Question

Can electric potential be zero when the electric field is not zero?

Answer 1

Hint: Electric field is the field that is present around the charge which is either positive or negative. Electric potential is the amount of work done to move a charge from one place to another without causing an acceleration.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
An electric field is defined as the amount of force per charge, which is present around a charge being positive or negative in nature. An electric field is somewhat similar to the gravitational force with the only difference being that the gravitational force will depend upon the mass of the object whereas an electric field will depend upon the amount of charge that is present around an object.

The electric field is a vector quantity and is measured in Newtons per coulomb and can be also measured as Volts per metre. This vector quantity will go in the direction of attraction or repulsion.

The electric potential is defined as the amount of work that is to be done in order to move a charge from one place to another without causing an acceleration. It is a scalar quantity and is measured in Joules per Coulomb.

When the concept of dipole moment is taken into consideration, at the midpoint of an electric dipole there is the presence of an electric field, but the electric potential is equal to zero. Therefore, we can say that the electric field can be non-zero while the electric potential is zero.

Note: Electric field can be best described as the amount of force that is present on a charge whereas the electric potential is the work or the amount of energy that is present on a charge. In order to properly know the electric field intensity that is present, a test charge is applied as there is no other possible way to know the intensity of the electric field that is present.