Unit 3: Electric Potential 

  
Lesson 3.2 
Electric Potential and Potential Difference 
 
Contents 
Introduction 1 

Learning Objectives 2 

Warm Up 2 

Learn about It! 4 

Electric Potential 4 
Potential Difference 5 
Charge and Electric Potential 6 
Applications of Electric Potential Difference in Circuitry 7 

Key Points 13 

Key Formula 13 

Check Your Understanding 14 

Challenge Yourself 16 

Bibliography 16 

Key to Try It! 17 

 
   

 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Lesson 3.2 
Electric Potential and Potential 
Difference 

 
 

  Introduction 
One  may  visualize  circuitry  as  an  energy  conversion  system.  In  an  electric  circuit,  the 
chemical  energy  from  a  battery  does  work  on  a  charge  by  moving  it  from  low  to  high 
potential  terminal.  This  is  then  transformed  into electrical energy within the battery. Having 
arrived  at  a  high  potential  terminal,  the  test  charge  transfers  to  the  external  circuit.  It  then 
transforms  its  electric  potential  energy  into  other  forms  of  energy,  such  as  heat  and  light. 
This  lesson  will  enable  you  to  probe  deeper  into  how  electric  potential  enables  this 
mechanism to work. 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

 
 

Learning Objectives  DepEd Competencies 

 
In this lesson, you should be able to do the  ● Relate the electric potential 
following:  with work, potential energy, 
and electric field 
● Differentiate  between  electric 
(STEM_GP12EM-IIIc-15).  
potential and potential difference.   ● Solve problems involving 

● Explain  the  relationships  between  electric potentials in contexts 

such as, but not limited to, 
charges,  electric  field,  and  electric  electron guns in CRT TV picture 
potential.   tubes, conditions for merging 
of charge liquid drops 
● Calculate  the  electric  potential  in  a 
(STEM_GP12EM-IIIc-22).  
unit of charge.   

● Identify  the  applications  of  electric 

potential  and  potential  difference  in 
circuitry. 

  Warm Up       
  Electric Field and Potential Simulator    8 minutes 
The  simulation  in  this  activity  will  allow  you  to  visualize  the  electric  potential  map  that 
surrounds a system of charges. 
 

Materials 
● electric field and potential simulator  
● worksheet 

 
Procedure 
1. Set  up  the  electric  field  and  potential  simulator  to the “two unlike charges” condition 
using the link below. A screenshot of the simulation is presented in Fig. 3.2.1. 
 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  2 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Electric Field and Potential  

Walsh, Tom, “Electric Field and Potential,” oPhysics: 
Interactive Physics Simulations,    
https://ophysics.com/em4.html, last accessed on March 13 
2020.    
 

 
Fig. 3.2.1. Electric field and potential simulation 
 
2. Drag  the  voltage  sensor  (green  dot) 
on  various  points  indicated  below. 
Then,  note  down  the  results  in Table 
3.2.1. 
3. Next,  tick  the  “electric  potential  map” 
option and observe what happens. 
 
 
 
 
 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Data Table 
Table 3.2.1. Electric Field and Potential 

Point  Voltage 

1   

2   

3   

4   

 
 
Guide Questions 
1. What  do  the  colors  of  the  electric  field  vectors  (black  and  white)  in  the  simulation 
signify? 
2. At which point was voltage at its highest value? At which point was it at its lowest? 
3. If  the  green  dot  represents  electric  potential,  what  can  you  deduce  about  the 
relationship of the charge to the potential energy and potential of a given system? 
 

  Learn about It! 

 

How will you differentiate electric potential from 

  potential difference?  
 
Electric Potential 
Electric  potential,  also  called  potential,  is  defined  as  the  potential  energy  contained  in  a 
single  unit  of  charge.  The  electric  potential  located  at  any  given  point  in  the  electric  field 
refers  to  the  potential  energy  U per unit charge in relation to the charge q0 at that particular 
location. 
 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

The  SI  unit  of  electric  potential  is  volt  (V),  which  is  also  equivalent  to  1  joule  per  coulomb 
(J/C).  The  relationship  between  charge,  electric  potential,  and  electric  potential  energy  is 
mathematically expressed as follows: 
 

 
where  V  is  the  potential,  k  is  Coulomb’s  constant,  q  is  the  magnitude  of  the  charge,  r  is  the 
radius, and U is the electric potential energy . 
 

