Question

In a system consisting of a charge q placed in an external electric field, which of the following statements about the source charges is correct?

Options

• The source charges move together with q

• The source charges are neutralized once q is introduced

• The source charges are fixed and not affected by q

• The source charges are produced by the presence of q

Answer 1

The external field E and potential V are created by other source charges, which are fixed and not affected by q. The charge q is only a small test charge placed in this pre-existing field.