Can someone explain to me the difference between potential and potential energy in details?And,work done in a conservative force field is the difference in potential or potential energy?
1 Answer
Explanation:
"NOTE" - Mostly we talk of Potential difference rather than Absolute Potential because it is a relative quantity.
Potential Energy is the energy which arises due to the difference in Potential.
Important observation :-
- Each object in the universe tries to attain low POTENTIAL state.
- That's why electric charges (+ve or -ve) move from region of high potential to low potential.
- Objects fall toward earth in the direction of decreasing POTENTIAL
- Electrons tend to be near the nucleus of the atom
#ie# in the region of least potential.
# Potential energy is a relative quantity, it depends on where we choose the potential energy to be Zero (Datum).
This can be different in different respects for example :-
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Due to difference in vertical height , the Gravitational Potential changes and so does the Gravitational potential energy and this Gravitational potential energy is given by the formula :
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#PE_g=mgh# ; where#m# is the mass of the object ;#g# is the acceleration due to gravity and#h# is the height above the Datum line (which is the floor/ground normally).
)
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The relation between the Force and Potential is :-
#vecF=-vecgradU# where#F# is the Force and#U# is the potential. -
In case of a charged parallel plate Capacitor we can see that due to accumulated opposite charges on the plates ; a Potential difference is generated ;
#ie# it has ability to do some work and the amount of work it can do is known as the Potential Energy stored inside that capacitor.
)
The answer is getting quite long, so I can't write more examples ; I hope it helps :)
