Potential
Definition
The potential refers to the electric potential energy per unit charge at a specific point in an electric field. It represents the work done to move a positive test charge from infinity to that point.
Analogy
Think of the potential as a hill. The height of the hill represents the potential, and the steeper the hill, the higher the potential. Just like it takes more effort to climb a steep hill, it takes more work (or energy) to move a positive charge against a higher potential.
Related terms
Electric Field: The electric field is a region around charged particles or objects where other charged particles experience forces. It is related to the gradient of the electric potential.
Voltage: Voltage is another term for electric potential difference. It measures how much work is required to move a charge between two points in an electric field.
Equipotential Lines: These are imaginary lines drawn through space that connect points with equal potentials. They help visualize and understand how potentials vary in different regions of an electric field.
"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.