to move: (A) in a direction of increasing electric potential (B) in a direction of decreasing electric potential (C) along a path of constant electric potential (D) Either A or B, depending on the sign of the point charge

###### FREE Expert Solution

Change in potential energy:

$\overline{){\mathbit{W}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{-}}{\mathbit{\Delta }}{\mathbit{U}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{-}}{\mathbf{\left(}}{\mathbf{∆}}{\mathbit{V}}{\mathbf{·}}{\mathbit{q}}{\mathbf{\right)}}}$

Change in electric potential:

$\overline{){\mathbf{\Delta }}{\mathbf{V}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{E}}{\mathbf{•}}{\mathbf{\Delta }}{\mathbf{d}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{E}}{\mathbf{\left(}}{\mathbf{d}}{\mathbf{f}}{\mathbf{-}}{\mathbf{d}}{\mathbf{0}}{\mathbf{\right)}}}$

(a)

Coulomb's force will do positive work. The work will be converted into kinetic energy of the charge.

When a force does positive work potential energy decreases.

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###### Problem Details

A point charge is released from rest in a region containing an electric field. The charge will start to move:

(A) in a direction that makes its potential energy increase

(B) in a direction that makes its potential energy decrease

(C) along a path of constant potential energy

(D) Either A or B, depending on the sign of the point charge

A point charge is released from rest in a region containing an electric field. The charge will start to move:

(A) in a direction of increasing electric potential

(B) in a direction of decreasing electric potential

(C) along a path of constant electric potential

(D) Either A or B, depending on the sign of the point charge