Question

Distinguish between electric potential and electric potential energy?

Answer 1

Hint:Both terms Electric potential and electric potential energy is related to the work done in moving a charge from infinity. The electric potential between two points is the amount of work done in bringing the unit test charge from infinity to that point. Electric potential energy may be regarded as the energy required in doing so.

Complete step by step answer:

Electric Potential	Electric Potential Energy
When a charge q moves towards a fixed point through a small displacement dx, then the work done by the force in doing a dx displacement is known as electric potential of the charge.	When the unit positive test charge is brought from infinity to a fixed point with zero acceleration or uniform velocity in the presence of an external electric field, then the work done in doing so is stored in the form of electric potential energy.
It is denoted by the symbol $V$.	It is denoted by the symbol $U$.
For a charge placed at some fixed point the electric potential can be calculated by using the formula:\[V = \dfrac{{kq}}{r}\]where $r$ is the separation between the charge and $k$ is electrostatic constant.	For a system of charge two charges namely \[{q_1}\] and \[{q_2}\] the electric potential energy can be calculated as:\[U = \dfrac{{k{q_1}{q_2}}}{{{r_{12}}}}\] where \[{r_{12}}\] is the separation between both the charges.
It is a vector quantity and can be represented as a sum of potential at different positions due to charge $q$.	It is a vector quantity and can be represented as the sum of potential energies due to different pairs of charges.

Note:The main difference between the electric potential and electric potential energy is that in electric potential we find the work done in bringing the unit test charge while in electric potential energy we find out the energy needed to move the test charge in the electric field. Unit test charge has magnitude of \[1C\] and it is positive so that it does not produce its own electric field.