Question

Consider two points in an electric field. the potential at point 1, v1, is 23 v. the potential at point 2, v2, is 178 v. an electron at rest at point 1 is accelerated by the electric field to point 2. Write an equation for the change of the electric potential energy Δ U of the proton, in terms of the symbol given and the charge of the proton e.

Answer 1

The change in electric potential energy (ΔU) for an electron moving from point 1 with potential V1 to point 2 with potential V2 is calculated using the equation ΔU = -e * (V2 - V1), where 'e' is the charge of the electron.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves understanding the change in electric potential energy (ΔU) of a charged particle as it moves in an electric field, which is a fundamental concept in physics. To calculate the change in electric potential energy when an electron moves from point 1 with a potential of V1 to point 2 with a potential of V2, you would use the equation:

ΔU = e * (V2 - V1)

In this equation, 'e' represents the charge of the electron, and 'V2 - V1' represents the change in electric potential. For an electron, we substitute the negative of the elementary charge, '-e', because electrons have a negative charge. Thus, the change in the electric potential energy of the electron as it accelerates from point 1 to point 2 would be:

ΔU = -e * (V2 - V1) = -e * (178 V - 23 V)

Note that for a proton, which has a positive charge, you would use the elementary charge '+e' without the negative sign.