Current Electricity

Electric Field
A charged balloon can have an attractive affect upon an oppositely
charged balloon even when they are not in contact. The electric force
acts over the distance separating the two objects.
Electric field is a vector quantity whose direction is defined as the
direction that a positive test charge would be pushed when placed in
the field.

charges-and-fields_en.jar

Electric Field, Work, and

Potential
In Motion under gravityEnergy
, there is a loss of potential energy (and a gain of
kinetic energy).

On the other hand, energy would be required to move a massive object against
its gravitational field. A stationary object would not naturally move against the
field and gain potential energy.

Similarly, in the context of charges

The energy which particle possesses by virtue of its
location electric potential energy

Electric Potential
Gravitational Potential
Potential energy is dependent on Mass as well as the
height
Potential is used to make it mass independent
Potential = Potential energy per unit mass

Electric Potential
Electric Potential energy is dependent on Charge as
well as the position
Electric potential = Potential energy per unit charge
Hence, electric potential would be same for different
amount of charges kept at same location

Electric Potential
Unit is volt, so it is also called as voltage.
1 volt = 1 Joule/1 coulomb
The significance of Electric potential definite value for it can be assigned to a
location in an electric field.

Electric Potential in Circuits

Within the electrochemical cells of the battery, electric field is
established from the positive terminal towards the negative terminal.
The movement of a positive test charge through the cells from the ve to
the +ve terminal would require work, thus increasing the potential
energy of every Coulomb of charge that moves along this path movement of positive charge against the electric field. Thats why
positive terminal is described as the high potential terminal
The movement of positive charge through the wires from the positive
terminal to the negative terminal would occur naturally- in the direction
of the electric field and would not require work. The charge would lose
potential energy as moves through the external circuit from the positive
terminal to the negative terminal. The negative terminal is described as
the low potential terminal.
Electric circuit is an energy conversion system.
Chemical energy of the electrochemical cell will move the charge
against the electric field converted into potential energy used to do
the work on bulb or motor etc. positive charge returns to low potential
with low energy Cycle repeats.

Quiz
1.

The quantity electric potential is defined as the amount of _____.

2.

When work is done on a positive test charge by an external force to move it

from one location to another, potential energy _________ (increases,
decreases) and electric potential _________ (increases, decreases).

3.

The following diagrams show an electric field (represented by arrows) and

two points - labeled A and B - located within the electric field. A positive test
charge is shown at point A. To move charge from point A to point B, answer
a) Work done on charge? b) Electric PE is greatest at.. c) Electric
potential is greatest at.

Electric Potential Difference

The electric potential difference is the difference in
electric potential (V) between the final and the initial
location when work is done upon a charge to change its
potential energy.

If a 12 volt battery is used in the circuit, then every coulomb of charge is

gaining 12 joules of potential energy as it moves through the battery.
Every coulomb of charge loses 12 joules of electric potential energy as it
passes through the external circuit.
The loss of this electric potential energy in the external circuit results in a
gain in light energy, thermal energy and other forms of non-electrical
energy.

Electric Potential Drop

Quiz
1. If a battery provides a high voltage, it can ____.
a.

do a lot of work over the course of its lifetime

b.

do a lot of work on each charge it encounters

c.

push a lot of charge through a circuit

d.

last a long time

2. Refer to the circuit and answer

e. Compared to point D, point A is _____ electric potential.
f.

The electric potential energy of a charge is zero at point _____.

g. Energy is required to force a positive test charge to move ___

h. The energy required to move +2 C of charge between points D and A is ____ J

3. Refer to the circuit