Grade 10 Electronics (STE) Week 5

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
MODULE

Name:______________________________ Grade & Section: ___________Score:______

Teacher:_______________________________________ Date:________________________

Learning Competencies (Essential Competencies)

Define electric potential, distinguish it from electric potential difference

and solve problems involving potential in uniform electric fields.

DAY 1 and DAY 2

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Objectives
1. Define electric potential.
2. Differentiate electric potential and voltage.

Let’s Recall (Review)

Directions: Write FACT if the statement is true and FALLACY if the statement
is false.
1. If the test charge moves in the same direction as the electric force, the
potential energy decreases.
2. When the test charge is negative, the potential energy increases when it
moves in the same direction as the electric field.
3. If the test charge is negative, the direction of the electric force is the same
as the direction of the electric field
4. When there is negative work, it means that the gravitational potential energy
decreases.
5. The sum of the changes in the kinetic energy and potential energy is
constant.

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

Electric potential (V) is defined as electric potential energy per unit

charge. In equation form,

𝐔
V= equation 1
𝐪𝐨

Since electric potential energy and charge are scalar quantities, electric
potential is also a scalar quantity. Its SI unit is volt, symbolized by V which was
taken from the name of the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta.

1 volt (V) = 1 joule/coulomb (J/C)

How is work related to potential?

In the discussion of electric potential energy, it was mentioned that the

work done when a charge moves from point a to point b is

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Grade 10 Electronics (STE) Week 5

Wa→b = Ua - Ub = - (Ub - Ua) = - ΔU equation 2

Since potential is the ratio of the potential energy and unit charge, equation 2
can be divided by qo,

𝐖𝐚→𝐛 −∆𝐔 𝐔𝐛 𝐔𝐚
= = −[ − ] = −(𝐕𝐛 − 𝐕𝐚 ) = 𝐕𝐚 − 𝐕𝐛
𝐪𝐨 𝐪𝐨 𝐪𝐨 𝐪𝐨

equation 3

where Va is the potential at point a and Vb is the potential at point b. So, when
a charge moves from point a to b, the work done per unit charge is equal to the
potential at point a minus the potential at point b as shown in equation 3. The
difference Va - Vb is called potential difference. This is also called voltage. In
the succeeding topics, voltage will be further discussed. In symbol, potential
difference is represented by Vab. It means the potential of a with respect to b.
In equation form,
𝐕𝐚𝐛 = 𝐕𝐚 − 𝐕𝐛 equation 4

Ua - Ub = q (𝐕𝐚 − 𝐕𝐛 ) = qVab equation 5

Remember:
1 V = 1 N·m / C, so if both sides will be divided by m then,

1 volt/meter (V/m) = 1 newton/coulomb (N/C)

Recall that N/C is the unit for electric field so this is how electric potential
is related to electric field.

Sample Problem

An electron moves in a straight line from point a to b with a distance of

0.700 m. The electric field is 1.75 x 107 V/m from point a to b.
a. Find the force acting on the electron.
b. Compute for the work done and the potential difference Vab.

Given: d = 0.700 m E = 1.75 x 107 V/m

The magnitude of the charge of an electron is 𝟏. 𝟔𝟎 𝐱 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗 𝐂.

a. Solution: Derive the formula for F using the formula for E.

F
E=
qo
Since V/m = N/C, replace V/m with N/C
F = qo E = (1.60 x 10−19 C) (1.75 x 107 N/C)
F = 2.80 x 10-12 N
b. Solution:
W = Fd
W = (2.8 x 10−12 N) (0.700 m)
W = 1.96 x 10-12 J

𝐖𝐚→𝐛 1.96 x 10−12 J

Vab = =
qo 1.60 x 10−19 C

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Grade 10 Electronics (STE) Week 5

Vab = 1.23 x 107 V

Another way of solving for the potential difference is in terms of the

electric field. The same answer will be obtained.

Vab = Ed
107 N
Vab = (1.75 x ) (0.700 m)
C
7
Vab = 1.23 x 10 V

Let’s Apply
Directions: Identify the terms being described in the given statements.
1. It is a measure of electric potential energy per unit charge.
2. It is the SI unit for V.
3. He was an Italian scientist known for his works on electricity and whose
name was used to represent the unit for V.
4. This is another term for potential difference.
5. This is the equivalent unit for volt per meter.

Let’s Analyze
Directions: Solve for the given problems. Show your complete solutions. Round
off your answers into 3 significant figures.

