An analysis of Phippsʹs potential energy

We discuss a modification of Weberʹs law proposed by T. E. Phipps. We calculate the energy and force on a charge moving inside and outside a capacitor according to Phippsʹs modification of Weberʹs electrodynamics. When Phipps postulated his potential energy he answered Helmholtzʹs criticism of Weberʹs law (the negative mass behaviour). But when we utilize Phippsʹs potential energy together with the classical kinetic energy this leads to an unphysical result.