Electric Potential and

Potential Energy
7/21/2021
Electric Potential and Potential Energy
• The electric potential (Va) at point (a) is defined as the Electric
Potential Energy (EPEa) per unit charge (q) placed at a point
• Formula:
• Va= EPEa/q
• From this formula you can solve for the Electric Potential energy and the charge q
depending on the given knowns
• Electic Potential due to a point charge
• The Electric potential due to a point charge at a distance ( R ) from a charge is
V= k q/r
• The Unit of electric potential is volts (V), where V= 1 J/C
Work Completed by Electric Forces
• Work is completed by electric forces when a particle or an object
moves in a region of space exerts electric forces on the object which
results in work being created
• Electric Forces are considered a conservative force ( similar to gravity),
therefore, the work created by the force is the negative change in
potenetial energy, which equals –(q*Vf-q*Vi) =-(EPEf-EPEi)
General Notes
• Electron Volt (ev) = The unit of energy that is gained by an electron which
is accelerated through a potential difference of 1V
• 1eV = 1.6 x 10^-19
• Equipotential Lines
• Equipotential lines are exactly what you think they are – Lines of equal potential.
• If you out a Charge q on a
• specific distance (As shown on the picture below) and spin it on the same circle
that it is on the change
in voltage would be equal to 0 because all of the points that
are around the circle but are of the same distance would have
The same electric field exerted on them on the same distance
Relations Between Potential and Electric
Field
• Derivation of Formulas:
W= F* D
W= -q * (Vf-Vi)
F*d = -q (Vf-Vi)
We know that F=qE , so:
qEd = -q (Vf-Vi)

E= - (Vf-Vi) / d
Capacitance and Dielectrics
• A Capacitor is an object that stores charge, it is created using two
conductors that are separated by a dielectric
• The value of the capacitance of a capacitor depends on the
capacitor’s characteristics and the dielectric materials being used

• C is capacitance in Farads
• E is the permittivity of dielectric
• A is the Area of plates
• D is the distance between the plates in meters
• K is the dielectric constant of the insulating materials that is being used
Capacitance and Dielectrics Continued
• Capacitance can also be found using the formula C = Q/V, where Q is the
charge that is stored in Coulombs and V is the potential difference between
the surface in Volts
• The Energy that is stored in a charging capacitor from an uncharged to a
charged condition can be represented by the following formulas:

• The symbol used to represent a capacitor: