Which one of the following statements best explains why it is possible to define

Question

Which one of the following statements best explains why it is possible to define an electrostatic potential in a region of space that contains an electrostatic field?

a.) A negative charge will gain kinetic energy as it moves away from another negative charge.

b.) Like charges repel one another and unlike charges attract one another.

c.) A positive charge will gain kinetic energy as it approaches a negative charge.

d.) Work must be done to bring two positive charges closer together.

e.) The work required to bring two charges together is independent of the path taken.

Explanation / Answer

Ahhh, the dark art of multiple choice questions: Statements A and C are basically identical sides of the same coin, so either they're both right or neither is, and since there is only 1 right answer, it can't be A or C. Statement B just references forces. "potential" is about energy which required force AND distance. Since you already know D is wrong, the answer must be E. This makes sense because "independence of path" implies that movements parallel to your potential field are irrelevant to the energy state, which is true.

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