Question

Which of the following quantities is scalar?
A) Dipole moment
B) Electric force
C) Electric field
D) Electric potentiaL

Answer 1

Hint: The quantities that have only magnitude (value) and no direction are scalar quantities and the quantities with both direction and magnitude are vectors and are represented by an arrow over their symbol.

Complete step by step answer:Checking the options so as to identify which quantities are:

Vector: With both magnitude and direction.

Scalar: With only direction and no magnitude

Dipole moment: It is defined as the product of either charge and the distance between the two charges on dipole. It is a vector quantity as its direction is from negative towards the positive charge. It is represented as:

$\overrightarrow p = q \times 2\overrightarrow l $

Electric force and electric field: Both these quantities depend upon force which is a vector quantity (has both magnitude and direction) and hence these are also vector quantities. We represent them with symbol: $\overrightarrow E $

Electric potential: It is defined as potential energy per unit charge. Both these quantities are scalar (only have magnitude) and thus electric potential is also a scalar quantity. It is represented as:

$V = \dfrac{U}{q}$

As seen all the quantities except for electric potential are vectors, therefore, among the given quantities only electric potential is scalar and thus the correct option is D).

Note:The difference between electric force and electric field is that the field is the region surrounding the electric force (where it can be felt) and is caused by the electric force only.