Electric Potential
Electric Potential and Potential Difference We know that when a body is lifted through certain height above the ground level, work is done against the force of gravity and is stored as a potential energy in the body. Hence such a body which is raised above the ground level can be said to have a gravitational potential. Obviously, the total potential energy and hence, the gravitational potential of a body is a function of its position with respect to earth. Here the example is very much analogous to the Electric Field around a charge. Now consider that a small isolated positive charge q is placed at a far distance let’s say infinity with respect another positive charge Q. Theoretically the electric field of the positive charge reaches upto infinity but in the practical sense it’s influence on positive charge q which is placed at infinity is very negligible. Fig. 1 : Two isolated charges If this charge q is shifted near to Q and brought at the same point X s