Question

The electrostatic potential energy of a charge configuration is well-defined because the electrostatic force is a conservative force, which means:

Options

• The work done in moving a charge between two points is independent of the path and depends only on the initial and final positions

• The work done in moving a charge between two points depends on the path followed

• The force always acts perpendicular to the displacement of the charge

• The force increases with the speed of the moving charge

Answer 1

The electrostatic force is conservative — the work done in moving a charge between two points is independent of the path and depends only on the initial and final positions. This path-independence is precisely why a unique potential energy can be assigned to a charge configuration.