Did You Know? 

The SI unit for electric potential is 1 volt (1 V), after the Italian   
scientist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). 
 
An instrument used to determine the difference of potential  
between two points is called a voltmeter.  

 
Potential Difference 
Recall  from  the  previous  lesson  that  the  electric  force  must  do  a  given  amount  of  work  to 
move  a  charge  from  one  point  to  another.  If  we  apply  the  concept  of  electric  potential  to 
this concept, the charge q0 must be divided to work, hence, the definition of potential as “the 
amount  of  potential  energy  per  unit  charge”  holds  true.  It  is  further  verified  by  the  general 
equation below: 
 

Equation 3.2.1 
 

 
 
 
 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

The  difference  of  Va  and  Vb,  or electric potential difference, is referred to as the potential 

of  a  in  relation  to  b  (Vab).  Thus,  Equation  3.2.1  may  be  stated  through  the  following 
statement: 
 
“The electric potential Vab of Va with respect to Vb is equivalent to the work (expressed 
in J) done by the force when a charge moves from one point to another.” 
 
This  potential  difference  between  points  a  and  b  is  also  called  voltage,  expressed  in joules 
per  coulomb.  This  implies  that  if  the  Vab  amounts  to  1  V,  1  coulomb  of  charge  that  moved 
from one point to another will increase its potential energy by 1 joule (J). 
 

What is the difference between electric potential 

  and potential difference? 

 
Charge and Electric Potential 
Recall  from  your  lesson  on  electric  potential  energy  that  as  the  charged  particle  moves,  UE 
decreases.  Hence,  the  electric  potential,  or  the  potential  energy  per  unit  charge  also 
decreases. Since Vb is less than Va, Vab becomes positive. 

The  simulation  you  have  interacted  with  at  the  Warm  Up  activity  excellently  illustrates  this 
relationship  between  a  charge  and  electric  potential.  If  there  is  a  positive  point  charge,  the 
electric  field  is  understood  to  be  heading  against  that charge, and the potential V is positive 
at  any  point  from  the  charge.  V  decreases  as  you  move  away  from the point charge and 
increases  as  you  move  closer  toward  it.  The  opposite  is  true  for  any  given negative point 
charge, as illustrated in Fig. 3.2.2. 
 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

 
Fig. 3.2.2. Point charges and their electric potential 
 
Applications of Electric Potential Difference in Circuitry 
 
Potential  and  potential  differences  have  indispensable  applications  in  circuits.  Analyze  the 
illustration in Fig. 3.2.3.  

 
Fig. 3.2.3. Voltage in a battery 
 

The  voltage  present  in  this  battery  is  equivalent  to  the  difference  in  potential  Vab  =  Va  –  Vb 
between the positive and the negative terminal points of the battery. 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Circuitry  relies  heavily  on  the  gain  and  loss  of  energy  that  results  from  the displacement of 
charges  across  different  locations.  In  battery-operated  electric  circuits,  work  must  be 
applied  to  a  positive  charge  so  that  it  can  move  from  the  negative  terminal  to  the  positive 
terminal.  This  increases  the  charge’s  potential  energy,  thus  increasing  electric  potential. On 
the  contrary,  as  the  positive  charge  transfers  through  the  external circuit from the negative 
to  the  positive  terminal,  electric  potential energy and the corresponding potential decrease. 
For  instance,  for a battery that has 20 volts, every coulomb of charge gains 20 joules of UE as 
it  travels  through  the  battery.  Furthermore,  it  loses  20  J  of  UE  as  it  moves  through  the 
external  circuit.  This loss in UE in the external circuit brings about a gain in different forms of 
nonelectrical energy such as light and heat energy. 
 

How are the concepts of potential and potential 

  difference applied in circuitry? 
 

Tips 
Always be mindful of the relationships among electric potential, 
electric field, and electric force. The field always flows from regions of 
high to low voltage, and the direction of the force on a charge is in the 
direction of the field if q > 0 and away from it if q < 0. 

Remember 
  Since both charge and potential energy are scalars, electric potential 
is also considered as a scalar.  
 
Electric potential and potential are two different concepts, and are  
thus expressed differently in mathematical terms. Electric potential  
energy is expressed in joules, whereas potential is expressed in volts. 

 
 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  8 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

  Let’s Practice!  

Example 1    
Determine the electric potential 4.3 ✕ 10-14 m from a fragment that contains 10 protons. 
 
