Equipotential Line Graphs are like a contour map, but they show potential difference rather than elevation.
- Moving a potential charge to a higher potential is like moving a mass to a high altitude. The Electric Potential Difference is like height, and the electric field is like steepness.
- Positive charges tend to accelerate towards a lower potential (like a ball rolling down a hill), and negative charges tend to accelerate towards a higher potential (like a ball with negative mass rolling up a hill lol).
- Electric Field lines (black) are always perpendicular to Equipotential Lines (gold).
We can calculate the work needed to move a charge from from one line to another: