The electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field. Measured in volts (V).
Electric potential is like altitude on a hill — charges 'roll downhill' from high potential to low potential, just as balls roll from high ground to low ground.
Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.
Example 1
easy
Find the energy of a +3 C charge at a point where V=4 V.
Example 2
medium
What is the electric potential 0.3 m from a point charge of 6×10−6 C? Use k=9×109 N m2/C2.
Example 3
hard
Two parallel plates separated by 2cm have a field of 4000V/m. What is the potential difference? An electron starts at rest at the negative plate; find its KE on reaching the positive plate.
Example 4
hard
A proton (q=+1.6×10−19C, m=1.67×10−27kg) is accelerated from rest through 1000V. Find its final speed.
Example 5
easy
A potential at r=5m from a charge is 40V. What is it at r=10m?
Example 6
hard
A surface inside a hollow conductor (no charges inside) has potential V0 at the wall. What is V at the center of the cavity?
Example 7
hard
A uniform electric field of E=500 N/C exists between two parallel plates separated by d=0.02 m. (a) What is the potential difference between the plates? (b) How much work is done moving a proton (q=1.6×10−19 C) from the negative to the positive plate?
Example 8
easy
What are the units of electric potential?
Example 9
easy
Charges 'roll' from high to low potential. Which way does a positive charge move if released?
Example 10
easy
Find the potential at r=1 m from a +1 C charge. Use k=9×109.
Example 11
easy
Potential at r=2 m from a charge is 9 V. What is it at r=4 m?
Example 12
medium
A +2μC charge moves from 50V to 10V. How much kinetic energy can it gain (assuming no losses)?
Example 13
medium
At what distance from a +5 C charge is the potential 1×109 V? Use k=9×109.
Example 14
medium
Two parallel plates are 0.05m apart with ΔV=250V. Find the uniform field between them.
Example 15
medium
A point is 0.10m from +5μC and 0.20m from −5μC. Find the total potential. Use k=9×109.
Example 16
medium
A charge moves and gains 50 J crossing a 10 V difference. Find the charge.
Example 17
easy
True or false: electric potential is a vector quantity.
Example 18
medium
An electron is accelerated through 250V. Find its kinetic energy gain.
Example 19
medium
An electron (q=−1.6×10−19 C) is accelerated through a potential difference of 1000 V. What kinetic energy does it gain?
Example 20
medium
A charge gains 30 J moving through a region. If the charge is 6 C, find the potential difference it crossed.