Electric Potential

Dr. Nur Islami bin Abd. Rahman

Electrostatics And Potential Energy

The electrostatic force is a
conservative force.
This means that the work it
does on a particle depends
only on the initial and final
position of the particle, and
not on the path followed.
The introduction of the
potential energy is useful
since it allows us to apply
conservation of mechanical
energy which simplifies the
solution of a large number
of problems.

Electrostatics And Potential Energy

Gravitational force (mog) acts on a free falling
mo
Electrostatic force (qoE) acts on a free falling
positive qo
Newtons law and coulombs law are identical

Difference in its gravitational potential energy

(U) :

We can also use the equation above as a

definition of the difference in the electric
potential energy of a test charge q0

 The difference in the electric potential energy

of a test charge between two points is
independent of the path taken between those
points. So, we can see here that electrostatic
force is a conservative force and gravitational
force as well.

 If we choose to locate point i at a very far

(large distance) from the charge, and we
assign the value zero to the Ui = 0, and Uf = U
so:

The potential energy U of a test charge qo at

any point is equal to the negative of the work
W done on the charge by the electric field.

Sample problem
Gas balloon of helium with charge of q = - 5.5 x 10-8 C, rises vertically into
the air by distance d = 250 m from initial position to the final position. If
the natural electric field on the earth surface is E = 150 N/C and is
directed downward, what is the difference in electric potential energy of
the balloon between position i and f? (Uf Ui = - W = - 4.3 x 10-3 J)

The Electric Potential

The potential energy per unit charge at a point
in an electric field is called electric potential V
at the point.

The potential difference V between any two

points i and f in an electric filed is:

The Electric Potential

The work Wif done by the electric field on the
positive test charge as the charge moves from
point i to f may be positive, negative or zero
when the electric potential at f is higher, lower
or the same as electric potential at i,
respectively.
Finally the potential at any point in an electric
field is:

The Electric Potential

The electric field around a charged rod can be
described not only by an (vector) electric field
E but also by a scalar quantity, the electric
potential V.
The SI unit of potential difference is
joule/coulomb equal to volt ( 1 volt = 1
joule/coulomb)

Equipotential
Point in space that all have the same potential
is called an equipotential surface

Equipotential
Point in space that all have the same potential
is called an equipotential surface

Calculating The Potential From the

Field
We can calculate the potential difference between any two
points i and f in an electric field if we know the field vector E
at all positions along any path connecting those points.
Consider an arbitrary electric field and a test charge qo that
moves along the path from point i to point f. at any point, an
electrostatic force qoE acts on the charge as it moves through
a displacement ds.

Calculating The Potential From the

Field
Because the electric force is conservative, all
path will provide the same result. And if we
chose the potential Vi at point i to be zero,
then we get

Sample problem
Figure below shows two points i and f with
distance d in a uniform electric field E. Find
the potential difference Vf Vi by moving a
positive test charge qo from i to f

Potential due to a Point Charge

Figure below shows an isolated positive point charge of
magnitude q. We wish to find the potential V at point P due to
q, radial distance r from that charge. This potential is to be
determined relative to a zero potential that we assign to
infinity.

Potential due to a Point Charge

The test charge qo moves from infinity to point P. We make it

simple path due to the path followed by the charge is not
matter. The angel between E and ds will be 180, ds will equal
to -dr

Potential due to a Group of point

Charge
We can find the net potential due to a group of
point charges at any given point with the help of
the superposition principle. For n charges, the net
potential is:

Here qi is the value of the ith charge and ri is the

radial distance of the given point from the ith
charge. The sum in equation 9 is an algebraic sum
not a vector sum.

Sample problem
What is the potential at point P, located at the center
of the square of point charges below: (352V)

Potential due a continuous charge

distribution
When a charge distribution is continuous, we
must choose a typical differential element of
charge dq, determine the potential dV at P
due to dq, and then integrate over the entire
continuous charge distribution.

Potential due a continuous charge

distribution
Line of charge

Potential due a continuous charge

distribution
Line of charge

Potential due a continuous charge

distribution
Sphere of charge
Radius = r
Charge = Q
Calculate V,
To make it simple, E must be
obtained using Gausss law

Calculating the Field from the

Potential
Embark from this equation:

We can get field:

ds can be applied to other direction such as
dx, dy and dz

Sample problem
The potential at any point on the axis of a
charged disk is given by

Derive an equation for the electric field at any

point on the axis of the disk

The Van de Graaff accelerator

The Van de Graaff accelerator is an
arrangement for generating potential
differences of the order of several million
volts.
By allowing charged particles such as
electrons or protons to fall through this
potential difference, a beam of energic
particles ca be produced.

The Van de Graaff accelerator

A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic
generator which uses a moving belt to
accumulate very high voltages on a hollow
metal globe on the top of the stand.
It was invented by American physicist Robert J.
Van de Graaff in 1929. The potential
difference achieved in modern Van de Graaff
generators can reach 5 megavolts.

The Van de Graaff accelerator

1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

hollow metallic sphere (with

positive charges)
electrode connected to the sphere,
a brush ensures contact between
the electrode and the belt
upper roller (Plexiglass)
side of the belt with positive
charges
opposite side of the belt with
negative charges
lower roller (metal)
lower electrode (ground)
spherical device with negative
charges, used to discharge the
main sphere
spark produced by the difference
of potentials

The Van de Graaff accelerator

Review & Summary

The change U in the electric potential energy U of a point charge as the
charge moves from an initial point i to a final point f in electric field is

where the work Wif is that done by the electric field on the point charge.

If the zero potential energy is defined to be at infinity, the electric

potential energy U of the point charge at a particular point is

Wf is the work done by the electric field on the point charge as the
charge moves from infinity to the particular point

Review & Summary

The potential difference V between any two points i and f in an electric
filed is:

The potential (volt=J/C) at any point in an electric field is:

The point on an equipotential surface all have the same potential

Finding V from E

Review & Summary

Potential due to point charge

Potential due to a Group of point Charge

Potential due a continuous charge distribution

Calculating the Field from the Potential