Electric Potential Difference

Quote

“the difference in potential energy per unit charge between two locations in an electric field”

This isn’t to be confused with Electrical Potential Energy. Electric Potential Difference ¹ has to do with the general potential energy based on this particle on space around it.

The relationship between Electric Force and The Electric Field is the same as the relationship between Electrical Potential Energy and Potential Difference.

The equation for the electric potential is:

We can relate to Electrical Potential Energy:

We can rearrange this to create another definition for potential difference as the Work per unit charge.

We can relate potential difference to Electric Field, just as we can relate Electric Force to Electric Potential Energy:

Electric Potential is measured in (Joules per Coulombs) or (Volts). In circuits, we usually refer to potential difference as voltage.

Equipotential Lines show the potential difference field in a system.

Footnotes

1. (otherwise seen as potential/potential difference/electric potential/difference). ↩