#AP Physics 2: Electric Potential Energy - Your Ultimate Review

Hey there, future AP Physics 2 master! Let's dive into Electric Potential Energy, a key concept that you'll see all over the exam. Think of this as your go-to guide for a quick, effective review. Let's get started!

#Electric Potential Energy: The Basics

Electric potential energy is all about the work needed to bring charged particles together. Imagine you're pushing two magnets together—that's kind of the idea, but with electric charges! This energy depends on:

• The magnitude of the charges. Bigger charges = more energy.
• The distance between them. Closer charges = more energy.

#What is Electric Potential Energy?

• It's the work done by an external force to bring charges from infinitely far apart to their current spots. Think of it as stored energy ready to do work.
• It's a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude, not direction. This makes calculations a bit easier!

#The Formula 📝

Here's the magic formula for the electric potential energy ($U_E$) between two point charges:

$$U_{E} = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r}$$

Where:

• $U_E$ = Electric potential energy (in Joules, J)
• $q_1$ and $q_2$ = The charges of the two objects (in Coulombs, C)
• $r$ = The distance between the charges (in meters, m)
• $k$ = Coulomb's constant (8.99 \times 10^9 N⋅m²/C²), which is also equal to $\frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0}}$
• $\varepsilon_0$ = permittiv...