Electric potential distance problem?

In summary, to calculate the electric potential difference between two points, you need to use the relationships between voltage (potential energy difference), work, and distance.
  • #1
virtuoso_735
13
0
Hi everyone I need very badly some help with this problem please:

A force of 0.053 N is required to move a charge of 39 µC a distance of 30 cm in an electric field. What is the size of the electric potential difference between the two points?


Is the electric potential difference the force divided by q (whatever that is) divided by distance? That's what someone told me. I can't find q though. Is that even the right way to to it?

I'm not really sure how to do this at all. I tried to do it for more than an hour yesterday but my teacher is TERRIBLE and I don't get it. The book doesn't really help either. Can someone solve it and guide me through it?

Thanks a whole lot!
 
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  • #2
virtuoso_735 said:
Hi everyone I need very badly some help with this problem please:

A force of 0.053 N is required to move a charge of 39 µC a distance of 30 cm in an electric field. What is the size of the electric potential difference between the two points?


Is the electric potential difference the force divided by q (whatever that is) divided by distance? That's what someone told me. I can't find q though. Is that even the right way to to it?

I'm not really sure how to do this at all. I tried to do it for more than an hour yesterday but my teacher is TERRIBLE and I don't get it. The book doesn't really help either. Can someone solve it and guide me through it?

Thanks a whole lot!

There are a few relationships involving voltage (or potential difference) V. The one you need here is [tex]W = QV[/tex] where V is the potential difference, Q is the charge and W is work done. W is the work required to move a charge Q against a potential difference of V.

Now, use another relationship that you should know between work, force and distance to form an equation and solve for V.
 
  • #3
You should probably like to know the actual meaning of voltage. I personally like sentences.

Voltage is the potential energy difference, per unit charge.
 
  • #4
Sorry, sorry, sorry. I misread xXPhoenixFireXx's post. I missed the word "energy" in it, I thought he said "potential difference per unit charge" (which would be wrong). My apologies. I've deleted my post.
 
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  • #5
haha hate it when that happens. I may as well delete mine as well 'cause I don't want to detract from the the purpose of the thread.
 
  • #6
Curious3141 said:
There are a few relationships involving voltage (or potential difference) V. The one you need here is [tex]W = QV[/tex] where V is the potential difference, Q is the charge and W is work done. W is the work required to move a charge Q against a potential difference of V.

Now, use another relationship that you should know between work, force and distance to form an equation and solve for V.

Okay thanks.

So exactly is q though? I'm confused. Is it 32 in the problem above or do I need to solve for it? If so what equation do I use?
 
  • #7
The charge Q is the 39 micro Coulombs that was given in the question
 
  • #8
Thanks. Do I need to conver it?
 
  • #9
virtuoso_735 said:
Thanks. Do I need to conver it?

Yes, you should convert it to Coulombs.

~H
 

FAQ: Electric potential distance problem?

What is an electric potential distance problem?

An electric potential distance problem involves calculating the electric potential at a specific distance from a charged object. This distance can be either a scalar distance or a vector distance, depending on the problem.

How do I calculate electric potential at a given distance?

To calculate the electric potential at a given distance, you can use the formula V = kQ/r, where V is the electric potential, k is the Coulomb's constant, Q is the charge of the object, and r is the distance from the object.

Can electric potential be negative?

Yes, electric potential can be negative. This occurs when the charged object has a negative charge, and the electric potential at a given distance is negative. It can also occur when the object has a positive charge, but the point where the electric potential is being calculated is at a distance greater than the object's radius.

What is the unit of electric potential?

The unit of electric potential is volts (V). It is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit of charge.

How does distance affect electric potential?

Distance affects electric potential in an inverse relationship. As the distance from a charged object increases, the electric potential decreases. This is because the electric field strength decreases with distance, resulting in a decrease in the electric potential.

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