Physics 2 Mechanical Energy

Electric Potential
The mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential
Voltage energies.
It is the electric potential difference between any points Mechanical E=∑ of K . E .∧P . E .
in a circuit.
E=K . E .+ P . E .
SI unit of voltage is volt (V).
Voltage=change ∈electric potential E=K +U

V =∆ V ba
V =V b−V a Law of Conservation of Energy
This law states that the final energies is equal to initial
energies.
Electric Potential Difference
Final Energies=Initial Energies
Electric potential difference is the amount of work done KE b + PEb=KE a+ PE a
to carry a unit charge from one point to another in an
electric field. K b +U b=K a +U a
SI unit of electric potential difference is volt (V). K b −K a=U a−U b

∆ K =−∆ U
Work W =∆ K
Work– Energy Theorem:
Work is the product of force and displacement.
W =∆ K ∆ K =−∆ U
SI unit of work is Joules (J).
Law of Conservation of W =−∆ U
Work =force x distance Energy:
W =q ∙ E ∙d
W =F ∙ d ∆ K =−∆ U
∆ U =−q ∙ E ∙ d
W =q ∙ E ∙d Work:

W =q ∙ E ∙d
Work – Energy Theorem
The principle of work and kinetic energy states that the
work done by the sum of the all forces acting on a
particle equals the change in the kinetic energy of the Electric Potential
particle.
The electric potential is defined as electric potential energy
Work =change∈ kinetic energy per unit charge.
W =KE b−KE a Electric potential is represented with the symbol V .

W =∆ K . E . Electric Potential=Potential E ÷ Charge

W =∆ K U
V=
q
 Energy
Electric Potential Ub Ua
Difference:
V ba= −
q q The SI unit if energy is:
V ba=V b−V a U b −U a
V ba= Joules(J )
Electric Potential: q
But a joule is a very large unit in dealing with energies of
U ∆U electrons, atoms, or molecules.
V= V ba=
q q
Instead of using joule, another unit is to be used:
Potential Energy:
−W
V ba= electron volt (eV )
q
W =−∆ U

Electron Volt (eV)

Volt
One electron volt is defined as the energy acquired by a
The unit of electric potential and electric potential
particle carrying a charge of whose magnitude equals that
difference is Joules/Coulomb (J/C) which is also equal to
on the electron (q=e ) as a result of moving through
volt (V).
potential difference of 1V.
J
1 V =1 1 eV =(1.602 ×10
−19
C)(1.0 V )
C
−19
Potential difference is referred to as voltage. 1 eV =1.602 ×10 J

Voltaic Pile Electric Potential Due to Point Charges

An Italian physicist, Alessandro
Volta, invented the first electric The electric potential of a single charge Q from distance r
battery namely voltaic pile. is written as:

Q
V =k
r
Voltaic pile is a battery invented by Volta. In this battery, 1 Q
layers of zinc, brine-soaked pasteboard or cloth and V= ∙
4 π ϵ0 r
silver are being stacked up.
The voltaic pile is the first device that emit steady and
lasting current.

Work W =q ∙ E ∙d
W =q ∙ E ∙d W =−q ∙ V ba
Electric Potential q ∙ E ∙ d=−q ∙ V ba
Difference of a Charge:
E ∙ d=−V ba
W =−q ∙ V ba
−V ba
E=
d
Example 1 Example 4
Suppose an electron in the picture tube of a television Determine the potential at a point 0.50 m from:
set is accelerated from rest through a potential (a) +20 μ C
difference of +5000 V . (b) −20 μ C

(a) What is the change in potential energy

of the electron?

(b) What is the speed of the electron as a

result of this acceleration?

Example 5
How much work does the electric field do in moving a
−7.7 μC charge from the ground to a point whose
potential is +55 V higher?

Example 2
Suppose a proton in the picture tube of a television set Example 6
is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of How much kinetic energy will an electron gain (in Joules
– 5000 V . and eV) if it accelerates through a potential difference of
(a) What is the change in potential energy +23 kV in a TV picture tube?
of the proton?
(b) What is the final speed of the proton?

Example 7
What is the speed of a proton whose kinetic energy is
+3.2 keV ?

Example 3
Two parallel plates are charged to produce a potential
difference of +50 V . If the separation distance between
the plates is 0.050 m , find the magnitude of the electric
field in the space between the plates. Example 8
What is the electric potential 15.0 cm from a + 4.00 μC
point charge?