Electric potential difference is a measure of the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field.

The electric potential difference between two points and is given by the following equation:

• Definitions
  • is the electric potential difference between points and , measured in Volts
  • and are the electric potential at points and , measured in Volts
  • and are the distances between the charge and the points and , measured in meters (m)
  • is the charge, measured in Coulomb
  • is Coulomb's constant

Because electric potential energy is a conservative force and electric potential is a pre-calculation for the energy a particle would have. The difference in electric potential between two points is the energy a particle would gain or lose if it moved from one point to the other. In other words the electric potential difference is the work done on a particle to move it from one point to another. The work to move a particle from point to point can be given by the following equation

• Definitions
  • is the work required to move the particle
  • is the electric potential difference between points and , measured in Volts
  • is the charge being moved, measured in Coulomb

Examples

A Charge is Placed at

What is the Change in Voltage between and ?

What Would Be the Work Required to Move an Electron from to ?

A Charge is Placed at

Sketch the Voltage Near the Charge

What is the Voltage at ?

If a Proton Was Released from Rest at , what Would Its Speed at Be?

If an Electron is Released from Rest at , what is Its Speed at ?