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\nWhy Gravitational PE is Usually Negligible for Charges\n

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\n\nPublisher:\n\nFlipping Physics\n\n\n
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\nIn this lesson, we compare electric potential energy and gravitational potential energy for a proton moving between parallel plates in a uniform electric field, and we plug in realistic values to show just how small the gravitational...\nIn this lesson, we compare electric potential energy and gravitational potential energy for a proton moving between parallel plates in a uniform electric field, and we plug in realistic values to show just how small the gravitational energy change is in this situation. You will learn how to calculate the change in electric potential energy using charge and potential difference, how to calculate the change in gravitational potential energy using mass, gravitational field strength, and vertical displacement, and how to use their ratio to justify when it is valid to ignore gravity in electric field problems. We also clear up a common confusion: even when gravitational potential energy is negligible, the mass of the particle still matters because mass controls inertia and therefore affects the particle’s acceleration and final speed.\n
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Resource Details

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Curator Rating
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Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
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Media Length
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4:44
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Grade
12th - Higher Ed
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Subjects
Science
4 more...
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Media Type
Instructional Videos
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Source:
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\nFlipping Physics\n\n
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Date
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2026
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Language
English
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Audiences
For Teacher Use
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Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
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Concepts

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gravitational potential energy, energy conservation, gravitational force, stem, gravitational field, potential energy, speed
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Additional Tags

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unit 10, electric potential energy, uniform electric field, electric potential difference, charged particle motion, proton in electric field, electric force, potential energy comparison, ap physics electricity, electric field between plates, negligible gravity, flipping physics, ap physics c, e&m, electricity and magnetism, physics education, ap physics, physics, ap physics 2, jee, neet, electric field, vertical position, electric potential, final speed, negligible effect, charge affect, earth system, charge plates, determine, particle, earth, roughly 1
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Classroom Considerations

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Video is ad-free
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