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Explain electrostatic potential due to a point charge |
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Answer» Point charges, such as electrons, are among the fundamental building blocks of matter. Furthermore, spherical charge distributions (like on a metal sphere) CREATE external electric fields exactly like a point charge. The electric potential due to a point charge is, thus, a case we need to consider. Using calculus to find the WORK needed to move a TEST charge q from a large distance away to a distance of r from a point charge Q, and noting the connection between work and potential \left(W=\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}-q\Delta V\right), it can be shown that the electric potential V of a point charge isV=\frac{\text{kQ}}{r}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\left(\text{Point Charge}\right),where k is a constant equal to9.0×{\text{10}}^{\text{9}}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{N}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{·}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}{\text{m}}^{\text{2}}\text{/}{\text{C}}^{\text{2}}.Explanation: |
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