Which of the following statements are correct related to electric potential energy?
(A) The electric potential energy is a vector quantity.
(B) The potential energy of two like charges is positive and for two unlike charges, it is negative.
(C) The work done by an electrostatic field in moving a charge from one point to another is independent of the path taken.
(D) The potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field is maximum, when the dipole moment is opposite to the electric field.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (B), (C) and (D) only
$\text{(A)}:\ \text{Electric potential energy is scalar} \Rightarrow \text{False}$
$\text{(B)}:\ U = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{q_1 q_2}{r}$
$q_1 q_2 > 0 \Rightarrow U>0,\quad q_1 q_2 < 0 \Rightarrow U<0 \Rightarrow \text{True}$
$\text{(C)}:\ \text{Electrostatic field is conservative} \Rightarrow \text{path independent} \Rightarrow \text{True}$
$\text{(D)}:\ U = -\vec{p}\cdot\vec{E} = -pE\cos\theta$
$\theta = 180^\circ \Rightarrow U = +pE \ (\text{maximum}) \Rightarrow \text{True}$
The correct statements are (B), (C), and (D).