What is electric potential energy?

Electric potential energy is the stored energy that results from the position or configuration of electric charges. It is similar to other forms of potential energy, like gravitational potential energy, but it specifically refers to the energy associated with electric charges.

Imagine you have two charged objects, such as two small spheres with opposite charges. If you bring these objects closer together, they will exert a force on each other due to their charges. As you move them closer, you have to do work against this force, and this work is stored as electric potential energy.

The amount of electric potential energy depends on the magnitude of the charges and the distance between them. If the charges have larger magnitudes or are closer together, the potential energy will be greater. Conversely, if the charges have smaller magnitudes or are farther apart, the potential energy will be lower.

When the charged objects are allowed to move freely, the stored electric potential energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy (energy of motion) or heat, as the charges repel or attract each other and move accordingly.

In summary, electric potential energy is the energy stored in the configuration of electric charges and can be released and transformed into other forms of energy when the charges are allowed to move.