Energy

Potential
Electric Potential Energy
Difference

Recall: An object held above the Earth’s surface has a gravitational

potential energy associated with its position.

Similarly: A charge placed in an electric field will have an electrical

potential energy associated with its position.

electric potential energy difference ΔPE electric and electric potential

difference ΔV can be difficult concepts to keep straight.
Electrical Potential Energy in a Uniform
Electrical Field
The electric field between two parallel plates is an example of a uniform electric field.

A positive charge placed at Point P will feel an

electrical force directed towards the negative
plate.

Due to its location in the field the charge has

electrical potential energy.

If the charge is released, it will accelerate

towards the negative plate. The PE electric at the
positive plate is transferred to kinetic energy
(motion)
Connection : freefall in a gravitational field
The change in potential energy for a positive charge placed at Point P if it
moves to the negative plate can be expressed as:

The negative sign indicates that the amount of PE is

decreasing. Work is being done on the charge by
field.

This equation only applies to a uniform electric field.

 Electrical Potential Difference
Electrical potential difference is defined as the work done per unit of charge
(Joules per Coulomb) while moving the charge between two points in an
electric field. It can also be thought of as the change in PE per unit of charge
between two points in an electric field.

The negative sign indicates that the direction of decreasing potential is the same as the field
direction.
How much electrical
PE?
Electrical P.E. is also called VOLTAGE or
POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

Unit for electrical potential → VOLT

• 1 Volt = 1 Joule/Coulomb

Amount of work done in moving

a charge and the amount of charge
moved.
Example #1
An object with +3 coulombs of charge is pushed toward a positively charged plate. 6
joules of energy are expended in pushing the charge. What amount of electrical potential
energy has been stored in the field between the charged object and the plate?

V=W
q
V=6J
3C
V = 2 J/C or 2
V
Example #2
An object with 2 coulombs of charge is accelerated using an electrical
potential of 10 volts. How much kinetic energy does the object receive?
Example #3
• An object with a charge of 0.5 coulombs is pushed 0.2 meters toward a
negatively charged plate with a force of 10 newtons.

• What is the energy required to do this?

W = Fd = (10 N)(0.2 m) = 2 J

• What is the electrical potential energy of the object after it is pushed?

Example #4
An electron travels a distance of 2 x 10-3 m while being raised to an electrical potential of
3000 volts. What is the work done on the electron?

V = Wq

W = Vq = (3000 V)(1.6 x 10-19 C) = 4.8 x 10-16 J

Note the following:

The potential energy of the electron DECREASES by 1.6 x 10-19 Joules. The
kinetic energy would increase by the same amount.

1.6 x 10-19 Joules = 1 electron volt. An eV is a unit of energy equivalent to the

energy change of an electron accelerated through a potential difference of one
volt.

The eV is used mainly to describe small amounts of energy.

THANKS
