Difference between revisions of "Electrostatic Potential"

Revision as of 21:06, 7 April 2019

Key Stage 4

Meaning

An electrostatic potential is a point that needs work to be done on an charge to get it there.

About Electrostatic Potential

Electrostatic potential can be considered like a gravitational potential that needs work to be done on an object to lift it to that height.

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.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 : If two '''potentials''' are the same, then no [[Work Done|work]] is done on the [[Electrical Charge|charge]].
 : If two '''potentials''' are different this is called a [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] and [[Work Done|work]] is done on an [[Electrical Charge|electrical charge]].
-: Without a [[Potential Difference|'''potential''' difference]] [[Electrical Current|current]] will not pass through an [[object]]. This is why birds can stand on high '''voltage''' [[Transmission Line|power lines]]. The '''potential''' at each of their feet is identical, so no [[Electrical Current|current]] will pass through their body.
+: Without a [[Potential Difference|'''potential''' difference]] [[Electrical Current|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 [[Electrical Current|current]] will pass through their body.