Electric Potential

Electric Potential Energy

Electric Potential Energy

Work done by Coulomb force when q1 r

moves from a to b: b
rb rb q1q 2 dr
W   FE  ds    dr q1 (+) ds
ra ra 40 r 2

 1  a q F(+)
rb
1 rb 1 q1q 2 E rb
W
40
q1q 2 
ra r 2
dr  
40
 
 r  ra ra
1

q1q 2  1 1  q1q 2 1 1
W        q2 (-)
40  rb ra  40  rb ra 
 q1q 2  1 1  r
W    b
40  rb ra 
dr
ds q1 (+)
The calculation for a + charge moving
away from a – charge could be redone in FE rab
a
a similar fashion for ++, -+, and ++. ra

The important point is that the work q2 (-)

depends only on the initial and final
positions of q1.

In other words, the work done by the electric force is

independent of path taken. The electric force is a
conservative force.
A charged particle in an electric
field has electric potential ++++++++++++++
energy.
+
It “feels” a force (as given by F
Coulomb’s law). E

It gains kinetic energy and loses

potential energy if released. The -------------------
Coulomb force does positive
work, and mechanical energy is
conserved.
Now that we realize the electric force is conservative, we can
define a potential energy associated with it.
UE  UEf  UEi    WE if
The change in potential energy when a charge
q0 is forced to move from point a to point b in r
the electric field of another charge q is b
dr
rb rb qq 0 ds q0
U E    FE  d    dr
ra ra 40 r 2

FE? rab
rb a
U    FE  d ra
ra

is equivalent to your starting equation

q
f
Uf  Ui  q  E  d
i
 rb r
qq 0 rb 1 qq 0  1 
Ub  Ua  
40 
ra r 2
dr    
40  r  ra dr
b

ds q0
qq 0  1 1 
Ub  Ua     FE? rb
40  rb ra  a
ra
By convention, we choose electric
potential energy to be zero at infinite
separation of the charges. q

0 qq  1
10
U b  U    
0

40  rb  
This provides us with the electric potential energy for a system
of two point charges q and q0, separated by a distance r:

1 qq 0
U r  .
40 r

HINT: if you have more than two charged particles, simply add the potential energies for each unique pair of
particles.
 Really Important fact to keep straight.

U  Uf  Ui    Wconservative if

The change in potential energy is the negative of the work done

by the conservative electric field force which is associated with
the potential energy.

If an external force* moves an object “against” the conservative

force, and the object’s kinetic energy remains constant, then
 Wexternal if    Wconservative if
Electric Potential

The definition of electric field : the force per unit charge

exerting on a 1C test charge q0:
F0
E = lim
q 0 0 q
0

Similarly, it is useful to define the potential resulting from a

charge in terms of the potential energy of a test charge q0:
Ur
V  r  = lim
q 0 0 q0
The electric potential V is independent of the test charge q0.
 1 qq 0
From U  r  
40 r

the electric potential of a point charge q is

1 q
V r  .
40 r

The electric potential difference between points a and b is

rb

U  ra FE  d rb F rb
V     E
 d   E  d .
q0 q0 ra q
0
ra
Things to remember about electric potential:

 Electric potential and electric potential energy are related, but

not the same.
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.

 The terms “electric potential” and “potential” are used

interchangeably.
Ur
 The units of potential are joules/coulomb: V  r  = .
q0
1 joule
1 volt =
1 coulomb
Things to remember about electric potential:

 Only differences in electric potential and electric potential

energy are meaningful.
It is always necessary to define where U and V are zero.
Here we defined V to be zero at an infinite distance from the
sources of the electric field.

