Beatrice Lang
Electric potential, often referred to as electric potential energy per unit charge, is a scalar quantity representing the amount of work done per unit charge to move a test charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric field. It is calculated using a formula similar to Coulomb's law: k(q1q2)/r, where k is the Coulomb's law constant, q1 and q2 are the two interacting charges, and r is the distance between them. The electric potential at infinity is assumed to be zero, and it becomes more stable when it decreases, either by charges of the same sign repelling each other or by charges of opposite signs attracting. This concept is closely linked with potential energy, where the potential energy and, hence, the electric potential are defined up to an additive constant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a test charge from a reference point to a specific point in a static electric field. |
| Formula | The electric potential at a point in an electric field is calculated using the equation V = kQ/r, where 'k' is Coulomb's constant, 'Q' is the charge creating the electric potential, and 'r' is the distance from the point to the charge 'Q'. |
| Units | Electric potential is measured in volts (V) or joules per coulomb (J⋅C−1). |
| Reference Point | The electric potential at the reference point is defined as zero units. The reference point is typically earth or infinity, but any point can be chosen. |
| Scalar Quantity | Electric potential is a scalar quantity, possessing magnitude but no direction. |
| Calculation | Electric potential is calculated by dividing the electric potential energy by the quantity of charge. |
| Work Done | Electric potential represents the amount of work done per unit charge to bring a charge from infinity to a specific point in an electric field. |
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What You'll Learn
Electric potential energy per unit charge
The concept of electric potential is closely linked with potential energy. A test charge, 'q', has an electric potential energy, UE, given by the equation UE = kq1q2/r, where q1 and q2 are the two interacting charges, and 'r' is the distance between them. The potential energy, and hence the electric potential, is only defined up to an additive constant: one must arbitrarily choose a position where the potential energy and the electric potential are zero.
The electric potential energy of any given charge or system of charges is defined as the total work done by an external agent in bringing the charge or the system of charges from infinity to the present configuration without undergoing any acceleration. It is a scalar quantity and is measured in units of Joules. The electric potential energy of a charge placed in an electric field is measured by the work done in moving the charge from infinity to that point against the electric field.
In an electrical circuit, the potential between two points (E) is defined as the amount of work done (W) by an external agent in moving a unit charge (Q) from one point to another. The quantity measured by a voltmeter is called the electrochemical potential or Fermi level, while the pure unadjusted electric potential, V, is sometimes called the Galvani potential, ϕ. The electron-volt is commonly employed in submicroscopic processes, with chemical valence energies and molecular and nuclear binding energies among the quantities often expressed in electron-volts.
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Electric potential and potential difference
Electric potential is a scalar quantity representing the amount of work done per unit charge to move a test charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric field. The reference point is usually the Earth or infinity, where the electric potential is assumed to be zero. The electric potential at a point in an electric field, often referred to as electric potential energy per unit charge, can be calculated with the equation V = kQ/r, where 'k' is Coulomb's constant, 'Q' is the charge creating the electric potential, and 'r' is the distance from the point to the charge 'Q'.
The concept of electric potential is closely linked with potential energy. Electric potential energy is a form of stored energy that arises due to the interaction between two electric charges. It is measured in units of Joules and can be calculated using a formula similar to Coulomb's law: k(q1q2)/r, where k is the Coulomb's law constant, q1 and q2 are the two interacting charges, and r is the distance between them. Electric potential energy becomes more stable when it decreases, either by charges of the same sign repelling each other or by charges of opposite signs attracting each other.
Potential difference, also known as voltage, is the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field. It describes the work done per unit charge when moving a charge between two points and serves as the driving force that causes electric charges to flow in an electrical circuit. The potential difference can be calculated using the equation V_AB = V_B - V_A, where V_B and V_A are the potentials at points B and A, respectively.
Equipotential surfaces are surfaces in an electric field where every point is at the same electric potential. These surfaces are perpendicular to the electric field lines, and no work is done on a charge when it moves along an equipotential surface. The energy supplied by a battery is related to its voltage, but not all of the energy is available for external use as some is used internally.
