Chapter 23, Problem 23.1DQ

A student asked. “Since electrical potential is always proportional to potential energy, why bother with the concept of potential at all?” How would you respond?

To determine

To explain: The concept of the potential even though the electric potential is proportional with potential energy.

Explanation of Solution

The electric field is a vector quantity and it defines the force per unit charge on the charged particle in the field. The charged particle flows in an electric field, at an instant the electric field can exert electric force which does work on the particle, work is the electric potential energy, which is scalar quantity and it calculates the charged particle’s energies.

The electric potential of a certain region defines the potential energy per unit charge placed at the particular point. The electric field concept and the potential remains the same. An effect of the source charges can be calculated using the potential in the space around them.

The test point charge is placed in the potential where the effect of the source charges is made can include the electric potential energy. The potential concept can be used in the analysis of electrical circuits.

Conclusion: Therefore, there is difference in the concept of the potential even though the electric potential is proportional with the potential energy.