Question

What is the relationship between voltage and energy? More precisely, what is the relationship between potential difference and electric potential energy?

Short answer

The potential difference is the difference in electrical potential energy per unit charge.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Electric potential energy

Electric potential energy is potential energy that is connected with the configuration of a certain collection of point charges within a defined system and is derived from conservative Coulomb forces.

Electric potential is defined as the electric potential energy per unit charge at any point inside the electric field.

relation between voltage and energy

A potential is a quantity that helps us compare the potential energy between two points. The change in potential on moving the system between two points is directly proportional to the change in potential energy that has occurred.

As, the electric potential difference between two points is defined as the change in electric potential energy per unit test charge. The relation between potential energy and electric potential can be given as-

\(\Delta PE = q \times \Delta V\)

Here, \(\Delta PE\) is the change in potential energy, q is the charge that is being carried and \(\Delta V\) is the electric potential difference.