Chapter 25 Electric Potential Define Electric potential: V=
U/q0.

V is the potential energy per unit charge.

25.1 Potential Difference and Electric Potential
V is a scalar.
Conservative Forces
U B
The potential difference: V = = 
A E • d s
q0

Gravitational Force Electrostatic Force Others A common reference point: Let V  0 at

P
Vp =  
E • ds
A A
Vp is the work required per unit charge to bring a positive test
charge from infinity to point p.
g S E S
Unit, Unit, Unit !!!
B B *Unit of potential: volt (V)
m q0
1J
Force: F = mg F = q0E 1V=
1C
Work:
W = F •
S = mg
S
W = F •
S = q0 E
S

Energy
U = mg
S
U = q0 E
S
Change in Potential Energy by moving charge q0 from point A to *An Equivalent unit for the
point B:
B
U = q0
A E •dS electric field: N
C = V
m

• The integral is called a path integral or a line integral. Useful to

• The integral does not depend on the path taken from A and calculate E from

B. This is an essential property of conservative forces. potential V.

*Electron Volt (eV) is a very common energy unit: the energy
that an electron (or proton) gains or loses by moving through a
potential difference of 1volt.
1 eV = 1.60 10-19 C V =1.60 10-19 J
Equipotential Surface is a surface on
which the electric potential is the
same everywhere. It must be
perpendicular to the electric field
lines.

25.2 Potential Differences in a Uniform Electric Field

Example: Release a positive charge in a uniform field.
E
A B
q0

• While kinetic energy increases, the potential energy decreases

by the same amount.
• Electric field lines always point to lower potential direction.
*Potential change:
B B
V = VB  VA = 
A E • ds = 
A E cos0°ds =  El
*Potential energy change:
U = q0
V = q0 El
*Notice the difference between potential and potential energy.

U = q0
V
 Example: The electric field between two parallel plates 25.3 Electric Potential and Potential Energy Due to Point Charges

+ - (1)Draw electric filed lines.

+ -
+ - B
+ - (2)Determine equipotential rB
+ - surfaces.
+ -
d=0.3cm ds r
rA
(3) Find Potential difference A
+ -
between point A and point B.
12V
B
Generally, V = VB  VA = 
A E • ds
• Direction of the electric field? For Point Charge: E = ke q
r̂
r2
• Which side has higher potential? B q
Therefore V = 
A ke 2 r̂ • ds
r
• |E|?
However, r̂ • d s = ds cos
= dr
| V
VA | 12V
| E |= B = = 4  103 V / m
l
2
0.3  10 m Thus,
r
V = 
r B ke
A r
q
2 dr = ke q [ 1
rB  r1A ]
• If a proton is released from the positive plate, what is its
Note, V depends only on rA and rB, not on the path.
kinetic energy when it reaches the negative plate?
Customarily, we choose V 0 at rA =
. Then V = ke qr
q
For multiple point charge system: V = ke
rii
i

(This is a scalar sum!)

Example: The potential Due to Two Point Charges Potential Energy of a Charge Particle System
y Two charges:
-6 )C Energy of the system = work required to bring a second charge q2
from
to the point P without acceleration:
3m q1q2
U = q2 V1 = ke q1 q2
2)C 4m x r12

P • If q1q2 > 0, then U > 0. Like charge repel, positive work must

(a) Find Vp. be done to the system to bring the two charges near each other.

q q  • If q1q2 < 0, then U < 0. Unlike charge attract, negative work
Vp = ke  1 + 2 
 r1 r2  must be done.
 2  10
6 C 6  10
6 C  Three Charges:
Nm 2
Vp = 8.99  10 9 2

