Electric Potential vrs Electric Potential Energy

[celect]

I'm trying to grasp the concept between Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy.

A charge object has an electric potential,

and electric potential =
electric potential energy/charge


I still can't explain the difference between the two(Electric Potential vrs Electric Potential Energy)

 

[ZapperZ]

I'm trying to grasp the concept between Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy.

A charge object has an electric potential,

and electric potential =
electric potential energy/charge


I still can't explain the difference between the two(Electric Potential vrs Electric Potential Energy)

Example: You have a charge Q designated as your source charge. It produces an electrostatic potential field V(r) all around it (that's why we call it the "source", since it is the source of the field).

At a distance r away from Q, you have a potential field V(r). Now, if you put a TEST charge q at that location, this test charge will experience that potential field V(r). The potential energy that this test charge will have is U(r) = q*V(r).

Therefore, to obtain a potential energy, you need a test charge to be in a potential field. This potential field is external to it, i.e. it is created by some other source (in our example, it was created by source charge Q). This potential energy is equivalent to the work done when you bring the test charge q from infinity to position r away from Q.

Now do you see the difference?

Zz.

 

[M98Ranger]

Electric potential and electric potential energy are related concepts in the field of electrostatics. Electric potential is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field. In simpler terms, it is the amount of work required to move a unit charge from one point to another in an electric field. It is measured in volts (V) and is a scalar quantity.

On the other hand, electric potential energy is the potential energy that a charged object possesses due to its position in an electric field. It is the energy required to bring a charged object from infinity to a specific point in the field. It is measured in joules (J) and is a scalar quantity.

In essence, electric potential is the potential energy per unit charge, while electric potential energy is the total potential energy of a charged object. Electric potential is like a map that shows the potential energy at different points in an electric field, while electric potential energy is like a bank account that stores the total energy of a charged object.

To better understand the difference, imagine a rollercoaster. The height of the rollercoaster represents electric potential, while the potential energy of the rollercoaster cart represents electric potential energy. The height of the rollercoaster determines how much potential energy the cart has, just like how electric potential determines the potential energy of a charged object.

In summary, electric potential and electric potential energy are closely related but have distinct meanings. Electric potential is a measure of the potential energy per unit charge, while electric potential energy is the total potential energy of a charged object. Both concepts are important in understanding and analyzing electric fields and their effects on charged objects.

 

[M98Ranger]

Electric potential is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit charge at a specific point in an electric field. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction. Electric potential is similar to gravitational potential in that it represents the potential energy that a charged object would have at that point in the electric field. It is measured in volts (V).

On the other hand, electric potential energy is the potential energy that a charged object possesses due to its position in an electric field. It is the work required to move a charged object from one point to another in the electric field. Electric potential energy is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. It is measured in joules (J).

In simpler terms, electric potential is like the height of a hill, while electric potential energy is like the energy of a ball at the top of the hill. The higher the hill, the higher the potential, and the more potential energy the ball has. Similarly, the higher the electric potential, the more potential energy a charged object has in that electric field.

To summarize, electric potential is a property of a point in an electric field, while electric potential energy is the energy that a charged object has due to its position in that electric field. They are related in that electric potential is the ratio of electric potential energy to charge, but they are distinct concepts. I hope this helps clarify the difference between electric potential and electric potential energy.