A charged particle moves from a point of higher electric potential to a point of
Practice Questions
Q1
A charged particle moves from a point of higher electric potential to a point of lower electric potential. What happens to its kinetic energy?
Increases
Decreases
Remains constant
Cannot be determined
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A charged particle moves from a point of higher electric potential to a point of lower electric potential. What happens to its kinetic energy?
Correct Answer: Kinetic energy increases.
Step 1: Understand that electric potential is like a height for charged particles. Higher potential means more stored energy.
Step 2: When a charged particle moves from a higher electric potential to a lower electric potential, it is like going downhill.
Step 3: As the particle goes downhill, it loses some of its stored energy (potential energy).
Step 4: The lost potential energy doesn't just disappear; it gets converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion.
Step 5: Therefore, as the particle moves to a lower potential, its kinetic energy increases.
Electric Potential and Energy Conversion – When a charged particle moves from a higher electric potential to a lower electric potential, it loses potential energy, which is converted into kinetic energy, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy.
