Definition:Potential

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Definition

Let $P$ be a point in a conservative field.

The potential at $P$ is the amount of work needed to move a unit of mass or electric charge from a given reference point to $P$.

The reference point is usually either Earth or a point at infinity, although any point can be used.


Gravitational Potential

The gravitational potential due to a physical body $B$ is the amount of potential energy of a particle $P$ of unit mass arising from the mass of $B$.


Electric Potential

An electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a unit of electric charge from a given reference point to a specific point in an electric field without producing an acceleration.


Also see

  • Results about potentials can be found here.


Sources