Electric Potential

Electric Potential Energy

Electric Potential Energy
Work done by Coulomb force when q1
moves from a to b:

r
dr
q1 (+) ds
FE
rb
a q1 (+)
ra
q2 (-)

Electric Potential Energy

r
dr
The important point is that the
work depends only on the initial
and final positions of q1.

a
ra

FE

b
ds

q1 (+)

rab

q2 (-)
In other words, the work done by the electric force is
independent of path taken. The electric force is a
conservative force.

Electric Potential Energy

A charged particle in an
electric field has electric
potential energy.

++++++++++++++

+
It feels a force (as given
by Coulombs law).
It gains kinetic energy and
loses potential energy if
released. The Coulomb force
does positive work, and
mechanical energy is
conserved.

-------------------

Electric Potential
Dividing W by Q gives the potential energy per unit
charge.

VAB, is known as the potential difference between points

A and B.

The electric potential V is independent of the test

charge q0.

Electric Potential
++++++++++++++

If VAB is negative, there is a

loss in potential energy in
moving Q from A to B; the
work is being done by the
field.
if it is positive, there is a
gain in potential energy; an
external agent performs
the work

+
E

-------------------

Electric Potential
VAB is the potential at B with reference to A

VB and VA are the potentials (or absolute potentials) at B

and A

Electric Potential
If we choose infinity as reference the potential at infinity
is zero;the electric potential of a point charge q is

1 q
V r
.
40 r
The potential at any point is the potential difference
between that point and a chosen point in which the
potential is zero.

Things to remember about electric potential:

Electric potential difference is the work per unit of
charge that must be done to move a charge from one
point to another without changing its kinetic energy.
Sometimes it is convenient to define V to be zero at
the earth (ground).
The terms electric potential and potential are used
interchangeably.
The units of potential are joules/coulomb:

1 joule
1 volt =
1 coulomb

Example: a 1 C point charge is located at the origin

and a -4 C point charge 4 meters along the +x axis.
Calculate the electric potential at a point P, 3 meters
along the +y axis.
y

q1 q 2
qi
VP = k = k
+
i ri
r1 r2
9 110-6 -410-6
= 910
+

3
5

P
3m
q1

4m

q2

Thanks to Dr. Waddill for the use of these examples.

= - 4.2103 V

Example: how much work is required to bring a +3 C

point charge from infinity to point P?
0

y
q3

Wexternal q 3 VP V

Wexternal 3 106 4.2 103

3m

q1

4m

q2

Wexternal 1.26 103 J

The work done by the external force was negative, so the work done by the electric
field was positive. The electric field pulled q3 in (keep in mind q2 is 4 times as big
as q1).
Positive work would have to be done by an external force to remove q3 from P.

Electric Potential of a Charge Distribution

1
VP
Collection of charges:
4 0

qi
i r .
i

P is the point at which V is to be calculated, and r i is the distance of

the ith charge from P.

Charge distribution:

1
dq
V
.

40 r
Potential at point
P.

dq
P

Electric Potential of a Charge Distribution

Example: A rod of length L located along the x-axis has

a total charge Q uniformly distributed along the rod.
Find the electric potential at a point P along the y-axis a
distance d from the origin.
y

=Q/L

P
d

dq=dx

dq
dx

x
L

dq
dx
dV k
k
r
x 2 d2
L

V dV
0

Thanks to Dr. Waddill for this fine example.

y
r
dq
dx

x
L

Q L dx
k
k
2
2
L 0 x2 d2
x d

A good set of math tables

will have the integral:

P
d

dx

dx
x d
2

ln x x 2 d 2

kQ L L2 d 2
V
ln

L
d

Example: Find the electric potential due to a uniformly

charged ring of radius R and total charge Q at a point P
on the axis of the ring.
dQ
r

Every dQ of charge on
the ring is the same
distance from the point
P.

dq
dq
dV k
k
r
x2 R 2
V

ring

dV k

ring

dq
x2 R2

dQ
r

k
x R
2

kQ
x2 R 2

ring

dq

Example: A disc of radius R has a uniform charge per

unit area and total charge Q. Calculate V at a point P
along the central axis of the disc at a distance x from its
center.
dQ
The disc is made of
concentric rings. The
r
area of a ring at a
P
x
radius r is 2rdr, and
x
R
the charge on each
ring is (2rdr).
We *can use the equation for the potential due to a
ring, replace R by r, and integrate from r=0 to r=R.

dVring

k2rdr
x2 r2

dQ
r
P
R

1
V dV
ring
40

V
x2 r2
20

2 0

2rdr

ring

x 2 r 2 2 0

Q
x R x
20 R 2
2

R 2

rdr
x2 r2

x2 R2 x

dQ
r
P
R

Q
V
20 R 2

x2 R 2 x

Could you use this expression for V to calculate E?

Would you get the same result as I got in Lecture 3?

MAXWELL'S EQUATION

The line integral of E along a closed path

is zero

This implies that no net work is done in

moving a charge along a closed path in an
electrostatic field

MAXWELL'S EQUATION

Applying Stokes's theorem

Thus an electrostatic field is a conservative

field

Electric Potential vs. Electric Field

Since

we have

As a result; the electric field intensity is the gradient of V

The negative sign shows that the direction of E is opposite to the

direction in which V increases

Electric Potential vs. Electric Field

If the potential field V is known, the E can

be found

Example: In a region of space, the electric potential is

V(x,y,z) = Axy2 + Bx2 + Cx, where A = 50 V/m3, B = 100
V/m2, and C = -400 V/m are constants. Find the electric
field at the origin

V
E x (0, 0, 0)
Ay 2 2Bx C
x (0,0,0)
V
E y (0, 0, 0)
(2Axy) (0,0,0) 0
y (0,0,0)
V
E z (0, 0, 0)
0
z (0,0,0)
r
V

E(0,0,0) 400 i
m

(0,0,0)