Question

It is important to keep terms electrical potential and electrical potential energy straight. Let's say a charge q is placed at a point where the electrical potential is V. If I double the charge to 2q, the electrical potential of the point will _________ and the electrical potential energy of the charge will ___________ 1. stay the same; double 2. double; stay the same 3. stay the same; stay the same 4. double; double

Answer 1

1. The electric potential would stay the same.

2. The electric potential energy would double

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Since the electric potential at the point is V and is not dependent on the charge q, the electric potential at the point still remains the same even if the charge q is doubled to 2q.

So, the electric potential remains the same when the charge is doubled to 2q.

2. Since potential energy U = qV where q = charge and V = electric potential. So when the charge is q and electric potential, V, the electric potential energy at the point is U = qV.

When the charge is doubled to 2q and the electic potential remains the same, the electric potential energy is now U' = 2qV = 2U (since U = qV).

So, the electric potential energy at the point is doubled when the charge is doubled.