AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Electric Potential

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Electric Potential, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: State the relationship between potential difference and electric field.

Answer: $E = -\frac{\triangle V}{d}$. Field strength relates to potential gradient.

Flashcard 2: What is the electric potential energy of a $2C$ charge at $3V$?

Answer: $6 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 2 \times 3 = 6$.

Flashcard 3: Find the potential difference if the electric field is $5 \text{ V/m}$ across $3m$.

Answer: $15 \text{ V}$. Using $\triangle V = Ed = 5 \times 3 = 15$.

Flashcard 4: How is work done related to electric potential difference?

Answer: $W = q \triangle V$. Standard work-voltage relationship formula.

Flashcard 5: Calculate the potential difference for a $4V$ and $12V$ junction.

Answer: $8 \text{ V}$. Difference equals $12 - 4 = 8$ volts.

Flashcard 6: Calculate the potential energy of a $2C$ charge in a $10V$ field.

Answer: $20 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 2 \times 10 = 20$.

Flashcard 7: What is the formula for electric potential energy?

Answer: $U = qV$. Energy equals charge times potential.

Flashcard 8: What is the formula for the potential difference in a uniform field?

Answer: $\triangle V = Ed$. Potential difference in uniform electric field.

Flashcard 9: Find the potential energy of $3C$ in a $6V$ field.

Answer: $18 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 3 \times 6 = 18$.

Flashcard 10: What is the potential difference between two points in a $4V$ and $10V$ field?

Answer: $6 \text{ V}$. Difference equals $10 - 4 = 6$ volts.

Flashcard 11: What is the potential energy of a charge in a uniform electric field?

Answer: $U = qEd$. Energy stored in uniform field configuration.

Flashcard 12: Identify the relationship between electric potential and electric field.

Answer: $E = -\nabla V$. Electric field is negative gradient of potential.

Flashcard 13: Define electric potential.

Answer: Electric potential is the work done per unit charge. Describes energy per unit charge at a point.

Flashcard 14: Define the term 'electric potential energy'.

Answer: Energy a charge has due to its position in an electric field. Energy stored due to electric field position.

Flashcard 15: Identify the potential difference needed to store $20J$ in $2C$ of charge.

Answer: $10 \text{ V}$. From $U = qV$, solve for $V = \frac{U}{q} = \frac{20}{2} = 10$.

Flashcard 16: Calculate the work done in moving a charge of $2C$ through a potential difference of $5V$.

Answer: $10 \text{ J}$. Work equals charge times potential difference: $W = qV = 2 \times 5 = 10$.

Flashcard 17: What is the electric potential at a point equidistant from two equal charges?

Answer: Zero. Equal charges create symmetric cancellation.

Flashcard 18: State the relationship between potential difference and electric field.

Answer: $E = -\frac{\triangle V}{d}$. Field strength relates to potential gradient.

Flashcard 19: Calculate the potential energy of $5C$ in a $4V$ potential.

Answer: $20 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 5 \times 4 = 20$.

Flashcard 20: What is the potential energy of a charge in a uniform electric field?

Answer: $U = qEd$. Energy stored in uniform field configuration.

Flashcard 21: Which quantity is measured in volts?

Answer: Electric potential. Voltage measures electric potential difference.

Flashcard 22: State the formula for potential energy in terms of electric field and distance.

Answer: $U = qEd$. Energy from charge, field, and displacement.

Flashcard 23: What is the potential difference between two points in a $4V$ and $10V$ field?

Answer: $6 \text{ V}$. Difference equals $10 - 4 = 6$ volts.

Flashcard 24: Find the electric field from a potential function $V(x) = 3x^2$.

Answer: $E = -6x \text{ V/m}$. Field equals negative derivative: $E = -\frac{dV}{dx} = -6x$.

Flashcard 25: What is the relation between potential difference and energy change?

Answer: $\triangle U = q \triangle V$. Energy change equals charge times voltage change.

Flashcard 26: How is potential difference related to work done on a charge?

Answer: $W = q \triangle V$. Fundamental relationship between work and voltage.

Flashcard 27: Calculate the potential at a point $3m$ from a $5C$ charge.

Answer: $V = \frac{k \times 5}{3}$. Direct substitution into point charge formula.

Flashcard 28: Calculate the potential energy of $5C$ in a $4V$ potential.

Answer: $20 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 5 \times 4 = 20$.

Flashcard 29: State the unit of electric potential.

Answer: Volt (V). Standard unit for measuring electric potential.

Flashcard 30: How is work done related to electric potential difference?

Answer: $W = q \triangle V$. Standard work-voltage relationship formula.

Flashcard 31: State the unit of electric potential energy.

Answer: Joule (J). Standard unit for measuring energy quantities.

Flashcard 32: Find the electric field from a potential function $V(x) = 3x^2$.

Answer: $E = -6x \text{ V/m}$. Field equals negative derivative: $E = -\frac{dV}{dx} = -6x$.

Flashcard 33: Define the term 'electric potential energy'.

Answer: Energy a charge has due to its position in an electric field. Energy stored due to electric field position.

Flashcard 34: State the formula for potential energy in terms of electric field and distance.

Answer: $U = qEd$. Energy from charge, field, and displacement.

Flashcard 35: Calculate the potential difference for a $4V$ and $12V$ junction.