Sometimes it is convenient to define V to be zero at the

earth (ground).
 Two more starting equations:
1 q
V r 
1 qq 0
U r  and
40 r 40 r

so
U r 1 qq 0 1 1 q
   V(r)
q0 40 r q 0 40 r
(potential is equal to potential energy per unit of charge)
Potential energy and electric potential are defined relative to
some reference point, so it is “better” to use
U
f

V  Vf  Vi  Uf  Ui  q  E  d
i
q U f Ui f
   E  d
q q i

f
Vf  Vi   E  d
i
Electric Potential Energy of a System of Charges

To find the electric potential energy for a system of two

charges, we bring a second charge in from an infinite distance
away:

r
q1 q1 q2

1 q1q 2
U 0 U
40 r
before after
To find the electric potential energy for a system of three
charges, we bring a third charge in from an infinite distance
away:

r12 r12
q1 q2
q1 q2
r13 r23

q3
before after
1 q1q 2 1  q1q 2 q1q3 q 2q3 
U U    
40 r12 40  r12 r13 r23 
Electric Potential and Potential Energy of a Charge
Distribution

1 qi
Collection of charges: VP 
40
i r .
i

P is the point at which V is to be calculated, and ri is the distance of the ith

charge from P.

Charge distribution:
dq
1 dq r
V 
40 r
. P
Potential at point P.
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
qi  q1 q 2 
VP = k  = k  + 
i ri  r1 r2 
P
9  1×10 -6
-4×10 -6

3m = 9×10  + 
 3 5 
= - 4.2×103 V
q2 x
q1 4m
Example: how much work is required to bring a +3 C point
charge from infinity to point P?

0
y
Wexternal  E  K  U
q3
P Wexternal  U  q3V
3m 0
Wexternal  q3  VP  V 

Wexternal  3 106  4.2 103 

q2 x
q1 4m

Wexternal  1.26 103 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.

Example: find the total potential energy of the system of three
charges.

q3
P  q1 q 2 q1 q3 q 2 q3 
U = k + + 
3m  12
r r13 r 23 

q2 x
q1 4m

U = 9 109 
 
 1×10-6 -4×10-6
+
1×10  
-6
3×10
-6

+
 
-4×10 -6

3×10 -6
 
 4 3 5 
 
U = - 2.16 10-2 J
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
l=Q/L
P
r dq= l dx
d dq
1 dq 1 l dx
x dx
x dV  
40 r 40 x 2  d2
L
L
V   dV
0
 L 1 l dx 1 Q L dx
V  
0 40 x d
2 2 4  0 L 0
x 2
 d 2

P A good set of math tables will

d
r have the integral:
dq

x dx
x

dx
x d
2 2 
 ln x  x 2  d 2 
L

1 Q  L  L2  d 2 
V ln  
40 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
Every dQ of charge on the
R r ring is the same distance
P x
from the point P.
x

1 dq 1 dq
dV  
40 r 40 x2  R2

1 dq
V   dV  
ring 40 ring
x2  R2
dQ

R r

P x
x

1 1
V
40 x R
2 2 
ring
dq

1 Q
V
40 x2  R2
Example: A disc of radius R has a uniform charge per unit area
ρs 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

area of a ring at a
P x radius  is 2d, and
x
R the charge on each ring
is s(2d).

the equation for the potential due to a ring can be modified by

the replacement of R by , and integration from =0 to =R.
1 s 2d
dVring 
40 x 2  2
 dQ

r
P x
R x

1 s 2d s R d
V   dV    
ring 40 ring
x 
2 2 20 0
x 2  2

   
R
s s Q
V x 2  2  x R x 
2 2
x2  R2  x
20 0
20 20 R 2

Q
s 
R 2
 dQ

r
P x
R x

V
Q
20 R 2
 x2  R 2  x 
Could you use this expression for V to calculate E?
important
 What we have learned up to the current lecture session

• The electric potential energy of a charge system consisting of

arbitrary number of isolated point charges with any charge
amount distributed at different distances in between

• The electric potential calculation resulting from different forms

of continuous charge distributions of arbitrary line, surface
and volume densities in space

• How to calculate the electric potential difference between

any two points in space from the electric field distribution
Example: potential and electric field between two parallel
conducting plates

Assume V0<V1 (the direction of electric field is directed from the

metal plate of higher potential to the other metal plate of lower
potential). Also assume the plates are large compared to their
separation distance, so the electric field is constant and
perpendicular to the plates.
Also, let the plates be separated E
by a distance d.

