Electrical Potential energy

Electricity

Electrical Potential Energy and Relative Position

​http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/semester2/c05_Upoint.html

• In order to bring two like charges near each other work must be done.   In order to separate two opposite charges, work must be done.  Remember that whenever work gets done, energy changes form.

• As the monkey does work on the positive charge, he increases the energy of that charge.  The closer he brings it, the more electrical potential energy it has.

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​Electric Potential

​Taken from http://www.sciencejoywagon.com/physicszone/07electrostatics/potentil/

Electricity

Electrical potential energy

• The potential energy of an electric charge depends on its

position in an electric field.

• The electrical potential energy of a moving charge

decreases because the electric field does work on the
charge.

​ electrical potential energy: the ability to move an

​electric charge from one point to another

Electricity

Section 2

Electric Potential Difference

• Potential difference is measured in volts.

– potential difference:the voltage difference in

potential between two points in a circuit

– For a repulsive force electrical potential energy

increases as the charges move closer to each other.

• The volt, V, is equivalent to one joule per coulomb

(1 J/C).

• Potential difference is often called voltage.