Electrical Potential Energy Chapter 18.1

Electrical Potential Energy Electrical Potential Energy – Potential energy associated with an object due to its position relative to a source of electric force. Similar to how the gravitational force associated with an object's position relative to earth creates gravitational potential energy.

Work in an Electric Field A charged object can have potential energy by virtue of its location in an electric field. Work is required to push a charged particle against the electric field of a charged body.

Uniform Electric Field The electrical potential energy can be associated with a charge in a uniform field. The electric potential energy will increase if the charge is negative and decrease if the charge is positive.

Electric Potential Energy in a Uniform Electric Field

Electric Potential Pair of Charges Electrical potential energy can be associated with a pair of charges. Because the electric field is no longer uniform, a new equation must be used to describe the electric potential energy.

Electrical Potential Energy for a Pair of Charges

Example Problem In the classical model, an electron has a radius of r = 2.82x m. Thus, two electrons could be as close as 2r. Calculate the electrical potential energy for two electrons that are touching.

Example Answer