4: Electric Potential Energy, Electrical Potential or Voltage, and Capacitance
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- 4.4: Electric Potential and Potential Difference
- Electric potential is potential energy per unit charge. The potential difference between points A and B, VB−VA, that is, the change in potential of a charge q moved from A to B, is equal to the change in potential energy divided by the charge. Potential difference is commonly called voltage, represented by the symbol ΔV.
Thumbnail: The electric field lines are found by drawing them perpendicular to the equipotentials. Note that these fields are consistent with two equal negative charges.