AFOQT Practice Test

Which type of potential energy is associated with a charge's position in an electric field?

1. Gravitational potential energy

2. Chemical potential energy

3. Electric potential energy

4. Mechanical energy

The correct answer is: Electric potential energy

The correct answer is electric potential energy. This type of potential energy arises from the position of a charged particle within an electric field. When a charge is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force due to the field, and its potential energy changes depending on its location relative to other charges. For example, a positive charge will have higher potential energy when it is close to another positive charge because they repel each other, while it will have lower potential energy when it is near a negative charge because they attract each other. The concept of electric potential energy is crucial in understanding how charges interact in an electric field and is foundational in fields like electrostatics and circuit theory. Gravitational potential energy relates to the position of an object in a gravitational field, while chemical potential energy pertains to the energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds. Mechanical energy is a broader term that includes both kinetic and potential energy but does not specifically relate only to charges in an electric field. Hence, electric potential energy is the term that accurately describes the potential energy associated with a charge's position in an electric field.