Electric Potential
Definition
Electric potential refers to the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge at a specific point in an electric field. It represents how much work would be done to move a positive test charge from infinity to that point.
Analogy
Think of climbing up or down stairs in a building. The higher you go, the more gravitational potential energy you have. Similarly, as you move closer to a positively charged object, your electrical potential increases.
Related terms
Volts: Volts are units used to measure electric potential difference or voltage.
Capacitor: A capacitor stores electrical energy by accumulating opposite charges on two conductive plates separated by an insulating material.
Equipotential Lines/Surfaces: These are imaginary lines/surfaces that connect points with equal electrical potentials within an electric field.
"Electric Potential" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.