Electric Potential Difference

When we lifted an object against the force of gravity by applying a force over a distance, we did work to give that object gravitational potential energy. The same concept applies to electric fields as well. If you move a charge against an electric field, you must apply a force for some distance, therefore you do work and give it electrical potential energy. The work done per unit charge in moving a charge between two points in an electric field is known as the electric potential difference, (V). The units of electric potential are volts, where a volt is equal to 1 Joule per Coulomb. Therefore, if you did 1 Joule of work in moving a charge of 1 Coulomb in an electric field, the electric potential difference between those points would be 1 volt. This is given by:

Potential Difference

V in this formula is potential difference (in volts), W is work or electrical energy (in Joules), and q is your charge (in Coulombs). Let's take a look at a sample problem.


Answer: Charge equals Work over Voltage

When dealing with electrostatics, often times the amount of electric energy or work done on a charge is a very small portion of a Joule. Dealing with such small numbers is cumbersome, so physicists devised an alternate unit for electrical energy and work that can be more convenient than the Joule. This unit, known as the electron-volt (eV), is the amount of work done in moving an elementary charge through a potential difference of 1V. One electron-volt, therefore, is equivalent to one volt multiplied by one elementary charge (in Coulombs): 1 eV = 1.6*10-19 Joules.

Question: A charge of 2*10-3 C is moved through a potential difference of 10 volts in an electric field. How much work, in electron-volts, was required to move this charge?

Answer: Electron Volt Calculation

Parallel Plates

If you know the potential difference between two parallel plates, you can easily calculate the electric field strength between the plates. As long as you're not near the edge of the plates, the electric field is constant between the plates, and its strength is given by:

Electric Field Between Parallel Plates
Regents Physics Parallel Plates Electric Field

You'll note that with the potential difference V in volts, and the distance between the plates in meters, units for the electric field strength are volts per meter [V/m]. Previously, we stated that the units for electric field strength were newtons per Coulomb [N/C]. It is easy to show that these units are equivalent:


Question: Which electrical unit is equivalent to one joule?

  1. volt / meter
  2. ampere * volt
  3. volt / Coulomb
  4. Coulomb*volt

Answer: (4) Coulomb*volt

Unit Conversion Answer


Let's try another sample problem:

Parallel Plates

Question: The diagram represents two electrons, e1 and e2, located between two oppositely charged parallel plates. Compare the magnitude of the force exerted by the electric field on e1 to the magnitude of the force exerted by the electric field on e2.

Answer: The force is the same because the electric field is the same for both charges, as the electric field is constant between two parallel plates.


Equipotential Lines

Equipotential Lines

Much like looking at a topographic map which shows you lines of equal altitude, or equal gravitational potential energy, we can make a map of the electric field and connect points of equal electrical potential. These lines, known as equipotential lines, always cross electrical field lines at right angles, and show positions in space with constant electrical potential. If you move a charged particle in space, and it always stays on an equipotential line, no work will be done.