 =
6.29  10 3 V
C
 4m 5m  (a)First, bring in charge q2 q1 q2
q1 q2
(b) Find the work required to bring a 3 )C charge from
to P. Ua = q2 V1 = ke
r12
W = q3 Vp = (3  10
6 C)(
6.29  10 3 V) =
18.9  10
3 J
(b) Second, bring charge q3 q1 q2

q q q q 
U b = ke  1 3 + 2 3  q3
 r13 r23 

q q qq q q 
Together: U = Ua + Ub = ke  1 2 + 1 3 + 2 3 
 r12 r13 r23 
 Example: Potential of a Uniformly Charged Sphere
25.4 Obtaining E from the electric Potential An insulating solid sphere of radius R has uniform positive charge
E can be calculated if the electric potential V is known. density with a total charge Q.
E x = 

Vx E y = 

Vy E z = 

Vz (a) Find V(r) for r > R R C

For system with spherical symmetry: Take V = 0 at r =
.

dV r
Er =

dr
Using Gauss’s Law (in previous lectures),
Q
Er = ke ( for r > R)
r2
r r dr Q
25.5 Electric Potential Due to Continuous Distributions Thus, Vp =  
Er dr = ke Q
2 = ke ( for r > R )
r r
Method 1: If the charge distribution is known,
• Identical to a point charge.
dq
V = ke
Q
r • At the surface of the sphere VC = ke
R
Unlike for the electric field, this is a scalar function.
(b) Find V(r) inside the sphere, r < R
Using Gauss’s Law (previous lectures)
Method 2: If E is known or E can be easily calculated from Q
Er = ke r ( for r < R )
Gauss’s Law, R3
U B r ke Q r ke Q 2 2
V = = 
A E • d s thus, Vr  VC = 
R Er dr =  3
R rdr = (R  r )
q0 R 2R 3
ke Q r2
and Vr = (3
2 )
2R R
 25.6 Potential of a Charged Conductor
V When a conductor is at equilibrium (no charge movement):
• E just outside the conductor surface is
to the surface.

V0 =
3ke Q k eQ
=2V0/3 • E = 0 inside the conductor
2R 3 R • Every point on the conductor surface has the same potential.
kQ
V= e • The potential is constant every where inside the conductor.
r
r •
Example:
A solid metal sphere of radius R and of total charge Q.
Q
E Er = ke ( for r > R)
r2
ke Q
E= s Er = 0 ( for r < R)
R2
ke Q Thus,
E=
r2 Q
Vr = ke ( for r > R)
r
Q
r Vr = ke = constant ( for r < R)
R
R

R
 Example. Two Connected Charged Sphere.
V
ke Q r1 r2
V=
R
ke Q
V= q1 q2
r
r Q: What is the ratio of E at the surface of the sphere.
Solution: At surfaces,
q1 q2
E1 = ke 2 and E2 = ke 2
r1 r2
E
E1 q1 r22
kQ Therefore, = (1)
E = e2 E2 q2 r12
R
ke Q Both spheres must have the same potential.
E=
r2 q1 q
V = V1 = V2 = ke = ke 2
r1 r2
R r q1 r1
Therefore, = (2)
q2 r2
E1 r2
Finally, =
E2 r1
*Field is more intense in the vicinity of the smaller sphere.
The Van de Graaff
Generator q1q2
ke
Robert J. Van de Graaff, 1929 r2

q
(1) How does it work? ke potential energy
r

(2) Limiting values: Electric

q1
ke potential
discharge through the air r2
occurs at E
3  10 6 V / m.
At this limit: q1q2
ke force
Surface charge density: r

 max =  0 Emax
 0 • 3  10 6 V / m
. qE electric field
Charge on the sphere:
Qmax = S max = 4
R 2 max Ed
Qmax
Potential: Vmax = ke = REmax = R
3
10 6 V / m
R B

(3) Q: How to increase the maximum potential Vmax? 
E • ds

A
Q: Improvement?
Point Charge E V
q q
E = ke 2 V = ke
r r

r r
Conducting sphere

q E V

 q
k (r > R) k e r (r > R)
E =  e r2 V=
 0 (r < R)  k e q (r < R)
 R

R r R r

Insulator sphere
E V

q
q
ke 2 (r > R) k e r (r > R)
E= r V= 2
 k q r (r < R)  k q (3 - r ) (r < R)
 e R3  e 2R R2
R r R r