Electric potential energy is the energy that a charged particle possesses due to its position in an electric field. It is a type of potential energy that is related to the electric force between two charged objects.
Electric potential energy is calculated using the equation U = qV, where U is the electric potential energy, q is the charge of the particle, and V is the electric potential.
The unit of electric potential energy is joules (J). It can also be expressed in electron volts (eV), with 1 eV being equivalent to 1.602 x 10^-19 J.
The electric potential energy between two charged objects decreases as the distance between them increases. This is because the electric force between the objects weakens as they move further apart.
Electric potential energy plays a crucial role in understanding and analyzing electric and magnetic fields. It helps in explaining the behavior of charged particles and the interactions between them.