What is the difference between potential energy and potential?

Potential is the potential energy per unit at a certain location. For example in a electric field the electric potential energy depends on both the location of the charge in the field and the charge we are considering. Electric potential ignores the charge and only cares about the location, this is why it is a unit, in this case one coulomb of charge. Think of a single unit of mass/charge being moved into the field, that is the potential.

ET
Answered by Edward T. Physics tutor

2363 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A motorist traveling at 10m/s, was able to bring his car to rest in a distance of 10m. If he had been traveling at 30m/s, in what distance could he bring his cart to rest using the same breaking force?


Why are fringes are formed in the Young double slit experiment?


A trolley of mass 0.75kg is running along a frictionless track at a constant speed of 0.7ms-1, as the trolley passes below a mass of 0.5kg the mass drops a short vertical distance onto the trolley. Calculate the new velocity of the trolley and mass.


A ball is kicked from a tower (50m) at a speed of 20m/s. How far away does the ball hit the ground?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning