electric potential, work per unit of electric charge expended in moving a charged body from a reference point to any given point in an electric field (see electrostatics). The potential at the reference point is considered to be zero, and the reference point itself is usually chosen to be at infinity. It can be shown that the potential associated with a charged body at a given point in a static electric field is independent of the path along which the body has traveled in passing from infinity to the given point. Potential is measured in volts and is sometimes called voltage.

electric potential Symbol V. The energy required to bring unit electric charge from infinity to the point in an electric field at which the potential is being specified. The unit of electric potential is the volt. The potential difference (p.d.) between two points in an electric field or circuit is the difference in the values of the electric potentials at the two points, i.e. it is the work done in moving unit charge from one point to the other.

potential, electric (symbol V) Energy required to transfer a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a given point in an electric field. The unit of electric potential is the volt. The Earth's potential is taken by convention to be zero and a charged conductor has a higher potential. A battery's electric potential can make current flow in an external circuit. See also potential difference