Why is the work done in moving a charge between two points in an electrostatic field…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Problem
Why is the work done in moving a charge between two points in an electrostatic field independent of the path taken?
(a) The electrostatic force is non-conservative, so the work depends only on the displacement between the two points.
(b) Electric field lines are always parallel to equipotential surfaces, hence the tangential component of force along any path is zero.
(c) The electrostatic field is conservative; therefore, the line integral of E⋅dl over any closed path is zero.
(d) Because the region between two points can be treated as a uniform electric field, the work depends only on their straight-line separation, not on the actual path followed.