Question

For an electron moving in a direction opposite to the electric field A) both its potential energy and itelectric potential remain constant its potential energy decreases and itselectricpotential increases. its potential energy decreases and its electric potential decreases. its potential energy increases and itselectric potential decreases. its potential energy increases and its electric potential increases

Answer 1

Answer:

Its potential energy decreases and itselectricpotential increases.

Explanation:

The electric potential does not depend on the charge but only on the magnitude of the electric field. In particular:

- Electric potential decreases when moving in the same direction of the electric field lines

- Electric potential increases when moving in the opposite direction to the field lines

So in this case, since the electron is moving in a direction opposite to the field, the electric potential increases.

However, the electric potential energy of a charge is given by

$U=qV$

where

q is the charge

V is the electric potential

Here we said that the electric potential is increasing: however, the charge q of an electron is negative. This means that the product (qV) is increasing in magnitude but it is negative, so the potential energy of the electron is decreasing.