⚡🔭⚡Electric Potentials⚡🔭⚡

I. Work, Potential Energy, and Kinetic Energy

A. General Work-Energy Relations (Always Valid)

★ Work-Energy Theorem: Work done by all forces (Wall) equals the Change in Kinetic Energy (ΔKE).
★ Conservative Forces: Work done by conservative forces (Wcons) equals Negative Change in Potential
Energy (-ΔU).
Note: Electric force is a conservative force. Therefore, Welectric = -ΔU.
★ Non-Conservative Forces: Work done by non-conservative forces (Wnon-cons) equals Change in
Potential Energy (ΔU).

⚠️ Warning: The relationship Wnon-cons = ΔU is a special case, valid only if the Kinetic Energy
remains constant (i.e., speed changes very slowly or velocity is constant).

B. Conservation of Mechanical Energy

This principle is used when the work done by non-conservative forces is zero (either the non-conservative force
itself is zero, or the work caused by it is zero).

Uinitial + KEinitial = Ufinal + KEfinal

C. Potential Energy (U) Behavior (Why U Changes)

🤔 Think of it like this: Natural movement = lower potential energy. Forced movement = higher potential
energy.

★ Potential Energy decreases if the movement/event is what naturally wants to happen .

★ Potential Energy increases if the movement/event is forced (it is not what naturally wants to happen).
★ Example (Negative/Positive Charges): They naturally want to pass close. If they move closer,
potential energy decreases . If they are forced apart, potential energy increases .
★ Example (Positive/Positive Charges): They naturally want to repel/move away. If they move away,
potential energy decreases . If they are forced closer, potential energy increases .
II. Electric Potential (V) and Field (E) Relationships

A. Definitions and Units

★ Electric Potential (V) is a scalar quantity.

★ Units of V: Volt, Joule per Coulomb (J/C), Weber per second (Wb/s), or Newton meter per Coulomb
(N·m/C).
★ Potential Energy vs. Potential:

Change in Potential Energy (ΔU): ΔU = q × ΔV

B. Electric Field and Potential Gradient

ortant distinction.
lar, but its gradient (which give s E) is a vector! This is a super imp
📌 Sticky: V is a sca

★ Potential Gradient: The relationship between Electric Field (E) and Potential (V).
★ Formula:

E = -dV/dr

Note: Electric Potential (V) is a scalar, but the Potential Gradient is a vector.
★ Force Relationship:

Force (F) = qE

★ Directional Rule: Potential decreases in the direction of the Electric Field.

This observation is based on the behavior of a positive charge moving in the field's direction.

III. Potential due to Specific Charge Distributions

A. Point Charge
 ★ Positive charge (+q):

V = kq/r

★ Negative charge (-q):

V = -kq/r

★ Graph: The V versus r graph is rectangular hyperbolic .

B. Charged Ring (on Axis)

If Q is the total charge on the ring, R is the radius, and x is the distance from the center along the axis:

V = kQ / √(R2 + x2)

(The denominator represents the direct distance from the ring element to the point of observation).

C. Arc / Semicircle
Potential at the center (O):

V = kQ/r

(where r is the radius of the arc/semicircle).

D. Systems of Charges (Superposition)

★ Potential uses scalar addition . Electric Field requires vector addition.

★ Key Insight: It is possible for E to be zero while V is non-zero (e.g., four +q charges placed
symmetrically).
★ Key Insight: If the sum of charges in a system is zero (e.g., +q, +q, -q, -q), the Potential (V) at the
center will be zero. However, the Electric Field (E) may still be non-zero depending on arrangement.

IV. Potential and Self Energy for Spherical Structures

A. Hollow Sphere / Conducting Sphere Cases

This applies to: Hollow Sphere (Spherical Cell), Solid Conducting Sphere, and Hollow Non-Conducting Sphere.

Location Potential (V) Notes

Outside (r > V = kQ/r Simple point charge dependence.

R)
 Location Potential (V) Notes

Surface (r = V = kQ/R
R)

Inside (r < R) V = kQ/R Potential remains the same/constant inside, equal to the
(Constant) surface potential.

