Question

A negative charge moves in the direction of an electric field. Which of the following statements are true?

a. The potential energy associated with the charge increases.
b. The electric field does not do any work on the charge.
c. The potential energy associated with the charge decreases.
d. The electric field does negative work on the charge.
e. The electric field does positive work on the charge.

Answer 1

A negative charge moving in the direction of an electric field will have decreased potential energy, as it moves toward regions of lower potential, and the electric field does negative work on the charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a negative charge moves in the direction of an electric field, several things happen:

• The potential energy associated with the charge decreases. This is because negative charges naturally move towards regions of higher potential, and as they move in the direction of the electric field (towards lower potential for a negative charge), they lose potential energy.
• The electric field does work on the charge. The nature of this work is negative because the force exerted by the field and the displacement of the charge are in opposite directions.
• The charge moves towards regions of lower potential because its charge is negative.

Therefore, the correct statements are c. The potential energy associated with the charge decreases, and d. The electric field does negative work on the charge. The statement e. The electric field does positive work on the charge would be true for a positive charge, which would move in the opposite direction relative to the electric field. Statements a and b are incorrect in this context.