1. Two charges q1 = 15.0 nC and q2 = -15.0 nC are 20 cm apart. What is the

electric potential at points a and b? Refer to figure below.
q1 q2
b a
5 cm 15 cm 5 cm

2. What would be the electric potential at points a and b if the two charges in
problem (1) will now be 15 cm apart? The point charge q1 will still be at the
origin. Point a is 5 cm to the right of q2 and point b will be 10 cm to the left
of q1.
DAY 3 and DAY 4
CALCULATING ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Objective
Solve problems involving electric potential.

Let’s Recall (Review)

Directions: Answer the given question.

What is the difference between potential and voltage?

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

Potential due to a Point Charge

To determine the potential due to a single point charge, equation 6 can

be used.

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Grade 10 Electronics (STE) Week 5

𝐔 𝐪
V= =k equation 6
𝐪𝐨 𝐫

where r is the distance from the charge to the point where the electric potential
is being evaluated.

Potential due to Multiple Charges

If there are more than one charge that are involved, individual q/r will
just be added as shown in equation 7.

𝐔 𝐪𝐢
V= =k ∑ equation 7
𝐪𝐨 𝐫𝐢

Equation 8 shows how the potential difference is related to electric

field.

𝐕𝐚𝐛 = (𝐕𝐚 − 𝐕𝐛) = Ed equation 8

Potential in Oppositely Charged Parallel Plates

The same set of equations apply in finding the electric potential in

oppositely charged parallel plates. To be able to measure the charge density on
the charges on the two parallel plates, equation 9 can be used.

𝛜𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐛
𝛔 = equation 9
𝐝

where ϵo is the permittivity constant equal to 8.854 x 10-12 C2 / N·m2.

Let’s Apply
Directions: Solve for the given problems. Show your complete solutions. Round
off your answers into 3 significant figures.

1. Two parallel metal sheets carrying opposite electric charges are separated
by a distance of 0.050 m. the electric field between them is 650 N/C.
a. What is the potential difference between the sheets?
b. Which of the two sheets has higher potential, the one with positive charges
or the one with negative charges?
c. What is the surface charge density on the positive sheet?
2. Two stationary point charges q1 = 4.00 nC and q2 = 6.00 nC are separated
by a distance 30.0 cm. An electron is released from rest at a point halfway
between the two charges. What is the speed of the electron when it is 10.0
cm from q2?

Let’s Analyze
Directions: Answer the given question.

If the electric potential at a certain point is zero, does the electric field at that
point have to be zero? Explain your answer.

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Grade 10 Electronics (STE) Week 5

Let’s Try (Evaluation)

Directions: Encircle the letter of your answer.
1. What is the equivalent unit for volt?
a. N/C b. J/C c. V/m d. N/m
2. Four positive charges of equal magnitude are placed at the four corners of
a square with a side length a. What is the electric potential at the center of
the square?
a. 0 b. 4𝑘𝑞 / 𝑎 c. (8√2𝑘𝑞)/𝑎 d. (4√2𝑘𝑞)/𝑎
3. The two charges in the top corners of the square in question (2) are
replaced with negative charges of the same magnitude. What is the new
electric potential at the center of the square?
a. 0 b. 4𝑘𝑞 / 𝑎 c. (8√2𝑘𝑞)/𝑎 d. (4√2𝑘𝑞)/𝑎
4. If 5 J of work is needed to move 10-C of charge from one place to another.
What should be the potential difference between the places?
a. 0.5 V b. 2 V c. 5 V d. e10 V
5. Two long, parallel plates are separated by 0.028 m and have a potential
difference between them of 80 V. Point P is located midway between the
plates. What is the potential difference between point P and one of the
plates?
a. 0 V b. 40 V c. 80 V d. 160 V

References
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://content.njctl.org/courses/science/ap-physics-2/electric-potential-
and-capacitors/electric-potential-and-capacitors-multiple-choice/electric-potential-and-
capacitors-multiple-choice-2015-08-141.pdf

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://mcqlearn.com/physics/g10/electric-potential-mcqs.php

Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2004). University Physics. Singapore: Pearson Education South
Asia PTE LTD.

Prepared by:

KATHLEEN JOY D. LADINES

Master Teacher I

Approved:

ROWENA M. REYES JAIME O. SARMIENTO, JR

Head Teacher VI, Science Assistant Principal

GERRY A. LUMABAN
Principal IV