Chapter 25
Electric Potential
Electrical Potential Energy
When a test charge is placed in an
electric field, it experiences a force
F = qoE
The force is conservative
ds is an infinitesimal displacement
vector that is oriented tangent to a path
through space
Electric Potential Energy, cont
The work done by the electric field is
dWe = [Link] = [Link]
As this work is done by the field, the
potential energy of the charge-field
system is changed by dU = -[Link]
For a finite displacement of the charge
from A to B,
B
U UB UA qo E ds
A
Electric Potential Energy, final
Because qoE is conservative, the line
integral does not depend on the path
taken by the charge
This is the change in potential energy of
the system
Electric Potential
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
U
The electric potential is V
qo
Electric Potential, cont.
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
U B
V E ds
qo A
Electric Potential, final
The difference in potential is the
meaningful quantity
We often take the value of the potential
to be zero at some convenient point in
the field
Electric potential is a scalar
characteristic of an electric field,
independent of any charges that may be
placed in the field
Work and Electric Potential
Assume a charge moves in an electric
field The work performed on the
charge is
Wext= ΔU = q ΔV=-We
Units
1 V = 1 J/C
V is a volt
In addition, 1 N/C = 1 V/m
Another unit of energy that is commonly used
in atomic and nuclear physics is the electron-
volt : 1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J
Potential Difference in a
Uniform Field
The equations for electric potential can
be simplified if the electric field is
uniform:
B B
VB VA V E ds E ds Ed
A A
The negative sign indicates that the
electric potential at point B is lower than
at point A
Potential and Point Charges
A positive point
charge produces a
field directed radially
outward
The potential
difference between
points A and B will
be
1 1
VB VA keq
rB rA
Potential and Point Charges,
cont.
The electric potential is independent of
the path between points A and B
It is customary to choose a reference
potential of V = 0 at rA = ∞
Then the potential at some point r is
q
V ke
r
Electric Potential with Multiple
Charges
The electric potential due to several
point charges is the sum of the
potentials due to each individual charge
This is another example of the
superposition principle
The sum is the algebraic sum
qi
V ke
i ri
V = 0 at r = ∞
Finding E From V
Assume, to start, that E has only an x component
dV
Ex
dx
Similar statements would apply to the y and z
components
The name equipotential surface is given to any
surface consisting of a continuous distribution of
points having the same electric potential
Equipotential surfaces must always be perpendicular
to the electric field lines passing through them
Electric field lines are always pointing in the opposite
direction of the increasing potential
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
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
Electric Field from Potential,
General
V V V
Ex Ey Ez
x y z
Electric Potential for a
Continuous Charge Distribution
Consider a small
charge element dq
Treat it as a point
charge
The potential at
some point due to
this charge element
is dq
dV ke
r
V for a Continuous Charge
Distribution, cont.
To find the total potential, you need to
integrate to include the contributions
from all the elements
dq
V ke
r
This value for V uses the reference of
V = 0 when P is infinitely far away from the
charge distributions
V for a Uniformly Charged
Ring
P is located on the
perpendicular central
axis of the uniformly
charged ring
The ring has a radius
a and a total charge Q
dq keQ
V ke
r x 2 a2
V for a Uniformly Charged
Disk
The ring has a
radius a and surface
charge density of σ
V 2πkeσ x 2 a 2
x
1
2
V for a Finite Line of Charge
A rod of line ℓ has a
total charge of Q
and a linear charge
density of λ
keQ 2
a2
V ln
a
V for a Uniformly Charged
Sphere
A solid sphere of
radius R and total
charge Q
Q
For r > R, V ke
r
For r < R,
VD VC
2R 3
keQ 2
R r 2
V for a Uniformly Charged
Sphere, Graph
The curve for VD is
for the potential
inside the curve
It is parabolic
It joins smoothly with
the curve for VB
The curve for VB is
for the potential
outside the sphere
It is a hyperbola