Electric Potential

Question 1

What is the relationship between electric potential energy and electric potential?

Answer 1

Electric potential V is the potential energy U per unit charge.

Question 2

Is the electric potential a scalar or vector quantity?

Answer 2

scalar

Question 2

What does it mean when we say the electric field is conservative?

Answer 2

The work done by the electric field is path-independent and depends only on the initial and final positions.

Question 2

What is the unit of electric potential energy in the SI system?

Answer 2

joule (J)

Question 3

it is the electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field.

Answer 3

electric potential

Question 3

What causes a difference in electric potential between two points?

Answer 3

A difference in electric potential is caused by the presence of a source charge and its distribution, creating an electric field.

Question 4

Why is electric potential considered a scalar quantity?

Answer 4

Because it has magnitude but no direction, unlike electric field which is a vector.

Question 5

What is the electric potential at infinity due to a point charge, by convention?

Answer 5

zero

Question 6

It’s the energy gained or lost by an electron when moved through a potential difference of 1 volt.

Answer 6

electron-volt (eV)

Question 7

What is the physical meaning of a volt?

Answer 7

One volt is the potential difference when one joule of work is done to move one coulomb of charge.

1V = 1 J/C

Question 8

What is the significance of a zero potential difference?

Answer 8

It means there is no net work required to move a charge between those two points

Question 9

it is a surface where the electric potential is the same at every point.

Answer 9

equipotential surface

Question 10

Can electric potential be negative?

Answer 10

Yes, depending on the reference point and the sign of the source charge.