Final answer:
The electric potential energy between two charges is given by U_E = kq1q2 / r, where k is Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the point charges, and r is the distance between them. Electric potential is V = kQ / r and the electric field is E = kQ / r^2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation for calculating the electric potential energy (UE) of a charge in an electric field created by a point charge involves Coulomb's law. The electric potential energy between two point charges, q1 and q2, separated by distance r is given by UE = kq1q2 / r, where k is Coulomb's constant.
The electric potential (V) of a point charge is defined as V = kQ / r, where Q is the point charge and r is the distance from the point charge to the location where the potential is being measured. This equation shows that electric potential is a scalar quantity. When dealing with multiple charges, the total electric potential at a point is the sum of the potentials due to each charge individually, showcasing the principle of superposition.
The electric field (E) of a point charge can be found using the equation E = kQ / r2, indicating how the electric field decreases with the square of the distance from the charge. In the context of an electric potential energy calculation, knowing the electric field can help determine the force exerted on a charge within the field, as F = qE, where F is the force and q is the test charge within the electric field.