Electric Potential is the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge. We often refer to the difference in potential between two points as Voltage.

Potential vs. Potential Energy

Think of electric potential like “height” in a gravitational field. A high potential doesn’t mean there is energy unless you actually place a charge there to feel it.

\[V = \frac{U_e}{q}\]
  • $V$: Electric Potential (Volts, V)
  • $U_e$: Electric Potential Energy (Joules, J)
  • $q$: Charge (Coulombs, C)

💡 Quick Concept Check:

Does a high voltage always mean a high amount of energy?

Click to Reveal Answer
No. Voltage is energy **per charge**. A spark from a sweater might be thousands of volts, but because the amount of charge ($q$) is tiny, the total energy ($U_e$) is harmless.
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