ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY

AND ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

DIFFERENCE
Electric Potential Energy
Potential energy can be defined as the capacity for doing work which
arises from position or configuration. In the electrical case, a charge
will exert a force on any other charge and potential energy arises from
any collection of charges. For example, if a positive charge Q is fixed at
some point in space, any other positive charge which is brought close
to it will experience a repulsive force and will therefore have potential
energy.

• Work done against the electrical force in moving a charge

 Potential
• A charged particle has potential energy due to its
position relative to another charged object
(Electric Potential Energy)
• The + particle has potential
+ -
+
energy at position A + -
+ -
• Once the particle moves to + -
B all PE is changed to KE + +
+ -
• (-) plate has low potential, (+) + -
plate has high potential +
-
+
+ -
• An object has gravitational potential energy because of its position in
a gravitational field. Similarly, a charged particle can also have
electrical potential energy because of its location in an electric field.
• Work has to be done against the force of gravity when an object is
lifted vertically. Likewise, work has to be done against electric forces
when a charged particle is moved in an external electric field.

• The electrical potential energy of like charges increase as they are

forced nearer each other and decrease as they are moved apart. The
electrical potential energy of unlike charges increase, as they are
pulled apart and decrease as they are moved closer.
Example:

1.A 7-µC point charge is located 15-cm from a -2-µC point charge. What
is the electric potential energy stored in this system of two point
charges?

Given: q1= 7-µC

q2= -2-µC
r= 15-cm
2. The magnitude of the electric field between parallel metal plates,
which are separated by 2.5-cm, is 8.5x105 N/C. What is the potential
energy of a 12.6-µC charge, which is moved through the electric field
from the positive plate to the negative plate.

Given: E= 8.5x105 N/C

q= 12. 6-µC
r= 2.5-cm
Electric Potential Difference
• It is defined as the work done to move a unit charge from one point
to another
• “pushes” electrons so they will move along a conductor
• It is the actual moving factor that enables the electrons to flow across
a conductor.
• Electric potential is a location-dependent quantity that expresses the
amount of potential energy per unit of charge at a specified location.
Example:

1. A Van de Graaf generator is noted to have a potential of 15-MV.

What is the work done in moving an electron in this machine?

Given: V= 15-MV
qe= -1.6x10-19C
2. The spherical shell on top of a small electrostatic generator in air has
a charge of 6-µC. What is the potential difference at a point 6-cm from
the center of the sphere?

Given: q= 6-µC
r= 6-cm