Work (electric field)

Energy transfer by a charged particle Electric field work is the work performed by an electric field on a charged particle in its vicinity. The work per unit of charge is defined as the movement of negligible test charge between two points, and is expressed as the difference in electric potential at those points. The work can be done, for example, by generators, (electrochemical cells) or thermocouples generating an electromotive force. Electric field work is formally equivalent to work by other force fields in physics, and the formalism for electrical work is identical to that of mechanical work. Physical process Particles that are free to move, if positively charged, normally tend towards regions of lower electric potential (net negative charge), while negatively charged particles tend to shift towards regions of higher potential (net positive charge). Any movement of a positive charge into a region of higher potential requires external work to be done against the electric field, which is equal to the work that the electric field would do in moving that positive charge the same distance in the opposite direction. Similarly, it requires positive external work to transfer a negativ