Electric Potential

Source lecture(s): SC134 Lec5

Physical Meaning

Potential energy per unit charge.

Variable Definitions

Symbol	Meaning
\(V\)	potential
\(U\)	potential energy
\(q\)	charge

Assumptions

Conservative electrostatic field; zero at infinity.

Derivation

Work to bring \(q\) from infinity against conservative force, divide by \(q\).

Applications

Voltmeters, capacitor design, nerve-cell potentials.

Connections to Other Equations

• electric-field-eq
• equipotential