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55 changes: 55 additions & 0 deletions electronics/potential_energy_two_charges.py
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"""Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_potential_energy"""

from __future__ import annotations

k_e = 8.99 * (10**9) # N·m²/C², Coulomb's constant


def potential_energy_2_charges(
charge_1: float,
charge_2: float,
distance: float,
) -> float:
"""
Calculate the potential energy due to two charges.

Parameters:
- charge_1 (float): The charge in Coulombs.
- charge_2 (float): The charge in Coulombs.
- distance (float): The distance between the charges in meters.

Returns:
- float: The potential energy.

Raises:
- ValueError: If distance is less than zero.

Examples:
>>> potential_energy_2_charges(1e-6, 1e-6, 0.01)
0.899
>>> potential_energy_2_charges(2e-6, 3e-6, 0.05)
1.0788
>>> potential_energy_2_charges(0, 3e-6, 0.05)
0
>>> potential_energy_2_charges(2e-6, 3e-6, 0)
inf
>>> potential_energy_2_charges(2e-6, 3e-6, -0.05)
Traceback (most recent call last):
...
ValueError: Distance must be greater than zero.
"""
if charge_1 == 0 or charge_2 == 0:
return 0
if distance <= 0:
if distance == 0:
return float("inf")
raise ValueError("Distance must be greater than zero.")

potential_energy = k_e * charge_1 * charge_2 / distance
return round(potential_energy, 6) # Round for precision


if __name__ == "__main__":
import doctest

doctest.testmod()