Solution 

Step 1:  Identify what is required in the problem. 

  You are asked to calculate the electric potential. 

Step 2:  Identify the given in the problem. 

The radius 4.3 ✕ 10-14 m, and the number of protons, 10, are given. 
 
Total electric charge is identified by multiplying 10 to 1.6 ✕ 10-19 C. Thus, q = 
1.6 ✕ 10-18 C.  

Step 3:  Write the working equation. 

Step 4:  Substitute the given values. 

Step 5:  Find the answer. 

 
 
Thus, the electric potential is equivalent to 3.35 ✕ 105 V. 
 

1  Try It!  
Determine  the  electric  potential  1.2  ✕  10-14  m  from  a  fragment  that  contains  50 
protons. 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  9 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Example 2  
A  sphere  has  a  point  charge  of  6.43  μC  at  its  very  center.  At  what  distance  from  this  point 
charge will the potential be 2 MV? 
 
Solution 

Step 1:  Identify what is required in the problem. 

  You are asked to calculate the distance with which the charge will receive a 
potential of 2 MV. 

Step 2:  Identify the given in the problem. 

The magnitude of the charge 6.43 μC and the potential 2 MV are given.  

Step 3:  Write the working equation. 

Step 4:  Substitute the given values. 

Step 5:  Find the answer. 

  
 

Thus, the distance from the center is 0.0289 m.  

 
 

2  Try It!  
A  sphere  has  a  point  charge  of  1.21  mC  at  its  very center. At what distance from this 
point charge will the potential be 1.77 MV? 

 
 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Example 3  
A  Van  de  Graaff  generator  has  a  200-cm  diameter sphere containing a charge of 5.00 ✕ 10-3 
C  at  its  center.  Determine  the  potential  near  the surface and the distance from the center if 
the electric potential is 1.00 ✕ 106 V. 
 
Solution 

Step 1:  Identify what is required in the problem. 

  You are asked to calculate the potential near the surface and the distance from 
the center with the given potential. 

Step 2:  Identify the given in the problem. 

The diameter of the sphere (200 cm), the magnitude of the charge 5.00 ✕ 10-3 C, 
and the potential (1.00✕106 V) are given. 
 
Convert 200 cm to m. 
 
 
Convert diameter into radius. 

 
 

Step 3:  Write the working equation. 

To find the potential near the surface: 

 
 
To find the distance from the center: 

 
 
 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Step 4:  Substitute the given values. 

 
 

Step 5:  Find the answer. 

 
 

 
Thus, the electric potential near the surface is 4.5 ✕ 107 V and the distance from the 
center with the given potential is 45 m. 
   

3  Try It!  
A  Van  de  Graaff  generator  has  a  1500-millimeter  diameter  sphere  containing  a 
charge  of  7.50 ✕ 10-3 C at its center. Determine the potential near the surface and the 
distance from the center if the electric potential is 6.4 ✕ 106 V. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

Key Points 
___________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
● Electric  potential,  also  called  potential,  is  defined  as the potential energy contained 
in a single unit of charge. The SI unit of electric potential is one volt (1 V), which is also 
equivalent to 1 joule per coulomb (1 J/C).   
● The  electric  potential  Vab  of  Va with respect to Vbis equivalent to the work (expressed 
in J) done by the force when a charge moves from one point to another. 
● If  there  is  a  positive  point  charge,  the  electric  field  is  understood  to  be  heading 
against  that  charge  and  the  potential  V  is  positive  at  any  point  from  the  charge.  V 
decreases  as  you  move  away  from  the  point  charge  and  increases  as  you  move 
closer toward it. The opposite is true for any given negative point charge. 
___________________________________________________________________________________________  
 
Key Formula 
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 

Concept  Formula  Description 

Electric Potential  Use this formula to solve the 

 
potential when the 
where 
magnitude of the charge 
● V is the potential; 
and the radius are given. 
● k is Coulomb’s constant; 
● q is the magnitude of the 
charge, and 
● r is the radius. 

 
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
 
 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  13 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

  Check Your Understanding 

 

A. Identify whether each statement is true or false. 

_________________ 1.  The  electric  potential    of    with  respect  to    is 
equivalent  to  the  work  done  by  the  force  when  a  charge 
moves from one point to another. 

