Potential Energy of a Single Charge: The potential energy of a single charge is an important quantity in the study of electricity and magnetism because it provides information about the energy stored in the electric field and the interactions between charges. Understanding the potential energy of a single charge is essential for calculating the forces experienced by the charge and for understanding the behavior of electrically charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.

Potential Energy of a Single Charge

The potential energy of a single point charge q at a point P a distance r from the charge can be calculated using the following formula:

U = kq/r

where k is the Coulomb constant and r is the distance from the point charge to the point P.

This equation gives the potential energy of a single point charge in terms of the charge and the distance from the charge to the point where the potential energy is being evaluated. The potential energy of a charge represents the energy stored in the electric field produced by the charge, and it is a measure of the energy required to move a test charge from infinity to the point in question.

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By Team Learning Mantras