Electric Potential Work and Potential Energy（电势工作和势能）.pdf

PHY2061 Enriched Physics 2 Lecture Notes Electric Potential Electric Potential Disclaimer: These lecture notes are not meant to replace the course textbook. The content may be incomplete. Some topics may be unclear. These notes are only meant to be a study aid and a supplement to your own notes. Please report any inaccuracies to the professor. Work and Potential Energy Applying a force over a distance requires work: W F =⋅d if F and d are constant f W F =⋅ds otherwise to move the object from initial point i to final point f 12 ∫i The work done by a force on an object to move it from point i to pointf is opposite to the change in the potential energy: W =−ΔU =− U −U ( f i ) In other words, if the work expended by the force is positive, the potential energy of the object is lowered. For example, if an apple is dropped from the branch of a tree, the force of gravity does work to move (accelerate actually) the apple from the branch to the ground. The apple now has less gravitational potential energy. These concepts are independent of the type of force. So the same principal also applies to the electric field acting on an electric charge. We define the electric potential as the potential energy of a positive test charge divided by the charge q of the test charge. 0 U V q0 It is by definition a scalar quantity, not a vector like the electric field. The SI unit of electric potential is the Volt (V) which is 1 Joule/Coulomb. The units of the electric field, which are N/C, can also be written as V/m (discussed later). Changes in the electric potential similarly relate to changes in the potential energy: ΔU ΔV q0 D. Acosta Page 1 9/12/2006