What is the difference between potential energy and potential?

Potential is the potential energy per unit at a certain location. For example in a electric field the electric potential energy depends on both the location of the charge in the field and the charge we are considering. Electric potential ignores the charge and only cares about the location, this is why it is a unit, in this case one coulomb of charge. Think of a single unit of mass/charge being moved into the field, that is the potential.

Answered by Edward T. Physics tutor

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