Electric Potential

Electric Potential Energy Dependency: 1) Electric Charge – a property of the object experiencing the electric field. 2) Distance from the source – the location within the electric field. An object with twice the charge will experience twice the potential energy when placed at the same location. Yet the electric potential will remain the same for both objects.

The Equation: Electric Potential = PE/Q The potential energy per charge.

Electric Potential in Circuits High potential terminal = + terminal Low potential terminal = - terminal Charge moving through wires will encounter changes in electric potential in the circuit. There is an electric field established between the two terminals. The movement of a positive test charge through the cells from the negative terminal to the positive terminal would require work. This would increase the potential energy of every Coulomb of charge that moves along the path.

Electric Potential in a Circuit Continued