The difference in potential between any two points in a field is the ___ required to move a unit of whatever is affected by the field between the two points.
I need help with this.
Could it be work? or energy?
Please help
The difference in potential between any two points in a field is the energy required to move a unit of whatever is affected by the field between the two points.
The difference in potential between any two points in a field is the energy required to move a unit of whatever is affected by the field between the two points.
To understand why it is energy, consider the concept of electric potential. Electric potential refers to the amount of work that needs to be done to bring a positive test charge from infinity to a specific point in an electric field. The electric potential difference between two points in the field is equal to the work done to move the test charge between those two points.
Similarly, in the context of gravitational fields, potential energy is associated with the position of an object relative to a reference point, such as the ground. The difference in gravitational potential between two points is the amount of work required to move an object between those points.
Hence, whether we are talking about electric fields or gravitational fields, the difference in potential between any two points represents the energy required to move a unit of whatever is affected by the field between those points.