What is Electric Potential?

Electric potential (V) is the property of points in space. Electric potential can be defined in several ways:

The value of the electric potential at a point in space numerically gives the amount of work that needs to be done to bring a unit positive charge from infinity to that point.

A charge q

is said to have a potential energy of Vq if it is at a point in space which has a potential of V

.

For example, if you place a charge q
at a point, space nearby will have a non-zero value of potential. The electric potential at a point due to a charge at a distance r

from it is given by:

V=kq/r

What is Electric Potential Energy?

Electric potential energy (U) is the property of a system. Two charges in the vicinity of each other are said to have potential energy.

The electric potential energy associated with two charges separated by a distance r
is given by:
U=kq1q2/r