Chapter 21, Problem 56A

To determine

Whether the amount of energy increases or not when constant positive charge is moved through an increasing electric field.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Amount of energy required to move a test charge in the electric field is:

$U_e=qEd$

Here, q is the charge, E is the electric field and d is the distance through which the charge is to be moved in the electric field.

The energy required to move the charge through the electric field depends on the magnitude of the charge, strength of the electric field and distance through which the charge has to be moved. With the stronger strength of the electric field, more energy would be required to move the charge.

Conclusion:

Thus, if the strength of the electric field increases, then the energy required would increase.