Question

Release an electron initially at rest in the presence of an electric field. The electron tends to go to the region of 1. same electric potential. 2. indeterminate; sometimes higher, sometimes lower. 3. lower electric potential. 4. higher electric potential.

Answer 1

Answer:

The electron tends to go to the region of 4. higher electric potential.

Explanation:

When a charged particle is immersed in an electric field, it experiences a force given by

$F=qE$

where

q is the charge of the particle

E is the electric field

The direction of the force depends on the sign of the charge. In particular:

- The force and the electric field have the same direction if the charge is positive

- The force and the electric field have opposite directions if the charge is negative

Therefore, an electron (negative charge) moves in the direction opposite to the electric field lines.

However, electric field lines go from points at higher potential to points at lower potential: so, electrons move from regions at lower potential to regions of higher potential.

Therefore, the correct answer is

The electron tends to go to the region of 4. higher electric potential.