Electric Potential Energy
Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 10 of 51.
Pushing like charges together stores electric potential energy. For two point charges, zero when far apart:
U = k q₁ q₂ / r
with the signs of the charges: positive for like charges, negative for opposite ones.
Released, the charges turn U into kinetic energy, and the total stays the same:
KE + U = constant
Challenge
Two small charges, 2 μC and 3 μC, sit 0.3 m apart. How much electric potential energy U do they store?
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
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