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3: The Electric Potential

Last updated

Jul 11, 2024
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- 2.12: The Electric Field (Answers)
- 3.1: Introduction

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3.1: Introduction
This section provides an introduction to an energy-based approach to electrical phenomena, including the concepts of electric potential energy and electric potential (voltage).
3.2: Work and Energy
In this section, we summarize some basic principles of physics related to work and energy, including kinetic energy and potential energy.
3.3: Electric Potential Energy
In this section, we begin to explore the use of energy to describe physical systems with electric charges through the definition of electric potential energy.
3.4: Electric Potential Energy of Point Charges
In this section, we begin to explore the use of energy to describe physical systems with electric charges through the definition of electric potential energy.
3.5: Electric Potential
Electric potential is potential energy per unit charge. The potential difference between points A and B, 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.
3.6: Electric Potential of a Point Charge
Point charges, such as electrons, are among the fundamental building blocks of matter. Furthermore, spherical charge distributions (such as charge on a metal sphere) create external electric fields exactly like a point charge. The electric potential due to a point charge is, thus, a case we need to consider.
3.7: Common Models of Electric Potential
Many practical scenarios contain so many individual charges that they can be effectively considered as a continuous distribution of charge. This section will summarize the electric potentials that result from some common geometries of charge distribution, including a finite line, ring, disk, and infinite line.
3.8: Electric Potential (Summary)
3.9: The Electric Potential (Exercises)
3.10: The Electric Potential (Answers)

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