Understanding Electric Fields and Voltage: How Do They Relate?

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The discussion focuses on clarifying the concepts of electric field, electric potential, electric potential energy, voltage, and the difference in voltage, highlighting the confusion caused by casual usage of these terms. Participants emphasize the need for precise definitions and the importance of context in understanding these concepts. A learner expresses frustration with the abstract nature of voltage, prompting a conversation about visualization and conceptualization. The discussion suggests that while analogies can help, they may not fully capture the complexities of electromagnetic forces. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the significance of curiosity and ongoing learning in grasping these fundamental physics concepts.
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Homework Statement


How to explain, and distinguish among (or build up from initial definitions) the terms electric field, electric potential, electric potential energy, voltage, difference in voltage.
The usage in various sources is casual or insufficiently specific.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Please post an attempt (as per forum rules).
 
RobertArvanitis said:

Homework Statement


How to explain, and distinguish among (or build up from initial definitions) the terms electric field, electric potential, electric potential energy, voltage, difference in voltage.
The usage in various sources is casual or insufficiently specific.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

A new learner asks things like "I can manipulate equations and substitute values to solve, but what does what does voltage MEAN?!"
What do I reply? How to aid visualization / conceptualization? Not quite an analog to gravity, as there are attractive and repulsive forces in E&M.
 
Hello Rob, welcome to PF :smile:

Yes, it can be bewildering. And on top of that you have the sloppy everyday use of the same terms, often incorrect.

Your post doesn't give us a clue as to where you are or where this question comes from: there's no context. I'd be worried if you were close to wrapping up your PhD thesis in theoretical physics, but I wouldn't be surprised if you were a philosophy student (these seemingly simple questions go very deep very quickly). In fact, a lot of physics goes like "we haven't got the foggiest idea, but we can describe it predicitvely and to incredible accuracy".

My advice: read a lot and gradually you'll get the idea.

And: don't lose this beautiful sense of wonder and the curiosity to know more about everything. It's what drives science.
 
RobertArvanitis said:
A new learner asks things like "I can manipulate equations and substitute values to solve, but what does what does voltage MEAN?!"
What do I reply? How to aid visualization / conceptualization? Not quite an analog to gravity, as there are attractive and repulsive forces in E&M.
That's not what I took the original post to be about. I could answer that reasonably by discussing the relationships between the concepts, but now you seem to be more concerned with analogies and visualisation. Which is it?
 
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