Electric potential is one of the more challenging topics for students to wrap their heads around in the introductory physics sequence. Energy, an already abstract concept, is now made even more opaque. Consider a system of a single charged particle. How much electric potential energy would there be if a second particle were to enter this configuration?

Topics
Electrical equipment, Electrostatics, Oceanography, Education, Teaching, Abstracts
1.
Kelly
 
O’Shea
,
Physics Blog
, https://kellyoshea.blog/?s=card+sort.
2.
Brian W.
 
Frank
, “
Taking a crack at card stacks: Tips and resources for getting started
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
56
,
408
(
Sept.
 
2018
).
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5051165
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
American Modeling Teachers Association
(
2018
), https://modelinginstruction.org/.
4.
Martha
 
Stoeckel
, “
Defining electric potential difference by moving a multimeter’s ground probe
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
56
,
24
(
Jan.
 
2017
)
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5018683
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
Additional Teaching Resources
5.
Geo-Electric Field Science
: An AAPT Digi Kit, https://www.compadre.org/books/GeoElectric.
6.
S.
 
Saeli
 and
D.
 
MacIsaac
, “
Using gravitational analogies to introduce elementary electrical field theory concepts
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
45
,
104
(
Feb.
 
2007
).
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2432088
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
J.
 
Phillips
,
J.
 
Sanny
,
D.
 
Berube
, and
A.
 
Hoemke
, “
Beyond the point charge: Equipotential surfaces and electric fields of various charge configurations
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
55
,
71
(
Feb.
 
2017
).
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4974113
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
© 2020 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2020
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.