Question

State clearly the difference (a) between electric potential and electric field, (b) between electric potential and electric potential energy.

Short answer

(a) The electric potential is the electric potential energy per unit charge, whereas the electric field is the electric force per unit charge.

(b) The electric potential is the electric potential energy per unit charge in an electric field.

Step-by-step solution

(a) The difference between the electric potential and electric field

The electric potential at any point in space is defined as the electric potential energy per unit charge at that point.

$V=\frac{PE}{q}$

The electric field at any point in space is defined as the electric force per unit charge at that point.

$E=\frac{F}{q}$

Electric potential is a scalar quantity, whereas the electric field is a vector quantity.

For a point charge, electric potential inversely depends on distance and electric field inversely depends on the square of the distance.

(b) The difference between the electric potential and electric potential energy

The electric potential at any point in space is defined as the electric potential energy per unit charge at that point.

$V=\frac{PE}{q}$

Electric potential is the amount of work done to move a positive test charge from infinity to a point in space.

Electric potential energy is the energy required to move a charge in an electric field.