I am really confuse about these two. The book definitions aren't really helping either. When do we need V and when do we need U? Why aren't they the same? Is U = Work?
Electric Potential Vs. Electric Potential Energy
- Thread starter Gpan
- Start date
- Joined
- May 9, 2007
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 0
Think of a parallel plate capacitor with potential difference of 12V. If you place a test charge in between the electric field will accelerate it to the (-) end. Work is done here by the Electric field on the charge.
You know W = F x d
and E = F / q
so W = Eq x d
this is potential energy and the units will be in joules
By definition electric potential (voltage) is PE / q [Volts]
Voltage is potential difference of a test charge. It will be high near the (+) end of the plate and low near the (-)
It is difficult to really explain this without a diagram so look at a capacitor and see what I have written above. Hope that helps!
You know W = F x d
and E = F / q
so W = Eq x d
this is potential energy and the units will be in joules
By definition electric potential (voltage) is PE / q [Volts]
Voltage is potential difference of a test charge. It will be high near the (+) end of the plate and low near the (-)
It is difficult to really explain this without a diagram so look at a capacitor and see what I have written above. Hope that helps!
This video really helped me figure out the differences. I'm studying with Kaplan and it makes a distinction, but again, it didn't make that much sense at first. Hope this helps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqGvUbvVQXg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqGvUbvVQXg&feature=related
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2011
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
