What effects does an electric field have on potential energy?

[JoeyBob]

Like an electric field is applying a sort of force on a particle. I was wondering if this at all impacts the potential energy of a particle. For instance, when the force of gravity does work on an object, its potential energy changes as a consequence. Would it be the same thing here?

 

[kuruman]

Yes. The equations are the same only the symbols are different. Charge replaces mass, and $\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}$ replaces $G.$

 

[sophiecentaur]

Summary:: When I look this up everything is talking about the effect an electric field has on potential.

Like an electric field is applying a sort of force on a particle. I was wondering if this at all impacts the potential energy of a particle. For instance, when the force of gravity does work on an object, its potential energy changes as a consequence. Would it be the same thing here?

You should distinguish between Gravitational and Electric Potential. They are very distinct. ``Everything has 'some of each' but in the majority of circumstances that are commonly described, only one of them dominates. It's the Gravitational Potential that governs what planets do and it's the Electrical potential that describes the behaviour of electrons and ions in most circuits and old TV tubes. Life as a small flying insect involves both gravitational and electrical forces because the viscosity of the air is caused by electrical potential at a molecular level but, in still air and without flapping its wings, gravitational force will pull an insect down to the Earth (very slowly). You won't get asked questions about that situation at School level."When I look this up". Where are you looking?

 

[Charles Link]

Both the gravitational field and electric field obey the inverse square law for point sources. Mathematically they are very similar in that sense, and it makes it easier to learn about the forces between charged particles, if you have studied a similar thing with the gravitational field. Even a uniformly dense spherical mass of finite size acts like a point mass with all of the mass at its center, and the mathematics carries over to the electric case.

 

[JoeyBob]

You should distinguish between Gravitational and Electric Potential. They are very distinct. ``Everything has 'some of each' but in the majority of circumstances that are commonly described, only one of them dominates. It's the Gravitational Potential that governs what planets do and it's the Electrical potential that describes the behaviour of electrons and ions in most circuits and old TV tubes. Life as a small flying insect involves both gravitational and electrical forces because the viscosity of the air is caused by electrical potential at a molecular level but, in still air and without flapping its wings, gravitational force will pull an insect down to the Earth (very slowly). You won't get asked questions about that situation at School level."When I look this up". Where are you looking?

Google... https://www.google.com/search?q=ele...69i60j69i61.7079j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

But as you can see its talking about electric potential energy. Is this the same as potential energy? Even if I look this up...

https://www.google.com/search?q=ele...0i22i30i395.8271j1j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Doesnt give what I want...

 

[Dale]

But as you can see its talking about electric potential energy. Is this the same as potential energy

Electric potential energy is one type of potential energy. Similarly with gravitational potential energy, chemical potential energy, elastic potential energy, etc.

 

[JoeyBob]

So its change is the same as negative work?

 

[sophiecentaur]

But as you can see its talking about electric potential energy. Is this the same as potential energy?

Did you read the first two lines of my post which you have just quoted? The word "potential```' refers to stored energy per unit of charge (or mass).
To clear things up: Electrical Potential Energy (E) is the Electrical Potential (V) times the amount of charge (Q) involved
E = QV
Likewise for Gravitational Potential and GPE, where the total Energy is the Potential times the Mass.

 

[vanhees71]

And all that holds only for static electric fields!

 

[nasu]

So its change is the same as negative work?

Yes, the definition in terms of work is the same for all types of potential energy.