Electrostatic Potential

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Electrostatic potential is the work done on a positive electrical charge of +1 Coulomb to push it to a location in an electrostatic field.

About Electrostatic Potential

Electrostatic potential can be considered like the gravitational potential energy store of 1 kilogram. Work must be done to on that 1kg object to lift it to a given height in a gravitational field.

Work is done by an current to move a charge from one potential to another potential.

If two potentials are the same, then no work is done on the charge.

If two potentials are different this is called a potential difference and work is done on an electrical charge.

Without a potential difference current will not pass through an object. This is why birds can stand on high voltage power lines. The potential at each of their feet is identical, so no current will pass through their body.