In the presence of an electrostatic field, you find that you must do positive wo

Question

In the presence of an electrostatic field, you find that you must do positive work on an electron to move it from point A to point B without changing its kinetic energy.

a) considering just the electron as our system, has the system's electric potential energy increased, decreased, or remained the same?

b) What if your system consists of both electron and charged particals that are the source of the electrostatic field?

c) Is the electrostatic potential difference between A and B positive, negative, or zero?

Explanation / Answer

a) The potential has increased. A positive work means that some energy is supplied to the system. Unless the kinetic energy is increased, this work has to be stored as potential energy in the system.

b) The potential energy has increased. The positive work done means that the net of the charges creating the electric field is also negetive. Thus this will increase the work required for another negative particle to entre the system, hence the potential is increased.

c) Potential at A is less than that of B. Therefore the difference is positive.

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