Electric Potential Concept Question

In summary, the electric potential between two oppositely charged points is zero at the center, which means there is no potential energy at this point. This convention is based on the fact that absolute values at a given place are not physically important and it allows for symmetry between the potential at infinity and at the center. As a result, no net work is done when moving a charge from infinity to the center of the two opposite charges.
  • #1
123yt
32
0
Why is the electric potential in the middle of two oppositely charged points 0? Does this also mean that there's no potential energy at this point?
 
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  • #2
Remember that all potentials work by looking at how they vary from place to place-- absolute values at a given place are never of any physical importance. So when we take zero at the center, it's just a convenient convention.
 
  • #3
Alright... That's somewhat counter-intuitive for me.

So does that mean that if I move a charge from infinity to the middle of the two opposite charges, no net work would be done?
 
  • #4
That is also true-- it means that if we set the potential at infinity to be zero, that's the same convention as setting it to be zero at the center. You can tell that has to be true from the symmetry--if the charges are equal and opposite, what is going to be the sign of the potential at the center, relative to infinity? Which sign could possibly be singled out?
 
  • #5
Shouldn't it have the exact same value as the potential at infinity?
 
  • #6
Yes, by symmetry-- if it were to deviate from the value at infinity, the deviation would need a sign, and we should be able to reverse that sign by reversing the sign of the charges, but such a reversal is just a left/right reflection.
 

What is electric potential?

Electric potential is a measure of the amount of work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric field, divided by the magnitude of the charge.

How is electric potential different from electric field?

Electric potential is a scalar quantity that describes the energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field, while electric field is a vector quantity that describes the force per unit charge at a point in an electric field.

What is the unit for electric potential?

The unit for electric potential is volts (V), which is equivalent to joules per coulomb (J/C).

Can electric potential be negative?

Yes, electric potential can have both positive and negative values. A negative electric potential indicates that the electric field is directed towards the point, while a positive electric potential indicates that the electric field is directed away from the point.

What is the relationship between electric potential and electric potential energy?

Electric potential and electric potential energy are closely related. Electric potential energy is the amount of energy required to move a charge from one point to another in an electric field, while electric potential is the potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field. They are related by the equation V = U/q, where V is electric potential, U is electric potential energy, and q is the charge.

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