M5 Electric Potential and Potential Difference

These flashcards encompass key terms and concepts related to electric potential and potential difference, as outlined in the College Physics 2 lecture notes.

Electric potential

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

Electric potential energy

The energy that charged particles have due to their position in an electric field.

Work

A scalar quantity equal to the product of displacement and the component of force in the direction of the displacement.

Work-Energy Theorem

The principle stating that the work done by a resultant force is equal to the change in kinetic energy it produces.

Equipotential surface

A surface on which all points have the same electric potential.

Potential difference (Voltage)

The change in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electric field.

Relation between work and potential energy

The amount of work done is equal to the change in potential energy.

Scalar quantity

A quantity that only has magnitude and no direction.

Force due to an electric field

The influence exerted by an electric field on a charged object.

External force

A force required to move a charge against the electric field, thus doing work on it.

Electric field (E)

A field around charged particles that exerts a force on other charged particles.

Downward force

The force exerted by an electric field on a positive charge that moves downward.

Proton displacement

Movement of a proton in the direction of an electric field.

Potential energy equation

U = kq₁q₂/r; where U is potential energy, k is the proportionality constant, q₁ and q₂ are charges, and r is the distance.

Electric potential of a point charge

V = kq/r; where V is electric potential, k is a constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance.

Integration in electric potential energy

The potential energy of a system of charges is calculated as the sum of pairwise interactions.

Distance from charge

In potential energy equations, represents the separation between point charges.