Lecture 5

Mahmoud Ibrahim Ossaimee

Professor Eng. Physics Dept.
m_ossaimee@[Link]
 Course Contents
Chapter Course Content

1 Electrostatic Field
2 Gauss’s Law
3 Electrostatic Potential
4 Capacitors and Capacitance
5 Electric Current
6 Magnetic Force
7 Magnetic Field due to Electric Current
8 Faraday-Lenz Law
9 Inductance
10 Alternating Current 2
 Chapter 3
Electric Potential
Electrical Potential Energy U
• When a test charge is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force
• FE = qoE
B A
E
qo
Fext FE

The work done by an external force to move the test charge qo from A to B is
𝐵
𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = න 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = ∆𝑈 + ∆𝐾𝐸
𝐴

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Assume the test charge moves without any change in its kinetic energy
 Fext = -FE = - qoE

𝐵
∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝐵 − 𝑈𝐴 = −𝑞𝑜 න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠
𝐴

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 Electric Potential V
• The potential energy per unit charge, U/qo, is the electric potential
• The potential is independent of the value of qo
• The potential has a value at every point in an electric field

• The electric potential is

𝑼
𝑽=
𝒒𝒐

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 Units

• 1 V = 1 J/C
• V is a Volt
• It takes one joule of work to move a 1-coulomb charge through a
potential difference of 1 volt

• In addition, 1 N/C = 1 V/m

• This indicates we can interpret the electric field as a measure of the
rate of change with position of the electric potential

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Potential Difference V
• The potential is a scalar quantity
• Since energy is a scalar

• As a charged particle moves in an electric field, it will experience a

change in potential
𝐵
∆𝑈 𝑈𝐵 𝑈𝐴
∆𝑉 = = − = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟
𝑞𝑜 𝑞𝑜 𝑞𝑜 𝐴
𝐵
∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟
𝐴
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Work and Potential Difference
𝐵
∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟
𝐴
𝐵
𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = න 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = ∆𝑈 + ∆𝐾𝐸
𝐴
𝐵 𝐵 𝐵
𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = න 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 = − න 𝐹𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 = −𝑞𝑜 න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟
𝐴 𝐴 𝐴

𝑊𝐴→𝐵
∴ ∆𝑉 =
𝑞𝑜

𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = 𝑞𝑜 (𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 ሻ
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Potential at a point (Absolute Potential) V (r)
At r →  , U = V =0

𝑟
𝑉(𝑟ሻ = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟
∞

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 Summary

∆𝑈 = 𝑞𝑜∆𝑉 Change in electric potential energy

𝐵
∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 potential Difference between two points
𝐴

𝑟
𝑉(𝑟ሻ = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 potential at a point
∞

𝑊𝐴→𝐵 = 𝑞𝑜 (𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 ሻ Work done by external force

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Applications

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1. Electric Potential of a point Charge
To find the electric potential due to a point charge, we integrate the
field along a field line:

𝑟 𝑟
𝑑𝑟
𝑉(𝑟ሻ = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 = −𝑘𝑞 න 2
∞ ∞ 𝑟

𝑞
∴𝑉= 𝑘
𝑟

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Electric Potential with Multiple Charges
• The electric potential due to several point charges is the sum of
the potentials due to each individual charge q1
• This is another example of the superposition principle r1
• The sum is the algebraic sum p
r2 q2

𝑞𝑖 r3
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑒 ෍ q3
𝑟𝑖
𝑖

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Potential Energy of Multiple Charges
• Consider two charged particles
• The potential energy of the system is:
𝑞2 𝑞1𝑞2
𝑈12 = 𝑞1𝑉2 = 𝑞1 𝑘 =𝑘
𝑟 𝑟
𝑞1 𝑞1𝑞2
𝑈21 = 𝑞2 𝑘 =𝑘
𝑟 𝑟

𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑈=𝑘
𝑟12
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 𝑞1𝑞2
𝑈=𝑘
𝑟12

• If the two charges are the same sign, U is positive and work must be
done to bring the charges together

• If the two charges have opposite signs, U is negative and work is done
to keep the charges apart

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U with Multiple Charges, final

• If there are more than two charges, then find U for

each pair of charges and add them

• For three charges:

𝑞1𝑞2 𝑞1𝑞3 𝑞2𝑞3

𝑈=𝑘 + +
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23

• The result is independent of the order of the charges

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Example: The Electric Potential Due to Two Point Charges
A charge q1 = 2.00 µC is located at the origin, and a charge q2 = -6.00 µC is
located at (0, 3.00) m, as shown in Figure.
(A) Find the total electric potential due to these charges at the point P, whose
coordinates are (4.00, 0) m.
Solution For two charges, the sum gives:

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 (B) Find the change in potential energy of the system
of two charges plus a charge q3 = 3.00 µC as the latter
charge moves from infinity to point P
Solution When the charge q3 is at infinity, let us define Ui = 0
for the system, and when the charge is at P, Uf = q3VP;
therefore,

Therefore, because the potential energy of the system has decreased, positive
work would have to be done by an external agent to remove the charge from
point P back to infinity.

