Question

The potential energy of a charge q placed at a point with external electric potential V(r) is defined as:

Options

• The work done in bringing the charge from infinity to that point against the external field

• The work done in moving the charge from that point to infinity

• The force experienced by the charge per unit electric field

• The kinetic energy acquired by the charge at that point

Answer 1

The potential energy of a charge q at a point with external potential V(r) is defined as the work done in bringing the charge from infinity to that point against the external field. Since the electrostatic force is conservative, this work is stored as \[U(r) = qV(r)\].