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Why is There No Work Done in Moving a Charge from One Point to Another on an Equipotential Surface? - Physics

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Question

Why is there no work done in moving a charge from one point to another on an equipotential surface?

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Solution

On an equipotential surface, the potential remains constant and thus potential difference (ΔV) is zero. The work done on a charge is given as

W = qΔV

Now, as ΔV = 0

We conclude that W = 0

So, the work done in moving a charge from one point to another on an equipotential surface is zero.

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Equipotential Surfaces
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2011-2012 (March) Foreign Set 2

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