Lesson 3.7.3.3

3.7.3.3 Electric potential Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 7

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.7.3.3, Electric potential: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 7: Fields and their consequences (A-level only), written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. The electric potential at a point is defined as:

    • the work done per unit charge from the surface to the point
    • the work done per unit positive charge in moving a small test charge from infinity to that point
    • the energy stored per unit volume at the point
    • the force per unit charge at the point

  2. The zero of electric potential is taken to be:

    • at infinity
    • at the charge itself
    • at the surface of the charge
    • at the midpoint between two charges

  3. The electric potential in a radial field at distance r from a point charge Q is:

    • V = Q / (4 pi eps0 r^2)
    • V = 4 pi eps0 Q / r
    • V = Q r / (4 pi eps0)
    • V = Q / (4 pi eps0 r)

  4. The work done in moving a charge Q through a potential difference delta V is:

    • delta W = delta V / Q
    • delta W = Q delta V
    • delta W = Q / delta V
    • delta W = Q delta V^2

  5. No work is done when moving a charge along an equipotential surface because:

    • the potential difference is zero, so Q delta V = 0
    • the surface is at infinity
    • the force on the charge is zero along the surface
    • the charge does not move

  6. The relationship between field strength and potential gradient is:

    • E = -delta V / delta r
    • E = -delta r / delta V
    • E = delta V delta r
    • E = delta V / delta r^2

  7. The electric potential of a positive point charge is:

    • negative
    • zero
    • positive
    • infinite at every distance

  8. A point charge of 2.0 nC is at a distance of 0.50 m. What is the electric potential at this point?

    • about 9.0 V
    • about 144 V
    • about 4.0 V
    • about 36 V

  9. A charge of 1.0 microcoulomb is moved from 1.0 m to 0.50 m from a 4.0 microcoulomb point charge. How much work is done?

    • about 3.6 J
    • about 0.072 J
    • about 0.0036 J
    • about 0.036 J

  10. A pd of 40 V exists across two points 0.20 m apart in a uniform field. What is the field strength?

    • 2000 V m^-1
    • 200 V m^-1
    • 0.005 V m^-1
    • 8.0 V m^-1

  11. An electron is accelerated through a pd of 500 V. What kinetic energy does it gain, in joules? Take e = 1.6 x 10^-19 C.

    • 3.2 x 10^-19 J
    • 8.0 x 10^-19 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-16 J
    • 8.0 x 10^-17 J

  12. Two positive point charges of 1.0 nC are each 0.30 m from point P. Estimate the potential at P.

    • zero
    • about 60 V
    • about 120 V
    • about 30 V

  13. On a graph of potential V against distance r from a point charge, the gradient equals:

    • k Q
    • minus the field strength, -E
    • Q
    • E

  14. A +4.0 nC and a -4.0 nC point charge are placed 0.20 m apart. What is the electric potential at the midpoint between them?

    • zero
    • about -360 V
    • about 360 V
    • about 720 V

  15. An electron moves from 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm from a +1.0 microcoulomb point charge. What is the change in its electrostatic potential energy?

    • about +7.2 x 10^-19 J
    • about -7.2 x 10^-14 J
    • about +1.4 x 10^-13 J
    • about +7.2 x 10^-14 J

  16. A student says potential is greatest where field strength is greatest. Which response is best?

    • Incorrect: potential is always zero near any charge.
    • Incorrect: field strength is the negative gradient of potential, so a strong field can occur where the potential is low, and zero field can occur where the potential is high.
    • Correct: potential and field strength always rise together.
    • Correct, because E = V d for any field.

  17. An electron is accelerated through 1.2 kV. How much energy does it gain, in joules?

    • about 1.9 x 10^-16 J
    • about 1.2 x 10^-16 J
    • about 1.9 x 10^-19 J
    • about 7.5 x 10^-16 J

  18. The potential difference between two points is:

    • the charge passing per unit time between them
    • the force per unit distance between them
    • the work done per unit charge in moving a charge between them
    • the field strength multiplied by the charge

  19. The potential difference between two points is 12 V. How much work is done in moving 0.50 C between them?

    • 24 J
    • 12.5 J
    • 6.0 J
    • 0.042 J

  20. An electron moves from a point at +30 V to a point at +10 V. Its electrostatic potential energy:

    • is unchanged
    • increases by 4.8 x 10^-18 J
    • increases by 3.2 x 10^-18 J
    • decreases by 3.2 x 10^-18 J

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