Question

During a particular thunderstorm, the electric potential between a cloud and the ground is Vcloud - Vground = 1.1 x 10^8 V, with the cloud being at the higher potential. What is the change in an electron's potential energy when the electron moves from the ground to the cloud?

Answer 1

solution

potential difference $(\Delta V)=1.1\times10^{8}V$

charge of electron(q)=$-1.6\times10^{-19}C$

relation between electric potential and electric potential energy is given by

$\Delta U=q\Delta V=(-1.6\times10^{-19})(1.1\times10^8)$

$\Delta U=-1.67\times10^{-11}J$

therefore change in electrostatic potential energy is $-1.67\times10^{-11}J.$