Two equipotential surfaces are shown. If Va = -5V and Vb = -15V, find the work needed to move a -2μC charge from A to B along the indicated path.

Question

- First of all, does the path of the charge going from A to B matter or can I just calculate using the "distance" variable (when or if needed) to be the straightest line between A and B? And then how would I continue from here?

Answer 1

This is a problem about POTENTIAL!

The path does not matter ! That is the whole point.

The voltage potential difference is the difference in potential energy of a unit charge at the two voltages.

work done = charge * change in V

Answer 2

Alrighty, thank you!