Electric potential energy and its applications

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the concept of electric potential energy and potential difference. It confirms that when a charge moves from a negative to a positive potential, it gains kinetic energy, while moving from positive to negative requires work to be done. The potential difference is defined as the kinetic energy gained or work done per unit charge when moving between potentials. Additionally, energy can be lost as heat when charges pass through resistors. The conversation also briefly touches on Faraday's Law of induction, which explains how changing magnetic flux induces voltage.
Ahmad Syr
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Hi guys
I just want to make sure that my understanding of potential difference is right or wrong I just want someone to tell me whether my understanding is right or wrong.
I know that when we move a charge if it's attracted to another charge it gain potential energy and when we leave it it lose energy as kinetic energy and in a battery the electrons have potential energy and they lose it as they travell from the negative terminal to the positive terminal as kinetic energy and also voltage drop affect their energy right ?
 
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Hi Ahmad,

Take a case of an electron (-ve charge) moving from a -ve potential to a +ve potential, it will be attracted towards the +ve potential and hence it will gain kinetic energy. On the other hand to move it from a +ve potential to a -ve potential, work has to be done on it as it is a -ve charge.

The KE gained per unit charge in the first case or the work done per unit charge as in the 2nd case in moving a charge from one potential to the other is defined as the Potential difference.
 
And they may lose energy as heat as they travel through the resistors right ?
 
Yes, and that heat energy dissipated per unit charge across the resistor is also equivalent to the work done per unit charge.
 
Why changing magnetic flux in a coil induce a current can you explain that electronically
 
Ahmad Syr said:
Why changing magnetic flux in a coil induce a current can you explain that electronically
...induces a voltage? That's Faraday's Law of induction.

No, I can't explain the phenomenon, though I am pleased it happens. :smile:
 
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