Intensity vs. Potential

The electric push working in an electric field on a unit charge at some point is called electric field intensity. It is a vector quantity with both direction and magnitude.

On the other hand, the electrical situation for which a flow of charge takes place in two charged bodies is called electric potential-the work quantity required to shift a unit charge to a specific point from a reference one.

Electric Field Intensity

Everything is a composition of atoms that consist of subatomic particles like electrons, neutrons, and protons. They are charged particles. Electrons have a negative charge, and protons have a positive charge. If an atom has more electrons than protons, it is negatively charged. In contrast, if an atom has more protons than electrons, it is positively charged. Every electric charge is associated with an electric field. Sometimes, a unit test charge is located in the electric field, and it faces the force produced by the source particle. The amount of energy here is the electric field intensity.

To determine the latter’s direction, a positive test charge is conducted so that the electric field will face a repulsion force. In this way, the electric field force will be directed away from the charge direction. Conversely, a negative test charge will determine the path toward the charged particle.

Electric Potential

The electrical situation for which a flow of charge occurs in two charged bodies is called electric potential. The working quantity is required to shift a unit charge to a specific point from a reference one. It rises in a positive direction while moving opposite to an electric field and decreases while moving with the latter. Vice versa is apt in the case of a negative charge.

However, its potential does not depend on the chosen path until the unit charge moves across a changing magnetic field. It assists in comprehending the electrical phenomena better, yet the measurable aspect is merely the differences in potential energy. If the electric field can be explained as the force per unit charge, then an electric potential can be elaborated as the potential energy per unit charge. 

So, during the movement from one point to another in a unit charge like within the electric circuit, it’s equivalent to the difference among potential energies at every moment. The ISI—International System of Units—is denoted in joules per coulomb (volts), and the differences are calculated with a voltmeter.

Relationship between electric intensity and potential

As mentioned earlier, the electric push working in an electric field on a charge per unit at some point is called electric intensity. And the electrical situation for which a flow of direction is conducted between two charged masses is called potential.

Assume A and B to be different masses near an electric field, so the potentials are V.A. and V.B.

When V.A. > V.B., we get the difference between the potentials as V.A. – V.B.

As these points are incredibly close, the electric field can be considered similar and assumed to be E.

The task in moving a positive unit charge from B to A is equal to intensity. 

E x area difference A.B.

However, it is known that the task from B to A is similar to the difference in two masses.

Therefore, AB*E = VA – VB

or, E = (VA – VB)/AB = (VA – VB)/r

Here, r is the point difference in mass A and mass B.

We can also write it as, 

E = V/r, there, VA – VB = ΔV = V … … … (1)

So,

E = – dV/dr

The negative sign signifies the rise of change in the value of potential and the charge’s displacement on the other side of the field.

As per the equation above, the intensity is inevitably similar to the rate of difference in the potential in terms of distinguished mass.

dV/dr is the potential gradient.

Differences between electric potential energy and potential

• Electric potential is the amount of work done to give the unit a positive charge from boundless to a point in an electric field.
• Electric potential energy is the energy required to shift a charge opposite to the electric field.
• The gravitational potential at a point in the gravitational field is the energy of a unit mass located at that point.

Hence, at some point, an electric potential is the electric potential energy of a unit positive charge in the electric field.

W means work done in moving a unit positive charge q from infinity to some point in the field; the electric potential V at this point is:

V = W/q

It signifies that an electric potential can be measured relative to some reference point, and just like potential energy, only the change in potential between two points can be calculated.

Electric potential holds only magnitude, not direction. Its unit is volt equal to joule per coulomb (J/C).

Conclusion

Both intensity and potential are two different aspects with a potential difference. The relationship between the two is the same as gravitational potential and field. Here, the potential is a characteristic of the area describing the action on an object.