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Electric potential

Definition of the electric potential

Electric potential is defined as the electric potential energy per unit charge. Suppose that when it is at point a, the charge q has the electric potential energy equal to EPa, then the electric potential at point a is formulated as follows:

Electric potential 1

V = electric potential, EP = electric potential energy, q = electric charge

V is not only at point a but also at all points in the electric field. Point a is used as an example. As will be explained later, the V does not depend on the charge q.

The EP and electric charge are scalar quantities so that the V also includes scalar quantities. The international system unit of the EP is Joule and the international system unit of electrical charge is Coulomb so that the international system unit of V is Joule per Coulomb (J/C). Another name for J/C is the Volt, derived from the name of the Italian scientist and inventor of the electric battery, Alessandro Volta (1745-1827).

Electric potential difference

The V at a point such as V at point a, i.e., Va, cannot be known because the most important is the change in electrical potential. The changes in electric potential can be known by its value, either through calculations or measurements. The V changes when charge q moves from one point to another. Suppose the charge q moves from point a to point b then the change in the V is:

Electric potential 2

Vab is an V difference between two points in an electric field, for example, points a and b. The difference in V between points a and b (Vab) is the same as the work done by the electric force in the electric charge when moving from point a to point b, per unit charge (Wab / q). It should be noted that the work done by the electric force of the charge q when moving from point a to point b (Wab) is equal to the change in the electric potential energy of charge q (ΔEP). Therefore, in the equation above, ΔEP can be replaced with Wab.

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When an object is at a certain height above the ground surface, it has gravitational potential energy, where the ground surface is used as a reference point. In this case, the height of the ground surface and the gravitational potential energy right at the ground surface is set to zero. Similar to the gravitational potential energy, when we state a point to have a certain electrical potential, it must be another point used as a reference point, considering only the difference in electric potential that can be calculated. Usually, ground or electrical conductors connected to the ground are chosen as reference points, where the electric potential of the conductor or the electric potential in the ground is set to zero. So if a point has an electric potential of 12 Volts, the electric potential difference between that point and the ground is 12 Volts. At a 6 Volt battery, the electric potential difference between the positive terminal and the negative terminal is 6 Volts. Because the unit of the electric potential difference is Volt, the electric potential difference between two points is typically referred to as voltage.

The above electrical potential difference equation can be written again as follows:

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Electric potential 3

If the charge q passes through the electric potential difference Vab, the potential energy changes by ΔEP. For example, the charge of 2 Coulomb passes through the electric potential difference of 12 Volts, the electrical potential energy changes by (2 C)(12 V) = 24 Joules. Likewise, if the 4 Coulomb charge passes through an electric potential difference of 24 Volts, the electric potential energy changes by (4 C) (24 V) = 96 Joules.

So, the change in electric potential energy (ΔEP) is proportional to the charge (q) and voltage (Vab). The higher the electrical charge and voltage, the higher the change in the electric potential energy. Potential energy is related to the ability to do work, so that if the changes in the electric potential energy are significant, then the ability to do work is also significant.

The equation of the V difference above is still general. To get a more detailed V equation, review the electric potential difference in the homogeneous electric field and the electric potential difference produced by a single charge.

The electric potential in the homogeneous electric field

The difference in the V between two points in a homogeneous electric field, for example, point a and point b, can be calculated using the equation below:

Electric potential 4

Vab = the V difference between two points, E = electric field, and d = distance between two points.

V produced by the single charge

The V at a point due to a single charge that generates the electric field can be calculated using the equation:

Electric potential 5

Vab = the V difference between two points, k = Coulomb constant, Q = single charge which produces the electric field, r = distance between charge Q and the point at which the V is calculated.

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The relationship between the electric field (E) and the electric potential (V)

The electric field E is a vector quantity, while the V is a scalar quantity. Vector quantity involves the direction so that it is more challenging to calculate compared to calculating the scalar quantities. To facilitate the calculation of the electric field, using an equation which states the relationship between the electric field and the V.

The potential difference equation described earlier is rewritten as follows:

Electric potential 6

Mathematically, work is the product of force and displacement, where force is the product of the charge and electric field. The relationship between work, force, and displacement are expressed through the equation below:

Electric potential 7

If the two equations above are put together, then the new equation is generated as below:

Electric potential 8

E = electric field, Vab = the electric potential difference between two points such as points a and b, d = distance between two points.

The potential difference unit is the Volt, and the unit of distance is the meter so that the electric field can be stated in units of Volt per meter (V/m).

This equation can be used to determine the electric (homogeneous) field known as the potential difference between two points and the distance between the two points. Based on the equation, the electric field is proportional to the V and inversely proportional to distance. This means that the higher the V, the higher the electric field and the higher the distance, the smaller the electric field.

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