Question

The work done in bringing a charge q from infinity to a point in an external field is stored as potential energy because:

Options

• The charge moves along an equipotential surface

• The electrostatic force is non-conservative

• Energy is dissipated as heat during the process

• The electrostatic force is conservative

Answer 1

Because the electrostatic force is conservative, the work done in moving a charge depends only on the endpoints, not the path. Therefore, the work \[qV(r)\] done against the field is fully recoverable and is stored as potential energy.