Consider a point charge fixed at the origin.

PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Problem

Consider a point charge

q

fixed at the origin. (i) Starting from the definition of electric potential at a point, derive an expression for the potential difference between two points located at radial distances

r_{1}

and

r_{2}

from the charge. (ii) Using your expression from (i), show that the work done in moving a test charge

q_{0}

from

r_{1}

r_{2}

depends only on

r_{1}

and

r_{2}

, and not on the actual path taken. (iii) A test charge of

5.0\,\text{nC}

is moved from

0.40\,\text{m}

0.10\,\text{m}

away from a fixed charge of

-3.0\,\mu\text{C}

in air. Calculate the work done by the external agent.

Related theory

Electrostatic Potential Energy
Electric Potential
Electrostatic potential
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Browse the problem library