Electrical Engineering ⇒ Topic : Electric Potential Energy
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Maninder
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Electric Potential Energy We know that earth has gravitational field which attracts the bodies towards earth. When a body is raised above the ground level, it possesses mechanical potential energy which is equal to the amount of work done in raising the body to that point. The greater the height to which the body is raised, the greater will be its potential energy. Thus, the potential energy of the body depends upon its position in the gravitational field; being zero on earth's surface. Strictly speaking, sea level is chosen as the place of zero potential energy. Like earth's gravitational field, every charge (+ Q) has electric field which theoretically extends upto infinity If a small positive test charge qo is placed in this electric field, the test charge will experience a force of repulsion. If test charge +qo is moved towards + Q, work will have to be done against the force of repulsion. This work done is stored in +qo in the form of potential energy. We say the charge +qo has electric potential energy. The electric potential energy of +qo To depends upon its position in the electric field ; being zero if +qo is situated at infinity. From the above discussion, it follows that just as a mass has mechanical potential energy in the gravitational field, similarly a charge has electric potential energy in the electric field. The electric potential energy of a charge is positive or negative depending upon the kind of charge | |
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