Electric Potential
Objectives
• Determine the electric potential
energy associated with a collection
of point charges
• Calculate the electric potential
produced by a collection of point
charges
Electric potential energy
r
ra
+q0
+Q
a E b E
rb
1 Qq0 b
F= Wa →b =
b
Fe dl = Fe cos dl
4 0 r 2 a a
work done by the force
Electric potential energy
r
ra q
+Q
a E b E
rb
rb rb 1 Qq
Wa →b = Fe dl = dl
ra ra 4 0 r 2
Qq æ 1 1 ö
Wa®b = ç - ÷
4pe0 è ra rb ø
Work done by the force on charge q.
Electric potential energy (U)
Qq0 1 1
Wa →b = −
4 0 ra rb
Work depends only
on the initial and final
positions of q0.
Electric force, a
conservative force.
Electric potential energy (U)
Work and potential energy.
Wa →b = −U = U a − U b
Qq0 1 1
Wa →b = −
4 0 ra rb
1 Qq0
U= (electric potential energy,
4 0 r two particle system)
Electric potential energy
Electric force (F) and
displacement (d) are in
+ + + + + + + + same directions.
q0 + A E
F
d
+ B
– – – – – – – – ◆ WA➔B > 0; positive work
◆ U decreases
The electric force does work on the charged particle.
Electric potential energy
Electric force (F) and
displacement (d) are in
+ + + + + + + + opposite directions.
+ B E
d 𝑊𝑎→𝑏 = −∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝐴 − 𝑈𝐵
= 𝑞0 𝐸 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐵
q0
+ A ◆ WA➔B < 0; negative work
– – – – –F – – – ◆ U increases
An external force is necessary to increase the
U of the charged particle.
Electric potential energy
Electric force (F) and
displacement (d) are in
+ + + + + + + + same directions.
– B E
d 𝑊𝑎→𝑏 = −∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝐴 − 𝑈𝐵
= 𝑞0 𝐸 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐵
q0F
– A ◆ WA➔B > 0; positive work
– – – – – – – – ◆ U decreases
The electric force does work on the charged particle.
Electric potential energy
Electric force (E) and
F displacement (d) are in
+ + + + + + + + opposite directions.
q0 – A E
d 𝑊𝑎→𝑏 = −∆𝑈 = 𝑈𝐴 − 𝑈𝐵
= 𝑞0 𝐸 𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦𝐵
– B ◆ WA➔B < 0; negative work
– – – – – – – – ◆ U increases
An external force is necessary to increase the
U of the charged particle.
Electric potential energy
q2
q3 q0 æ q1 q2 q3 ö
q1 U= ç + + ÷
r2 4pe 0 è r1 r2 r3 ø
r1 r3
q0 qi
q0 U= å
4pe 0 i ri
Unit: N-m or Joule (J)
q0
Potential energy U associated to charge q0 (due to
the presence of q1, q2 and q3).
Electric potential energy
q3
r34
r13 q4
qi q j
å
1
q1 r14 r34 r U=
r12
24
4pe0 i< j rij
q2
1 æ q1q2 q1q3 q1q4 q2q3 q2 q4 q3q4 ö
U= ç + + + + + ÷
4pe0 è r12 r13 r14 r23 r24 r34 ø
Potential energy U is the necessary energy to
assemble the charges from (initially from) infinity to a
particular position.
Electric Potential
Electric Field: Electric force per unit charge
F 1 Qq0
E= F=
q0 4 0 r 2
Electric Potential (V): Electric potential energy (U)
per unit charge
U 1 Qq0
V= U=
q0 4 0 r
r
+Q
Electric Potential
U 1 Q
V= =
q0 4 0 r
potential V due to a particle of charge q at
any radial distance r from the particle
r
+Q
V > 0, if Q is +
V < 0, if Q is -
Electric Potential
q2
q3
q1
(collection of charges) r2
r1 r3
1 q1 1 q2 1 q3 a
V= + +
4 0 r1 4 0 r2 4 0 r3
potential V due to collection of charges qi
1 qi
V=
4 0 i ri Algebraic sum!
Potential Difference
U Ub Ua
= −(Vb − Va )
Wa →b
=− = − −
q0 q0 q0 q0
The work done per unit charge by the electric force
when a charged object moves from point a to b is the
difference in electrostatic potential at point a and b.
ra +q0
+Q
a b
Potential Difference
higher potential (Va) Wab
+ + + + + + + +
>0
q0
q0 + (a) E
F
Va -Vb > 0
Positive plate is at higher
+ (b) potential than the negative
– – – – – – – – plate.
lower potential (Vb)
Positive charge naturally
moves from higher potential
to lower potential.
Potential Difference
Wab
higher potential (Vb) <0
+ + + + + + -q0
– (b) E Va -Vb < 0
F Positive plate is at higher
– (a)
–q0 potential than the negative
plate.
– – – – – – – –
lower potential (Va)
Negative charge naturally
moves from lower potential to
higher potential.
Potential Difference
Moving in the direction of E: moving in the direction
of decreasing potential.
Moving against the direction of E: moving in the
direction of increasing potential.
f
V f − Vi = −
Calculating the Potential
E dl from the Field
i
Calculating the Potential
V = − Ex from the (uniform) Field
