Electric+Potential

=Definition of Electric Potential (V)=


 * Electric Potential** = Electrical Potential Energy / charge

Potential Difference = Change in Electrical Potential Energy / charge

Also called __Voltage__

Equation

 * V** = -EΔd

//also can be written as://
 * V** = k C (q/r)

Units
Volts

=Example of Electrical Potential=

The voltage of the Van de Graff generator = 200,000 volts. Why doesn't it kill you? Because voltage is not a mearsurment of energy, but rather energy/charge. The charge on the Van de Graff is very low, so even though the energy/charge is high, it is not enough to damage you. Hopefully.

=Comparison to Gravity=

The voltage is like the height of a water slide.

It doesn't matter how heavy the dude at the top of the slide is, the height of the slide stays the same. It doesn't matter the magnitude of the charge placed in an electric field, the voltage across the field stays the same.

The gravitational PE depends on the mass of the dude. The electrical PE depends on the magnitude of the charge. But for voltage, V = Electrical PE **/ charge**, so the charge cancels out.