Clearly distinguish between electric potential energy and electric potential?

Answer 1

Potential difference means the difference in the potentials at two specified points. If "potential" is mentioned without any such qualifier it usually means the potential difference between a point and the "earth" or "grounded terminal". The prefix "electric" is just a reminder we are talking electrically. But the same argument applies equally to gravitational potential.

Answer 2

potential difference is nothing but the voltage between two terminals.

ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL voltage at a particular node.

COMMENT

As, by definition, 'voltage' is another word for 'potential difference', it is quite wrong to say "voltage at a particular point or node". So the above answer needs further clarification.

Answer 3

Electric potential is the work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to a point within the electric field., where as Potential difference is the work done in moving a unit charge between two points within an electric field.

Alternative Answer

The simplest way to understand the difference between potential and potential difference is to think of potential in terms of height, and potential difference in terms of difference in height.

For example, the height of a mountain peak depends upon from where it is being measured. It could be 3000 metres from its base, but 5000 metres from sea level.

A hut at some point on the mountain may be 2000 metres from its base, so the difference in height between the mountain peak and the hut will be 1000 metres. So whereas the height of the mountain peak and the height of the hut depend entirely on from where they are being measured, the difference between them will be fixed.

So, if object A has a potential of 1000 volts with respect to earth, and object B has a potential of 2500 V with respect to earth, then the potential differencebetween the two objects will be 750 V.

Answer 4

Within a circuit:

• potential difference is the relative voltage measured between two arbitrary nodes
• electric potential is the absolute voltage measured on one arbitrary node relative to the ground node

Answer 5

Electric potential energy is the energy stored in a system due to the arrangement of charges, while electric potential is the amount of potential energy per unit charge at a specific point in an electric field. Potential energy depends on the configuration of charges, while electric potential is a property of the electric field itself.

Answer 6

electric potential energy is the energy a charged particle holds, which is measured in joules. electric potential is the potential a charged particle has, such as 4 volts.

Answer 7

Potential difference is the same as voltage. It doesn't even have units of energy. Voltage is potencial energy per unit charge.