Question

Why is only the difference in potential energy between two points physically significant?

Options

• The absolute value of potential energy determines the electrostatic force

• An arbitrary constant may be added to potential energy without affecting physics, so the absolute value is not important

• Potential energy cannot be assigned to any point in space

• Potential energy is always a negative quantity at every point

Answer 1

An arbitrary constant may be added to potential energy without affecting the physics, so the absolute value of potential energy is not important. Only the change (difference) in potential energy between two points has physical significance.