PHY150

CHAPTER 3 : ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

3.1 Electric Potential Energy

The potential energy due to a charge placed in an electric

field is equal to the work done against electric forces in
bringing the charge from infinity to the point in question.

F =qE
+ +Q +
B A +q

kQ kQ
EA = rA
2 ; EB = rB
2

rA and rB are the respective distances.

1 1
WAB = kQq( r 
 )

WAB is the potential energy of a system required to place

them a distance apart.

3.2 Electric Potential

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If a point charge q, at a point a has electric potential

( PE ) a
energy (PE)a , the electric potential Va = q

( PE ) b
Similarly, at b, the electric potential Vb = q

The potential difference between b and a, Vba ;

Vba = Vb –Va
( PE ) b ( PE ) a
= q - q

Wba
= q

Thus, Wba  qVba Unit : Joule

1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J is the work to move a single

elementary charge through potential difference of 1V.

3.2 The relation between electric potential and electric

field.

Wba = qVba

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= Fd d : distance between a & b

= qEd because F = qE

Also, W = PE
= qVba

Thus, qVba = qEd

Vba
E= d

kQ
But E = r2
r & d has the same dimension

So, Vba = Ed
kQ
Vba = r Unit : volts

Example : What minimum work is required by an external

force to bring a charge q = 3C from a great distance away
(r =  ) to a point 0.5 m from a charge Q = 20C.

Solution

W = qVba

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kQ kQ
=q(r b
- ra )

1 1
= qQ ( 
rb ra )

1 1
= ( 3x 10-6)(20 x 10-6)( 
0.5  )

= 1.08 J

Example 2 :

A charge of 2 nC is 20 cm away from another charge of

4 C.
i) What is the potential energy of the system?
ii) What is the change in potential energy if the 2 nC
charge is moved to a point 8 cm away from the 4 C
charge?

Solution

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kqQ
i) U=W= r

(9 x109 )(2 x109 )(4 x106 )

= 0.2

= 3.6 x 10-4 J

ii) The potential energy at r = 0.08 m is,

(9 x109 )(2 x109 )(2 x10 6 )

U= 0.08

= 9 x10-4 J
The change in potential energy is the final energy less the
initial energy,

∆U = 9 x10-4 - 3.6 x 10-4

= 5.4 x 10-4 J
3.3 Electric Potential of number of charges.

The potential in the vicinity of number of charges is

the algebraic sum of all the potentials due to the
respective charges, taking into account their signs.

+ Q2
r2 - Q1
r1
A

r3

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+ Q3

VA = V1 + V2 + V3 + ….

kQ1 kQ2 kQ3

=(   )
r1 r2 r3

kQ
=∑r

Example : Two charges Q1 = 6 µC & Q2 = -6 µC are

separated by 12 cm as in the following figure..
Calculate the potential at points A and B.

Q1 A Q2 B

4 cm 8 cm 4 cm

Solution:

kQ1 kQ2
VA = 
r1 r2

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(9 x109 )(6 x10 6 ) (9 x109 )(6 x106 )

= 4 x10  2

8 x10 2

= (13.5 – 6.75) x 105 V

= 6.75 x 105 V.

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