Talha's Physics Academy
Electrostatics - Electric Potential and Voltage
Q. Define the following terms: (i) Electric Potential Energy (ii) Electric Potential (iii) Potential Difference (iv) Volt
(i) Electric Potential Energy
"When an object moves against an electric field, it gains a certain amount of energy stored as electric potential energy."
Work done in moving a charge against the electrostatic field is stored within the system as potential energy ($U$).
(ii) Electric Potential
"The amount of work done in order to transport a unit positive charge from a reference point (infinity) to a given location within the electric field without causing acceleration is called electric potential."
Electric potential ($V$) is obtained by dividing the electric potential energy ($U$) by the magnitude of the test charge ($q$):
$V = \frac{U}{q}$
(iii) Potential Difference
"Potential difference is the work done per unit charge to move a test charge from one point to another point in an electric field."
It is also commonly known as voltage ($\Delta V$ or $V$), representing the energy change per unit charge between two specific points:
$\Delta V = \frac{W_{AB}}{q}$
(iv) Volt
"The potential difference between two points is one volt if 1 joule of work is done in moving a charge of 1 coulomb from one point to the other."
$1 \, \text{V} = \frac{1 \, \text{J}}{1 \, \text{C}}$
Alternatively, in the context of current and resistance (Ohm's law), 1 volt is the potential difference that exists across a $1 \, \Omega$ resistance when a steady current of $1 \, \text{A}$ passes through it ($V = I R$).
No comments:
Post a Comment