Answer to Question #184906 in Electric Circuits for Koali

Question

When moving from infinity to towards a negative point chargem the electric potential

a. remains the same

b. undetermined

c. increases

d. decreases

Why do you say so? Explain.

Answer 1

The potential at infinity is chosen to be zero.

Thus V for a point charge decreases with distance, whereas E for a point charge decreases with distance squared:

$E=\frac{F}{q}$

$E=\frac{kq}{r^2} =\frac{F}{q}$

Recall that the electric potential V is a scalar and has no direction, whereas the electric field E is a vector.

Then we say that option (d) is correct option

V is inversely proportional to distance r

But charge is negative (-Q)

$V= -\frac{kQ}{r}$

$V= -[\frac{kQ}{r}]$

Then option (d)is correct