Chapter 23
Electric Potential
M. Moodley, 2017
, 23.1 Electric Potential Energy
Review of work and energy from mechanics:
• Work done by a force to move a body from point a to b:
• For a conservative force work can be defined in terms
of a potential energy:
• The work-energy theorem ( change in kinetic energy
= total work done):
the total mechanical
energy is conserved
2
, Electric Potential Energy in a Uniform Field
• A test charge q0 moving from a to b experiences a
force
• Work done by this force is
• this work done is
independent of the
path taken
• work is positive
since the force is in the
same direction as the
net displacement of q0
3
Electric Potential
M. Moodley, 2017
, 23.1 Electric Potential Energy
Review of work and energy from mechanics:
• Work done by a force to move a body from point a to b:
• For a conservative force work can be defined in terms
of a potential energy:
• The work-energy theorem ( change in kinetic energy
= total work done):
the total mechanical
energy is conserved
2
, Electric Potential Energy in a Uniform Field
• A test charge q0 moving from a to b experiences a
force
• Work done by this force is
• this work done is
independent of the
path taken
• work is positive
since the force is in the
same direction as the
net displacement of q0
3
