1. Electric
Potential
Energy

2. Vocabulary Review
Potential Energy (PE) – stored energy contained because of the position of an object.
Kinetic Energy (KE) – the energy of motion
Kinetic energy can be converted to potential energy and vice versa.

3. Electric Potential Energy(EPE)
Particles with charges have potential energy also.
Opposite charges are attracted to each other.
Like charges are repelled.

4. Electric Potential Energy (EPE)
When two opposite charges are held apart, electric potential energy is present

5. Electric Potential Energy (EPE)
When two of the same charges are pushed together, potential energy is present.

6. Electric Potential
We look at the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge.
Electric potential = EPE ÷ amount of charge

7. Unit of Electric Potential
The unit of electric potential is volts.
1 volt = 1 joule ÷ 1 coulomb

8. Related Formulas EPE = Electric potential x charge
Unit of Electric Potential Energy is Joules.
Charge = EPE ÷ Electric potential.
Unit of Charge is Coulombs.

9. Sample Problem : Electric Potential
A 30 J electric potential energy has 2 coulombs of charge. What is the electric potential?
Electric potential = EPE ÷ charge
EPE = 30J Charge = 2 coulombs
Electric potential = 30J ÷ 2 coulombs
Electric potential = 15V

10. Sample Problem: Electric Potential Energy
A 12 coulomb charge has a electric potential of 6 volts. What is the electric potential energy?
EPE = charge x electric potential
Charge = 12 coulombs Electric potential = 6V
EPE = 12 coulombs x 6 volts
EPE = 72 joules

11. Sample Problem: Charge
An electric potential of 5 volts has an electric potential energy of 20 joules What is the charge?
Charge = EPE ÷ electric potential
EPE = 20 joules Electric potential = 5 volts
Charge = 20 joules ÷ 5 volts
Charge = 4 coulombs