A electron gains electric potential energy as it moves from point 1 to point 2. Which of the following is true regarding the electric potential at points 1 and 2?
a. V1 = V2
b. V1 > V2
c. V1 < V2
A electron gains electric potential energy as it moves from point 1 to point 2. Which of the following is true regarding the electric potential at points 1 and 2?
a. V1 = V2
b. V1 > V2
c. V1 < V2
Answer:
We know that the change in electric potential energy is defined as:
q*ΔV = ΔP
So, the change in the electric potential energy is the charge times the change in the electric potential.
For the case of an electron gas, we have:
q = -e
where -e is the charge of an electron (remember that is negative).
So, if the electron gains electric potential then:
ΔP > 0
this means that the final potential energy is larger than the initial one, then we have:
-e*ΔV > 0
This means that ΔV must be negative.
V₂ = electric potential at point 2, so it is the final electric potential
V₁ = electric potential at point 1, so it is the final electric potential
Then we should get:
ΔV = V₂ – V₁ < 0.
This means that:
V₂ < V₁
The correct option is b.