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View Full Version : In what two ways can electrons be given electric potential energy?


Jenesco
Jan 12, 2011, 02:38 PM

Unknown008
Jan 12, 2011, 09:31 PM
Be aware that we do not do your homework for you.

This said, have you studied the formulae concerning electric potential energy and done questions involving change in electric potential energy? If so, you already have one way.

Another way is 'more common' in the way that this is how static electricity is produced in everyday life. Can you think of anything?

Jenesco
Jan 13, 2011, 01:01 AM
I barely understand what you said, I have forgotten all this stuff already.
Sorry, I didn't get it all. But I really appreciate your time in answering my question.

Unknown008
Jan 13, 2011, 01:14 AM
I'll not give you the answer directly, but try to make to see it.

Take gravitational force. How can you increase the gravitational potential energy of an object?

When you pull a mass upwards, it gains gravitational potential energy and most of the time, this energy will be converted to kinetic energy and the mass falls down.

The same thing can happen with a charged particle. It experiences an increase in electric potential energy and most of the time, it moves and loses this energy.

Since there is motion, there must be a force, according to Newton's First Law of motion. So, the 'powered up' charged particle exerts a force somehow, and the force is linked to the electric potential energy. In what way can you increase that force?

One formula which can make you remember is:

V = \frac{QQ'}{4\pi \epsilon_o r}

Or

V = \frac{kQQ'}{r}

Anything you can think of?