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Example: Potential above two charges.
Calculate the electric potential (a) at point A in the figure due to the
two charges shown, and (b) at point B.
Q1 Q2
a) VA = VA1 + VA2 =k +k
r1 A r2 A
 − 50  10 −6
50  10 −6

VA = 9  10 
9
+  = 7.5  105 V
 0.6 0.3 

Q1 Q2
b) VB = VB1 + VB 2 =k +k
r1B r2 B
 − 50  10 −6
50  10 −6

VB = 9  10 
9
+  = 0 V
 0.4 0.4 

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 2. Electric Potential Due to a Spherical Charged Conductor

𝟎; 𝒓<𝑹
𝑬=ቐ 𝑸
𝒌 𝟐 ;𝒓 ≥ 𝑹
𝒓

❑Potential at a point outside sphere r > R

𝑟 𝑟
𝑑𝑟
𝑉(𝑟ሻ = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 = −𝑘𝑞 න 2
∞ ∞ 𝑟 r

𝑄 A
∴𝑉= 𝑘
𝑟

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❑Potential at a point inside the sphere r < R

𝑟 𝑅 𝑟
𝑑𝑟
𝑉(𝑟ሻ = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑟 = − 𝑘𝑄 න 2 + න 0
∞ ∞ 𝑟 𝑅 r
B
𝑄
∴𝑉= 𝑘
R

𝑄
𝑘 , 𝑟≤𝑅
𝑅
𝑉=
𝑄
𝑘 , 𝑟≥𝑅
𝑟

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Notes about Potential Due to a Charged Conductor

• V is constant everywhere on the surface of a charged conductor in

equilibrium
• ΔV = 0 between any two points on the surface

• The surface of any charged conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is an

equipotential surface

• Because the electric field is zero inside the conductor, we conclude that the
electric potential is constant everywhere inside the conductor and equal to
the value at the surface

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3. Potential Difference in a Uniform Field
❑The equations for electric potential can be
simplified if the electric field is uniform:
𝐵 𝑑
∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = − න 𝐸𝑑𝑥 = −𝐸𝑑
𝐴 0

❑ The negative sign indicates that the electric potential at point B is

lower than at point A

❑ The direction of E is the direction of decreasing potential

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Energy and the Direction of Electric Field

∆𝑈 = 𝑞𝑜∆𝑉 = −𝑞𝑜𝐸𝑑
• When the electric field is directed
downward, point B is at a lower
potential than point A

• When a positive test charge moves

from A to B, the charge-field system
loses potential energy

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• A system consisting of a positive charge and an electric field loses electric potential
energy when the charge moves in the direction of the field

• An electric field does work on a positive charge when the charge moves in the
direction of the electric field

• If qo is negative, then ΔU is positive

• A system consisting of a negative charge and an electric field gains potential energy
when the charge moves in the direction of the field

• In order for a negative charge to move in the direction of the field, an external
agent must do positive work on the charge

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Two points are located within a region in
which there is an electric field.

(i) How would you describe the

potential difference
ΔV = VB – VA
a) It is positive b) It is negative
c) It is zero
(ii) A negative charge is placed at A and then moved
to B. How would you describe the change in
potential energy of the charge-field system.

a) It is positive b) It is negative
c) It is zero
Example: Motion of a Proton in a Uniform Electric Field
A proton is released from rest in a uniform electric field that has
a magnitude of 8.0  104 V/m. The proton undergoes a
displacement of 0.50 m in the direction of E.

(A) Find the change in electric potential between points A and B.

(B) Find the change in potential energy of the proton–field system for this displacement.

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(C) Find the speed of the proton after completing the 0.50 m displacement in the electric
field.

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4. Equipotential Surface
• Point B is at a lower potential than point A

• Points B and C are at the same potential

• The name equipotential surface is given
to any surface consisting of a continuous
distribution of points having the same
electric potential

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❑When a test charge undergoes a displacement ds along an
equipotential surface, then dV = 0 because the potential is constant
along an equipotential surface. From Equation dV = -E cos  ds = 0

❑Thus, E must be perpendicular to the displacement along the

equipotential surface. This shows that the equipotential surfaces
must always be perpendicular to the electric field lines passing
through them.

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E and V for an Infinite Sheet of Charge

• The equipotential lines are the

dashed blue lines

• The electric field lines are the

brown lines

• The equipotential lines are

everywhere perpendicular to
the field lines

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E and V for a Point Charge

• The equipotential lines are the dashed

blue lines

• The electric field lines are the brown

lines

• The equipotential lines are everywhere

perpendicular to the field lines

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5. Obtaining the Value of the Electric Field from the Electric
Potential

• Assume, to start, that E has only an x component

dV
Ex = −
dx
• Similar statements would apply to the y and z components
• In general, the electric potential is a function of all three
dimensions
• Given V (x, y, z) you can find Ex, Ey and Ez as partial derivatives
V V V
Ex = − Ey = − Ez = −
x y z
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Potential Gradient
In general:
𝑑𝑉
𝐸=−
𝑑𝑟Ԧ

𝑑𝑉
≡ 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑟Ԧ

It is a vector quantity whose direction is in the opposite direction of the

electric field

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 Example:
If the electric potential is given as
V (x, y, z) = 2 x 2 + 8 y 2 z + 2 z 2
Find the electric field E at (1,1,0)
Solution:
¶V ¶V
Ex = - = -4x Ey = - = - 16yz
¶x ¶y
¶V
Ez = - = - ( 8y 2 + 4 z)
¶z
E = - 4 x î - 16yz ĵ - ( 8y2 + 4 z) k̂ at (1,1,0)
E = - 4 î - 8 k̂
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Which of the shown electric field distributions below corresponds to electric potential
shown in the next figure?

E = - slope

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