Electric Potentials

Definition

Electric potentials refer to the amount of electrical potential energy per unit charge at any given point in an electric field. It represents how much work is required to move a positive test charge from infinity to that point without acceleration.

Analogy

Imagine climbing a hill. The electric potential is like the height of the hill at different points. The higher the hill, the more work you have to do to climb it, just like how higher electric potentials require more work to move a charge.

Related terms

Voltage: Another term for electric potential difference, which represents the energy per unit charge required to move a charge between two points in an electric field.

Equipotential Surfaces: Imaginary surfaces where all points have the same electric potential.

Capacitance: A measure of how much electrical energy can be stored in a capacitor per unit voltage applied.