Question

During a particular thunderstorm, the electric potential between a cloud and the ground is Vcloud - Vground = 1.5 x 108 V, with the cloud being at the higher potential. What is the change in an electron's potential energy when the electron moves from the ground to the cloud?

Answer 1

the potential energy change is voltage change per time charge.

charge on an electron is -1.602x10^-19C

$\Delta EPE= \Delta V\cdot Q$

$=(1.5*10^{8}V)(-1.602*10^{-19})$

$=-2.403*10^{-11} joules$

Hence change in elecrons PE will be 2.403*10^-11 joules