V0 d V1
 plate 1
V  V1  V0    Ed y
plate 0
x

V    E dx   E  dx  Ed
d d
z E
0 0

V dl
E , or V  Ed V0 V1
d d
|V|=Ed

Important note: the derivation of V  Ed

does not require the rectangular plates, or any plates of the
different forms at all. It is valid as long as E is uniform.

In general, E should be replaced by the component of E along

the displacement vector d .
 Equipotentials
Equipotentials are contour maps of the electric potential.

http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/digital/topo.htm
Equipotential lines are another visualization tool to describe
the potential field distributions resulting from arbitrary spatial
forms of charge distributions. They illustrate where the
potential is constant. Equipotential lines are actually
projections on a 2-dimensional plane of a 3-dimensional
equipotential surface. (“Just like” the contour map.)
The electric field must be perpendicular to equipotential lines.
Why?
Otherwise electrical work would be required to move a charge along an
equipotential surface, and it would not be equipotential.

In the static case (charges not moving) the surface of a

conductor is an equipotential surface. Why?
Otherwise charge would flow and it wouldn’t be a static case.
Here are some electric field and equipotential lines generated
using an electromagnetic field program.

Equipotential lines are shown in red.

 Potential Gradient
(Determining Electric Field from Potential)
The electric field vector points from higher to lower potentials.

More specifically, higher value of E field points along shortest

distance from a higher equipotential surface to a lower
equipotential surface.
E can be used to calculate V:
b
Vb  Va    E  d .
a

You can use the differential version of this equation to calculate

E from a known V:
dV
dV  E  d  E d  E 
d
For spherically symmetric charge distribution:
dV
Er  
dr
One dimensional representation in Cartesian coordinate system:
dV
Ex  
dx
Three dimensional representation in Cartesian coordinate
system: V V V
Ex   , Ey   , Ez   .
x y z
The general formulation for the calculation of electric field
distribution from the potential field distribution

or E   V
 dV
E 
d
dV
Er  
dr
V V V
Ex   , Ey   , Ez   .
x y z

Calculate -dV/d(any coordinate variable) including all signs. If

the result is +, E vector points along the +(respective
coordinate variable) direction. If the result is -, E vector points
along the –(respective coordinate variable) direction.
Example (from a Fall 2006 exam problem): 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)      Ay2  2Bx  C   C
x (0,0,0) (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)

 V
E(0,0,0)   400  ˆi
 m
Potentials and Fields Near Conductors

When there is a net flow of charge inside a conductor, the

physics is generally complex.
When there is no net flow of charge, or no flow at all (the
electrostatic case), then a number of conclusions can be
reached using Gauss’ Law and the concepts of electric fields
and potentials
Another key point: the charge density on a conductor surface
will vary if the surface is irregular, and surface charge collects at
“sharp points.”
Therefore the electric field is large (and can be huge) near
“sharp points.”
Summary of key points (electrostatic case):

The electric field inside a conductor is zero.

Any net charge on the conductor lies on the outer surface.

The potential on the surface of a conductor, and everywhere

inside, is the same.

The electric field just outside a conductor must be

perpendicular to the surface.

Equipotential surfaces just outside the conductor must be

parallel to the conductor’s surface.
 HOMEWORK
A conducting spherical shell of inner radius a and outer radius b with a
net charge -Q and point charge +2Q located at the center of sphere are
shown. Calculate the electric potential everywhere in space for the
case of (i) and (ii).

-Q

a a

+2Q +2Q

b b
Grounded-
Zero
potential (ii)
(i)