Activity 3 Potential Energy, Potential Energy Difference, Equipotential Surfaces ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY AND ELECTRIC POTENTIAL EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES AND THE ELECTRIC FIELD Electric Potential 1. Just as PE (potential energy) transforms to KE (kinetic energy) for a mass lifted against the PE gravitational field (left). the electric PE PE of an electric charge transforms to other forms of energy when it changes location in an electric field (right). When released, how KE does the KE acquired by each compare to the decrease in PE? ,3 Complete the statements 2. A force compresses the spring. The work done in compression is the product of the average force and the distance moved. W= Fd. This work increases the PE of the spring. Similarly, a force pushes the charge (call it a test charge) closer to the charged sphere. The work done in moving the test charge is the product of the average and the C moved. W= This work the PE of the test charge. At any point, a greater quantity of test charge means a greater amount of PE, but not a greater amount of PE per quantity of charge. The quantities PE (measured in joules) and PE/charge (measured in volts) are different concepts By definition: Electric Potential = PE . 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb. charge 3. Complete the statements: ELECTRIC PE/CHARGE HAS THE SPECIAL NAME ELECTRIC SINCE IT IS MEASURED IN VOLTS IT IS COMMONLY CALLED 4. If a conductor connected to the terminal of a battery has a potential of 12 volts, then each coulomb of charge on the conductor has a PE of 5. Some people are confused between force and pressure, Recall that pressure is force per area Similarly, some people get mixed up between electric PE and voltage, According to this chapter. voltage is electric PE per