Question

Why is an electric potential scalar quantity?

Answer 1

Scalar quantity:

A scalar quantity is a physical quantity that has only magnitude and no direction.

Electric Potential:

The amount of work required to move a charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric field without acceleration is defined as electric potential.

Explanation:

1. The electric potential depends on the charge and the charge's distance from the point where the electrostatic potential is to be calculated.
2. Electric potential is also defined as the work done $W$ per unit charge $q$, i.e., $U=\frac{W}{q}$.
3. As the charge and the distance are scalar quantities.
4. Therefore, the electric potential is the scalar quantity.

Thus, the electric potential is a scalar quantity.