Question

Which of the following is a consequence of the electrostatic force being conservative?

Options

• Work done between two points depends on the path followed

• The electrostatic force increases when the charge traverses a closed loop

• Electrostatic potential energy cannot be defined for a charge system

• A closed path has zero net work for the electrostatic force

Answer 1

Because the electrostatic force is conservative: work done between two points is path-independent, a closed path has zero net work for the electrostatic force, and electrostatic potential energy can be defined for a charge system.