Subject > Physics > Physics II > Electricity, Heating, Magnetic Effects
Electricity, Heating, Magnetic Effects
Electrostatic Potential
The electrostatic potential is defined as the work done in bringing a single positive charge from infinity to a point (Any point outside the electric field or space is called infinite point). The unit of potential is volt (symbol V).
Electric potential is a physical
quantity, the value of which at different points tells us the direction of
the electric current. Electric current flows from a higher potential to a
lower potential.The electric potential at any point is defined as the work
done in bringing a unit positive charge from infinity to that point. The
amount of work done does not depend on the path chosen.
If the amount of work done in bringing 1 coulomb of charge from infinity to a given point in the electric field is 1 joule, then the potential
at that point is said to be 1 volt.
Thus if a body is given Q coulomb of charge to raise its potential by V volt then the amount of work done will be VQ joule.
