Potential Energy, in DC Circuits

DC Circuits Potential Energy in DC Circuits

Potential energy for a system of electrically charged particles, q_i can be defined as

where = 8.854 x 10 C/N m is the permittivity of free space, q' is a test charge, qi is a charged particle, and ri is the distance betwen the test charge and the charges q_i.

Potential difference (or simply 'potential', sometimes referred to as 'voltage') is related to electrical potential energy, U, by:

U = Vq'

That is, potential mutliplied by the test charge gives electrical potential energy.

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