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Electric potential at a point in an electric field
Electric potential, also known as electric field potential or potential drop, is a scalar quantity representing the amount of work done per unit charge. It is the electric potential energy per unit charge. The electric potential at a point in an electric field is the amount of work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to that point along any path when electrostatic forces are applied.
The electric potential at a point in an electric field is calculated (in the context of a point charge) with the equation V = kQ/r, where 'k' is Coulomb's constant, 'Q' is the charge creating the electric potential, and 'r' is the distance from the point to the charge 'Q'. The electric potential at any location, 'r', in a system of point charges is equal to the sum of the individual electric potentials due to every point charge in the system.
The electric potential at infinity is assumed to be zero. The reference point can be any point, but it is typically the earth or a point at infinity. The electric potential is continuous across an idealized surface charge. An idealized line of charge has an electric potential that is continuous everywhere except on the line of charge.
The electric potential of an object depends on the electric charge it carries, its relative position with other electrically charged objects, and the electric field. The electric field points "downhill" towards lower voltages. The electric potential increases when work is done on the system, such as when opposite charges are pulled apart or like charges are pushed together.
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Electric potential in electrodynamics
Electric potential, often referred to as electric potential energy per unit charge, is a scalar quantity. It represents the amount of work done to move a test charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric field. The reference point is usually the Earth or infinity, but it can be any point. The electric potential at the reference point is defined as zero units.
The electric potential at a point in an electric field can be calculated with the equation V = kQ/r, where 'k' is Coulomb's constant, 'Q' is the charge creating the electric potential, and 'r' is the distance from the point to the charge 'Q'. The symbol for electric potential is an italic uppercase 'V', and the unit is the volt.
Electric potential is closely linked with potential energy. The potential energy and electric potential are defined up to an additive constant. This means that one must arbitrarily choose a position where the potential energy and electric potential are zero. The electric potential arising from a point charge, Q, at a distance, r, from the location of Q is given by the equation V_E = (1 / (4 * pi * epsilon_0)) * (Q / r), where epsilon_0 is the permittivity of the vacuum, and V_E is the Coulomb potential.
In electrodynamics, when time-varying fields are present, the electric field cannot be expressed solely as a scalar potential. Instead, it is expressed as both the scalar electric potential and the magnetic vector potential, which together form a four-vector.
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Electric potential and voltage
Electric potential, also known as electric potential energy per unit charge, is a scalar quantity representing the amount of work done per unit charge to move a test charge from a reference point (usually earth or infinity) to a specific point in an electric field. The electric potential at the reference point is defined as zero. The electric potential at a point in an electric field can be calculated using the equation V = kQ/r, where 'k' is Coulomb's constant, 'Q' is the charge creating the electric potential, and 'r' is the distance from the point to the charge 'Q'.
The electric potential is closely linked with potential energy. The potential energy of a charge placed in an electric field is measured by the work done to move the charge from infinity to that point against the electric field. The electric potential is then obtained by dividing the potential energy by the quantity of charge. The electric potential energy of a charge or system of charges is defined as the total work done by an external agent in bringing the charge from infinity to the present configuration without undergoing any acceleration.
Voltage, also known as electric potential difference, is the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field. It describes the work done per unit charge when moving a charge between two points and serves as the driving force causing electric charges to flow in an electrical circuit. The change in potential energy for a battery is negative, as it loses energy. The energy supplied by a battery is calculated in absolute values, but not all of the energy is available for external use.
Equipotential surfaces are surfaces in an electric field where every point on the surface is at the same electric potential. They are perpendicular to the electric field lines, and no work is done on a charge when it moves along an equipotential surface.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a test charge from a reference point to a specific point in a static electric field.
The electric potential at a point in an electric field is calculated with the equation V = kQ/r, where 'k' is Coulomb's constant, 'Q' is the charge creating the electric potential, and 'r' is the distance from the point to the charge 'Q'.
Voltage, or electric potential difference, describes the work done per unit charge when moving a charge between two points in an electric field. Electric potential, on the other hand, represents the amount of work done per unit charge to bring a test charge from infinity to a specific point in an electric field.
Electric potential is the electric potential energy per unit charge. Electric potential energy is a form of stored energy that arises due to the interaction between two electric charges.