⚠️ Warning: For conducting/hollow spheres, the potential INSIDE is constant and equal to the surface
potential! Don't assume it's zero just because E=0 inside.

Self Energy (Uself):

U = (1/2) * kQ2 / R

B. Solid Non-Conducting Sphere (Charge distributed throughout)

★ Outside (r > R):

V = kQ/r

★ Surface (r = R):

V = kQ/R

★ Inside Potential (r < R):Neither E nor V is zero inside.

Vinside = (kQ / 2R3) * (3R2 - r2)

(r is the distance from the center).

★ Potential at Center (r = 0):

Vcenter = (3kQ) / (2R)

 ★ Self Energy (Uself):

U = (3/5) * kQ2 / R

V. Uniform Fields and Infinite Sheets

A. Uniform Electric Field

★ The magnitude of the potential difference is ΔV = E · r.

★ The change in potential (ΔV = Vfinal - Vinitial) is calculated as:

ΔV = -E · r

★ If a line is taken perpendicular to the electric field lines, the potential remains constant along that line
(Equipotential surface property).

B. Infinite Non-Conducting Sheet

 ★ Electric Field (E):

E = σ / (2ε0)

★ Potential Difference (ΔV) between two points 1 and 2:

V1 - V2 = E Δr

Where Δr = r2 - r1, and V1 (closer point) will be greater than V2(further point).

V1 - V2 = (σ / 2ε0) × Δr

VI. Electric Dipoles

💡 Tip: Remember that V=0 on the equatorial line of a dipole is a direct result of scalar addition, as the
potentials from +q and -q cancel out perfectly.

★ Axial Point:

Vaxial = kp / (r2 - a2)

★ Equatorial Point:

Vequatorial = 0

(due to scalar addition of potentials from positive and negative charges).

 ★ Any Point (at distance r, angle θ):

V = (kp cosθ) / r2

VII. Concentric Cells and Conducting Connections

A. Group of Concentric Cells (Q1 on inner, Q2 on outer)

Inner cell radius a, Outer cell radius b.

★ Potential of Inner Cell (V1):

V1 = kQ1/a + kQ2/b

★ Potential of Outer Cell (V2):

V2 = kQ1/b + kQ2/b

★ Potential Difference (ΔV = V2 - V1):

ΔV = kQ1 (1/b - 1/a)

inner sphere (Q1) and

The potential difference (Δ V) only depends on the charge of the
Key Insight:
(Q2).
is independent of the outer charge

B. Connecting Conducting Spheres/Cells

 Rule: When conducting surfaces are connected, their potentials must become equal (V1 = V2).

★ Connecting Concentric Cells: If the inner and outer cells are connected, ΔV = 0. Consequently, the
charge on the inner sphere (Qinner) must become zero. All charge flows to the outer sphere .
★ Connecting Two Separate Conducting Spheres (r1, r2): After connecting, the potentials are equal (kQ1' /
r1 = kQ2' / r2).
★ Charge Ratio:

Q 1 ' / Q2 ' = r1 / r2

★ Final Charge on Sphere 1 (Q1'):

Q1' = [r1 / (r1 + r2)] × Qtotal

VIII. Equipotential Surfaces

★ Definition: A surface where the potential (V) is the same everywhere .

★ Properties:
 1. ★ The Electric Field is perpendicular to the equipotential surface.
2. ★ The potential difference (ΔV) between any two points on the surface is zero .
3. ★ The work done (W = qΔV) in moving a charge between any two points on the surface is zero .
★ Shapes:
★ For a Point Charge: Equipotential surfaces are spherical .
★ For a Line Charge: Equipotential surfaces are cylindrical .

Conceptual Analogy for Equipotential Surfaces:

An equipotential surface acts like a contour line on a topographical map. On a map, a contour line
connects all points of equal altitude. Moving along a contour line requires no effort against gravity (zero
work). Similarly, an equipotential surface connects all points of equal electric potential, and moving a charge
along this surface requires zero work against the electric field.

~ The End! Keep studying! 🚀~