What are the units of electric potential energy, of electric potential, and of electric field?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The unit of potential energy is JouleJ, the unit potential difference is voltv, and the unit of electric field is vm.

Step by step solution

01

Concept/Significance of

A unit of measurement is a precise magnitude of a quantity that is specified and recognised by convention or legislation and is used as a standard for measuring similar quantities.

02

Determination of the units of electric potential energy, of electric potential, and of electric field

The potential energy of two charges is given by,

U=Kq1q2r

Here, K is the coulomb constant,q1,q2are the charges in coulomb and r is the distance between charges in metre.

The unit of potential energy is given by,

U=C2m=JouleJ

The electric potential is the amount of potential energy per unit charge which is given by,

v=Uq

So, the unit of potential is given by,

V=JC=voltv

The electric field at a point is describe as the multiple of potential difference per unit distance between two points that can be given by,

E=Vr

So, the unit of electric field is given by,

E=voltvm=vm

Thus, the unit of potential energy is JouleJ, the unit potential difference is voltv, and the unit of electric field is vm.

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