Electric Potential PROBLEM SOLVING

3. How much work to move a -20uC charge from

an electric potential of -40V to 320V?
1. What is the change of electric potential
Electric potential (V) is a scalar
energy when a 0.0125 J of work is applied to
A E B
quantity that is equal to the electric +
a -200 uC charge. -
potential energy (PE) or (u) divided by - +
F
charge (q). In other words, electric - - +
potential is simply the ratio of electric - +
- +
potential energy per unit charge.
- 40V 320V
V= PE/Q
Electric potential difference on the
other hand, commonly known as
voltage. Voltage is the change in 2. A positive charge is released from rest at

electric potential. point A, as shown at the figure below as it

accelerates toward point B. (a) is the charge's 4. How much work to move a 20uC charge from an

electric potential energy increasing or electric potential of 160V to -40V? If the charge

Example decreasing? (b) what about it's kinetic energy? accelerates from rest, what is the final speed if it has

R the mass of 0.002kg

(c) is the work positive or negative?
B A
A E B
+ -
F
+ -
100 V 50 V
+ -
+ + -
E -
+ +
+
-
-

+ F - 160V
- 40V
+
NOTE: When the voltage travels from a low to a high + A B - a)
value the voltage is increasing thus the result being
positive and vice versa
+ -
VOLTAGE CAN ALSO BE SOLVED USING THIS
FORMULA BELOW:
a) The potential energy is decreasing since the velocity of the
charge is increasing

b) The kinetic energy is increasing due to the law of b)

conservation of energy wherein if the potential energy
decreases the kinetic energy increases and vice versa.
ANOTHER FORMULA TO BE FAMILIAR WITH IS:
c) Work is equal to the change of kinetic energy and equal to
the negative change of potential energy. Since the change of
kinetic energy is positive and the change of potential energy is
negtaive, therfore, the work done is postive.

THEREFORE, WE CAN REWRITE THE FORMULA TO:

NOTE: Work is equal to the force multiplied by displacement (W=FD).
If the force and displacement are in the same direction the work is
positive, but if the force and displacement are in the opposite
direction the work becomes negative. And if the force and
displacement are perpendicular to each other, the work is equal to 0