Answer: $8 \text{ V}$. Difference equals $12 - 4 = 8$ volts.

Flashcard 36: Define the term 'equipotential surface'.

Answer: A surface with constant electric potential. Surface where potential remains constant everywhere.

Flashcard 37: Calculate the work done in moving a charge of $2C$ through a potential difference of $5V$.

Answer: $10 \text{ J}$. Work equals charge times potential difference: $W = qV = 2 \times 5 = 10$.

Flashcard 38: What is the formula for electric potential difference?

Answer: $\triangle V = V_f - V_i$. Change in potential equals final minus initial.

Flashcard 39: How is electric potential related to electric potential energy?

Answer: $V = \frac{U}{q}$. Potential equals energy per unit charge.

Flashcard 40: State the formula for the potential energy of a system of two charges.

Answer: $U = \frac{kq_1q_2}{r}$. Interaction energy between two point charges.

Flashcard 41: State the formula for the electric potential due to a point charge.

Answer: $V = \frac{kq}{r}$. Coulomb's law for potential from point charge.

Flashcard 42: What is the electric potential at infinity?

Answer: Zero. Reference point for electric potential measurements.

Flashcard 43: State the formula for the potential energy of a system of two charges.

Answer: $U = \frac{kq_1q_2}{r}$. Interaction energy between two point charges.

Flashcard 44: Define electric potential.

Answer: Electric potential is the work done per unit charge. Describes energy per unit charge at a point.

Flashcard 45: Which quantity is measured in volts?

Answer: Electric potential. Voltage measures electric potential difference.

Flashcard 46: How is potential difference related to work done on a charge?

Answer: $W = q \triangle V$. Fundamental relationship between work and voltage.

Flashcard 47: Identify the potential energy formula for a system of charges.

Answer: $U = \frac{kq_1q_2}{r}$. Standard formula for charge interaction energy.

Flashcard 48: How is the work done on a charge related to potential difference?

Answer: $W = q \triangle V$. Work done equals charge times voltage change.

Flashcard 49: State the unit of electric potential energy.

Answer: Joule (J). Standard unit for measuring energy quantities.

Flashcard 50: What is the potential energy of a $3C$ charge at a potential of $4V$?

Answer: $12 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 3 \times 4 = 12$.

Flashcard 51: How is the work done on a charge related to potential difference?

Answer: $W = q \triangle V$. Work done equals charge times voltage change.

Flashcard 52: Define the term 'equipotential surface'.

Answer: A surface with constant electric potential. Surface where potential remains constant everywhere.

Flashcard 53: What is the potential energy of a $3C$ charge at a potential of $4V$?

Answer: $12 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 3 \times 4 = 12$.

Flashcard 54: Calculate the potential energy of a $2C$ charge in a $10V$ field.

Answer: $20 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 2 \times 10 = 20$.

Flashcard 55: What is the electric potential at infinity?

Answer: Zero. Reference point for electric potential measurements.

Flashcard 56: Identify the relationship between electric potential and electric field.

Answer: $E = -\nabla V$. Electric field is negative gradient of potential.

Flashcard 57: Identify the potential difference needed to store $20J$ in $2C$ of charge.

Answer: $10 \text{ V}$. From $U = qV$, solve for $V = \frac{U}{q} = \frac{20}{2} = 10$.

Flashcard 58: What is the potential at a point midway between two equal charges?

Answer: Zero. Symmetric positioning cancels equal contributions.

Flashcard 59: Find the potential energy of $3C$ in a $6V$ field.

Answer: $18 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 3 \times 6 = 18$.

Flashcard 60: Find the potential difference if the electric field is $5 \text{ V/m}$ across $3m$.

Answer: $15 \text{ V}$. Using $\triangle V = Ed = 5 \times 3 = 15$.

Flashcard 61: What is the formula for electric potential energy?

Answer: $U = qV$. Energy equals charge times potential.

Flashcard 62: What is the electric potential energy of a $2C$ charge at $3V$?

Answer: $6 \text{ J}$. Using $U = qV = 2 \times 3 = 6$.

Flashcard 63: How is electric potential related to electric potential energy?

Answer: $V = \frac{U}{q}$. Potential equals energy per unit charge.

Flashcard 64: What is the electric potential at a point equidistant from two equal charges?

Answer: Zero. Equal charges create symmetric cancellation.

Flashcard 65: Calculate the potential at a point $3m$ from a $5C$ charge.

Answer: $V = \frac{k \times 5}{3}$. Direct substitution into point charge formula.

Flashcard 66: State the formula for the electric potential due to a point charge.

Answer: $V = \frac{kq}{r}$. Coulomb's law for potential from point charge.

Flashcard 67: Identify the potential energy formula for a system of charges.

Answer: $U = \frac{kq_1q_2}{r}$. Standard formula for charge interaction energy.

Flashcard 68: What is the formula for the potential difference in a uniform field?

Answer: $\triangle V = Ed$. Potential difference in uniform electric field.

Flashcard 69: What is the relation between potential difference and energy change?

Answer: $\triangle U = q \triangle V$. Energy change equals charge times voltage change.

Flashcard 70: State the unit of electric potential.

Answer: Volt (V). Standard unit for measuring electric potential.

Flashcard 71: What is the formula for electric potential difference?

Answer: $\triangle V = V_f - V_i$. Change in potential equals final minus initial.