Electric Fields

Question 1

What is ELECTRIC POTENTIAL?

Answer 1

The electric potential, V, at a point is defined as the work done per unit charge in bringing a positive charge from infinity to that point.

Therefore, electric potential is zero at infinity.

Question 2

What is ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY?

Answer 2

For two charged particles separated by distance r is defined as the work done to bring the charged particles from infinity to that separation r.

Question 3

What does a NEGATIVE POTENTIAL ENERGY MEAN?

Answer 3

Work must be done against the electric field e.g. opposite charges to increase elastic potential.

for like charges, ELECTRIC POTENTIAL increases as distance r, decreases.

Question 4

What are EQUIPOTENTIALS?

Answer 4

Lines where any point on that line have the same electric potential.

Question 5

What is COULOUMB’S LAW?

Answer 5

Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract, and the force proportional to the product of the charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them (from their centres)