Zero Electric potential and null electric field

[fmilano]

Hi,


I've this true/false statement: "If the electric potential is zero in some point of space, then the electric field in that point should be null"

I think this statement is false: the electric field might be generated for example by two charges: +5C and -4C separated by 2 meters. There is a point in between them where the potential is zero (the electric potential is also zero in the infinite) but in that point the electric field vector is not null.

Am I right? I would really appreciate any help

Thanks,

Federico

 

[dicerandom]

That is correct. The electric field is related to the derivative of the electric potential so you can draw an analogy to a particle which is undergoing some acceleration. Just because the velocity is zero at some point does not mean that the particle is not accelerating at that point.

 

[quicknote]

Hi Federico,

You are correct in your understanding that the statement is false. The electric potential at a point in space can be zero even if there is an electric field present. This is because electric potential is a scalar quantity, while electric field is a vector quantity. The electric potential at a point is determined by the distance from a reference point and the magnitude of the electric field at that point. So even if the electric field is not zero, the electric potential can still be zero at a certain point.

In the example you mentioned, the electric potential at the midpoint between the +5C and -4C charges would be zero, but the electric field would not be null. This is because the electric field is determined by the charges and their separation distance, not just the potential at a point.

I hope this helps clarify your understanding. Keep up the critical thinking!