Question

Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding the electric potential energy?
1. The electric potential energy is the work that a charge can do by virtue of its position in an electric field.
2. It is a vector quantity.
3. Between two charged particles electrostatic potential energy is \(V=\frac{1}{4\pi ϵ_0}\frac{q_1q_2}{R} \)
4. All of the above statements are correct regarding electric potential energy.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : It is a vector quantity.

CONCEPT:

• Electric potential energy: The work that a charge can do by virtue of its position in an electric field is called electric potential energy.
• Electrostatic Potential energy between two charges q1 and q2 at the distance of R is given by:

\(V=\frac{1}{4\pi ϵ_0}\frac{q_1q_2}{R} \)

where F is the electrostatic force, q1 and q2 are the charges, and ϵ₀ is the electrical permittivity of the vacuum.

• Electrostatic Potential energy is a scalar quantity.

CALCULATION:

• From the concept part of the question, it is clear that all the statements are correct except that electrostatic potential energy is a scalar quantity.
• It is a form of energy and energy does not have direction.
• So the incorrect statement is option 2.
• Hence the correct answer is option 2.