We have four paths of workdone on a test charge 'q' by electrostatic field due to any given charge configuration. Which path will have maximum work done.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → All paths have same work
The electrostatic force is a conservative force, so the work done by the field in moving a test charge q from P to Q depends only on the initial and final points, not on the path:
\( W_{P\to Q} = q\,(V_P - V_Q) \)
All four paths in the figure join the same two points P and Q, so the work done is the same along each of them and no path gives the maximum.
NCERT (2026-27):
Introduction – “… It means that the work done by an electrostatic field in moving a charge from one point to another depends only on the initial and the final points and is independent of the path taken to go from one point to the other. This is the fundamental characteristic of a conservative force.”