_________________ 2.  One V is equivalent to one coulomb per joule. 

__________________ 3.  Electric  potential  and  electric  potential  energy  are  similar 
terms. 

_________________ 4.   The SI unit of electric potential is 1 volt (V). 

_________________ 5.  As  the positive charge transfers through the external circuit 

from  the  negative to the positive terminal, electric potential 
energy and the corresponding potential increase. 

_________________ 6.  Electric  potential  refers  to  the  kinetic energy contained in a 

unit of charge. 

_________________ 7.  The  voltage  present  in  a  battery  is  equivalent  to  the 

difference  in  potential    between  the 

positive and the negative terminal points of the battery.  

_________________ 8.  Potential  difference  refers  to  the  potential  of  V  at  “point  a” 
with respect to “point b”. 

 
The  electric  potential  located  in  any  given  point  in  the 
__________________ 9. 
electric  field  refers  to  the  potential  energy  per  unit 
charge  in  relation  to  the  electric  flux  at  that  particular 
location. 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  14 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

_________________ 10.  Electric potential is mathematically expressed as V = kr/q.  

B. Solve the following problems. 

1. Solve the electric potential 6.6✕10-14 m from a fragment that contains 10 protons. 
2. What  will  be  the  electric  potential  4.3✕10-14  m  from  the  same  fragment  if  it contains 
25 electrons instead? 
3. A  sphere  has  a  radius  of  9  m.  Determine  the  potential  if  the  charge  at  the  sphere’s 
center has a magnitude of 567 mC. 
4. A  Van  de  Graaf  generator  has  a  3-m  diameter  sphere  containing  a  charge  of  25.6  ✕ 
10-3  C  at  its  center.  Determine  the  potential  near  the  surface  of  the  generator’s 
sphere.  
5. Using  the  same  situation in the previous item, identify the distance from the center if 
the electric potential is 14.00 ✕ 106 V. 
6. Using  your  previous  knowledge  of  electric  potential  energy, determine the change in 

  if  a  charge  with  a  magnitude  of  7.9  mC  is  moved through a potential difference 

of 5.54 MV.  
  
For items 7-9, analyze the figure below. Assume that the charged particle a is at rest. 

 
7. Will the electric potential energy UE increase or decrease?  
8. Will the potential of the charge increase or decrease?  
9. Under what condition will the electric potential be the opposite of your response in 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  15 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

the previous item? 

10. A negatively charged particle is moving in the same direction of the electric field. If 
the kinetic energy for the motion is initially greater than 0, what will happen to the 
resulting kinetic energy and electric potential?  
 

  Challenge Yourself 
 

Answer the following questions.  

1. A  particle with a negative charge of -9.9 mC moves through a 4 ✕ 103 V loss of electric 
potential.  Considering  that  electric  force  is  conservative,  determine  whether  there 
will be a loss or increase of UE.  
2. In  the  situation  presented  in  the  previous  item,  will  there  be  a  loss  or  gain of kinetic 
energy? Explain your answer. 
3. What  is  the  relationship  between  electric  potential  energy and potential? What is the 
importance of determining the electric potential of a charge? 
4. If  the  electric  potential  is  given  for  a  particular  system,  is  it  possible  to  calculate  for 

the ?  
5. Consider  an  electric  field  heading  into the eastern direction. Point F is 1.00 m west of 
point  E,  point  G  is  1.00  east  of  point  E,  and  point  H  is  1.00  m  south  of  point  E.  For 
each  of the following points (F, G, and H), will the corresponding potential for each be 
larger, smaller, or similar to that at Point E? Explain. 
 

  Bibliography 
 
Coletta, Vincent P. Physics Fundamentals. Lakeville, MN: Physics Curriculum & Instruction, 
Inc., 2010. 
 
Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics (11th ed). New York: Pearson Education, 2010. 
 
Holt, R., Serway, R., & Faugn, J. Physics. Austin, TX: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006. 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  16 
 
  
Unit 3: Electric Potential 
 

  
Macalalad, E. P. and Vergara, R. L. Exploring the Realms of Science: Physics. Valenzuela City: 
JO-ES Publishing House, Inc., 2011. 
 
Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Resnick, R. Fundamentals of Physics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011.  
 
 

  Key to Try It! 

1. V = 6.01 ✕ 106 V  
2. r = 6.15 m  
3. V = 9.00 ✕ 107 V; r = 10.5 m 
 

 
3.2. Electric Potential and Potential Difference  17