Physics Notes 2nd Year 2019-20

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook

By Professor Ejaz
Unit 11: Electrostatics

11.6 Electric Potential:

 Definition: Potential Difference:
Potential difference between two points is the work done in moving a unit positive charge
from one point to another keeping the charge in electro static equilibrium against electric
field.

 Definition: Electric Potential

The electric potential at any point in an electric field is equal to work done in bringing a unit
positive charge from infinity to that point keeping it in equilibrium

 Mathematical Form:
If an amount of work W is required to move a charge Q from one then the potential-
difference between the two points is given by,
W
V=
Q

 Explanation:
Let us consider a positive charge+q placed in oppositely charged parallel plates. A charge
experienced a force in an electric field. If the charge is allowed to move freely in an electric field
it will move from plate A to plate B and acquire kinetie energy as shown in Fig:11.23(a). On the
other hand external force is required to move the charge against electric field. In order to move
the charge q with uniform velocity from B to A an external force F must be applied which is
equal and opposite to qEas shown in Fig 11.23(b) .This force will maintain the equilibrium by
preventing the ion charge q, from acceleration while, moving from A to B.
  Calculations:
Let WBA, be the work done by the force in carrying a positive charge q, from point B to point
A without disturbing the equilibrium state of the charge. The change in potential energy ∆ U of
charge q0, is defined to be energy equal to the work done by the force in carrying the charge q,
from one point to the other against the electrical field, i.e.

∆ U =W BA
UA-UB =WBA ……(11.18)

Where UA and UB represent the potential energies at point A and B respectively

If this charge is released from point A, it will move from A to B and will gain an equivalent
amount of K.E

where VA, and VB, are the electric potentials at point A and B, respectively. The defining
equations give.

Where V is potential difference between A and B.

 SI unit of potential difference

Potential difference is the Joule per coulomb which is termed as volt.

1Coulomb
1 volt=
1 Joule
  Definition: One volt:
One volt is the potential difference between two points in an electric field if one joule of
work is done in moving one coulomb of charge from the one point to the other

 Multiples and Sub-Multiples

Other multiples and sub-multiples of volt are
1 milli volt (mV) = 10-3 V,
1 micro volt (uV) =10-6 V
1 kilo volt (kV) = 103 V,
1 mega volt (MV) 106 V
1 giga volt (GV) = 109 V