Electric potential energy is the energy that an electrically charged object possesses due to its position in an electric field. It is measured in joules (J) and is the result of the attraction or repulsion between two charged objects.
Electric potential energy is directly related to electric potential. Electric potential is the amount of electric potential energy per unit of charge at a certain point in an electric field. This means that the higher the electric potential, the more electric potential energy an object has at that point.
Yes, electric potential energy can be negative. This occurs when the electric charges have opposite signs and are attracting each other. The negative sign represents the release of potential energy as the charges move towards each other.
The electric potential energy between two charged objects is inversely proportional to the distance between them. This means that as the distance increases, the electric potential energy decreases. This is because the force of attraction or repulsion between the charges weakens as the distance between them increases.
The unit of measurement for electric potential energy is joules (J). However, it can also be expressed in electron volts (eV) for smaller values. 1 eV is equivalent to 1.6 x 10^-19 J, which is the amount of energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through a potential difference of 1 volt.