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Question

If a unit charge is taken from one part to another part over an equipotential surface, then what is the change in electrostatic potential energy of the charge?


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Solution

Equipotential surface:

  1. It is the surface at constant potential.
  2. When bodies are at constant potential then the potential difference will be zero between two-point.

Properties of equipotential surface:

  1. An equipotential surface is always perpendicular to the electric field.
  2. The intersection between 2 equipotential surfaces is impossible.
  3. The equipotential surfaces for a point charge are spherical shells with concentric radii.
  4. The equipotential surfaces for a constant electric field are planes perpendicular to the x-axis.

Calculate the work done in the process.

From the above properties, when we shift a unit positive charge from one point to another on an equipotential surface, the potential at each point remains constant.

So, the amount of work done is,

W=qVf-Vi

=qV-V

=0J

Hence, the work done in the process is zero.


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