What is the difference between potential and potential energy? Is the work done in a conservative force field the difference in the potential or is it a difference in the potential energy?
Answer
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Hint: This question is based on the concept of conservative force. A conservative force is defined as that force, which has the property that the total work done in moving a particular particle between any two points is completely independent of the path taken.
Complete step by step answer:
The basic difference between electric potential and potential energy is:
Mostly, this reference point is taken to be Earth, although any point beyond the influence of the electric field charge can be used.
The work done by any conservative force is equal to the negative of change in potential energy. So, the work done in a conservative force field is known as the potential energy.
Note:
Apart from conservative forces, the other kind of force is the non-conservative force. A non conservative force is defined as that force, which has the property that the total work done in moving a particular particle between any two points is dependent on the path taken.
Complete step by step answer:
The basic difference between electric potential and potential energy is:
| Electric potential | Potential energy |
| Electric potential is defined as the amount of work which is needed to be done in order to move a unit charge from any reference point to a specific point against an electric field. | Potential energy is defined as the inherent energy of a body relative to its static position to the other objects. |
| There is no sub division in the electric potential. | There are two types of potential energy, namely, elastic potential energy and gravitational potential energy. |
| The SI unit of potential is Volt. | The SI unit of potential energy is Joule |
Mostly, this reference point is taken to be Earth, although any point beyond the influence of the electric field charge can be used.
The work done by any conservative force is equal to the negative of change in potential energy. So, the work done in a conservative force field is known as the potential energy.
Note:
Apart from conservative forces, the other kind of force is the non-conservative force. A non conservative force is defined as that force, which has the property that the total work done in moving a particular particle between any two points is dependent on the path taken.
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