AP Physics Unit 9 Electric Potential

Electric Potential Energy

The energy stored in a system of charged objects due to their positions relative to one another.

Work

The amount of energy required to move a charge against an electric field.

Coulomb's Constant (k)

A constant used to describe the electric force between two charges in a vacuum.

Electric Potential (V)

The electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in space.

Equipotential Lines

Lines representing points of equal electric potential; they are always perpendicular to electric field lines.

Electric Field (E)

A vector quantity representing the force experienced by a unit positive charge at a point in space.

Electric Potential Difference (ΔV)

The change in electric potential energy per unit charge when moving between two points.

Kinetic Energy (K)

The energy of motion that an object possesses.

Electric Field Vector Maps

Maps showing the direction and magnitude of the electric field at different points.

Scalar Superposition

The principle used to determine the electric potential due to multiple point charges by summing their individual potentials.

Negative Gradient

The relationship between electric potential and electric field, indicating that the electric field points in the direction of decreasing potential.

Isolines

Another term for equipotential lines; they show points of equal electric potential.

Conservation of Energy

A principle stating that total mechanical energy in a system remains constant, barring external forces.

Change in Electric Potential Energy (ΔU)

The difference in electric potential energy as a charge moves through an electric field.

Magnitude of Charges

The size or strength of the electric charge affecting the potential energy between charged objects.

Distance Between Charges

The space separating charged objects which influences their electric potential energy.

Electric Potential Energy Calculation

The summation of the potential energies from individual interactions among multiple charged objects.

Potential Energy Conversion

The process by which electric potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy or vice versa as charges move.

External Force

A force applied to move charged objects against or with the electric field.

Repulsion and Attraction

Forces acting on charged objects, where like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

Integration

A mathematical process used to derive the electric potential from electric fields or charge distributions.