In the following diagram, the central charge equals 10 µC.

Surface A (rA = 3 meters) the potential equals:   VA = kQ/r = (9 x 109)(10 x 10-6)/3 = 3 x 104 volts       Surface B (rB = 1 meter) the potential equals:   VB = kQ/r = (9 x 109)(10 x 10-6)/1 = 9 x 104 volts

 

If a 2 nC charge were to be brought in from infinity and placed on surface A shown above, the amount of work done on the 2 nC charge would equal

 

 

We say that the 2 nC charge has gained an electric potential energy of

 

EPE_A = 6 x 10^-5 J. 

 

By definition, the absolute potential at a position infinitely far from a point charge is defined to be zero.

Similarly, the amount of work done on the 2 nC charge to bring it in from infinity and place it on surface B would equal

 

We say that the 2 nC charge has gained an electric potential energy of

 

EPE_B = 1.8 x 10^-4 J. 

 

The difference between the 2 nC's electric potential energy at B and its electric potential energy at A would represent the work required to move the 2 nC change from a position on surface A to a position on surface B.

 

 

In essence, positive voltage changes mean that an external agent must do work to move a positive charge to a new position in the field, while negative voltage changes mean that the field would be doing all of the work to move a positive charge to its new position in the field.

 

By definition, charges flow naturally from points of high potential to points of low potential. That is, when free to move, a positive charge would instinctively flow from surface B (high potential) to surface A (lower potential). Because of this, work done by electric fields (that is, when the charge moves along a field line in the direction of the field) results in a charge LOSING electric potential energy - that is, the electrostatic force causes a charge to move to positions of lower potential and less electrical potential energy consequently gaining KE.

 

 

 

 

An analogy can be formed between equipotential surfaces and altitudes from the surface of the Earth. At any given altitude, an object with mass has a certain amount of gravitational potential energy, PE_g = mgh where h is measured from some arbitrarily set zero level (usually the base of the hill). An external agent must do work against the gravitational field whenever the object's height, altitude, is increased  - this results in the object gaining PE_g. The gravitational field does work on the mass whenever the object's height, altitude, is decreased resulting in the object losing PE_g.

 

By comparing the aerial view with the side view, you can tell that when the surfaces are closer together on the left, it signifies that the altitude is changing more rapidly, that is, that the slope of the hill is steeper. But regardless of which side of the hill a person climbs, he will do the same amount of work and gain the same amount of PE_g = mgh. Remember that this is the definition of a conservative field.

 

If instead, the aerial view where to be considered to be a series of equipotential surfaces, then the electric field is stronger on the left side than on the right side since the same changes in voltage occur in a smaller distance on the left than on the right. However, regardless of which direction a charge is moved from one surface to another, the same amount of work is done, since the charge gains or loses the same amount of electrical potential energy,

 

 

The fact that these changes are path independent signifies that an electric field is also a conservative field -- that is, the only thing that counts is a comparison of the ending position to the initial position, not the path taken between the two points. Remember, whenever an electric field does work on a charged particle, the particle loses electric potential energy and gains kinetic energy. This is analogous to gravitational fields. When gravity does work on a mass, it loses potential energy and gains kinetic energy.

 

If a system contains more than one charge, then the EPE of the system is the sum or the EPE of each pair of charge.