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- PHY102 Physics II © Dr.Cem Özdoğan
- 24-2 Electric Potential Energy
- When an electrostatic force acts between two or more charged particles, we can assign an electric potential energy U to the system.
- A test charge has been brought in from infinity to point P in the electric field of the rod.
- We define an electric potential V at P based on the potential energy of the configuration in (a).
- The corresponding reference potential energy is usually set be zero. Therefore,
- If the system changes its configuration from an initial state i to a different final state f, the electrostatic force does work W on the particles. If the resulting change is ΔU, then
- As with other conservative forces, the work done by the electrostatic force is path independent.
- Usually the reference configuration of a system of charged particles is taken to be that in which the particles are all infinitely separated from one another.