Name: Kaela Sofia R.

Samonte Section: 10 - Lawrence Date Submitted: December 17, 2021

WORKSHEET NO. 7
Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY

● The electric potential energy for a point charge q in the electric field of a stationary point
charge Q, with a distance r, separating the charges is
𝑘𝑞𝑄
𝑈= 𝑟

The unit of electric potential energy is Joule.

● The electric potential energy is a scalar quantity equivalent to the work done by the electric
force on a charged when it is moved:
𝑊= − ∆𝑈

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
● The electric potential, or potential V, is a scalar quantity that is equal to the potential energy
per unit charge.
𝑈
𝑉= 𝑞

● The potential for a point charge Q, at any point is

𝑘𝑄
𝑉= 𝑟

● The potential due to a collection of charges is the sum of the potentials due to each charge.
𝑄𝑖
𝑉 = 𝑘∑ 𝑟𝑖

EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACE
● An equipotential surface is the graphical representation of potential given by a surface on
which every point has the same potential. Electric field lines are perpendicular to
equipotential surfaces. The surface of a conductor is an equipotential surface when charges
are stationary and all points within the surface have the same potential.
 1. The electric potential at the center of a square is -8.0 V when one -2Q charge is placed in a
corner of the square. What is the electric potential at the center of the square when a - Q
charge is placed in each of the remaining three corners of the square?

SOLUTION:
The electric potential for a collection of charges is the scalar sum of the potentials for each
individual charge. The electric potential for a charge depends on the distance from the charge. In
this case, all four charges are the same distance from the center of the square, so we do not need to
adjust the potentials for distance.
Since the -2Q charge creates a potential of -8.0 V at the center of the square, we conclude
that a single -Q charge would create a potential of -4.0 V at the center of the square. When the
three new -Q charges are added, each adds -4.0 V to the potential, for a total of - 12.0 V. The total
potential due to all four charges is therefore -20.0 V.

2. Charge q1 is distance r from a positive point charge Q. Charge q2 = q1/3 is distance 2r from
Q. What is the ratio U1/U2 of their potential energies due to their interactions with Q?
SOLUTION
The potential energy U1 of q1 relative to Q is given by
𝑘𝑞1𝑄
𝑈1 = 𝑟

The potential energy U2 of q2 relative to Q is given by

𝑞1
𝑘𝑞2𝑄 𝑘( 3
)𝑄 1 𝑘𝑞1𝑄 1
𝑈2 = 𝑟2
= 2𝑟
= 6 𝑟
= 6
𝑈1

The ratio U1/U2 is therefore

𝑈1
𝑈2
=6

3. A +25nC charge is at the origin. What are the radii of the 1000V, 2000 V and 3000 V
equipotential surfaces?

SOLUTION
𝑘𝑄
𝑟= 𝑉

For the 1000 V, equipotential surface, the radius is

9 2
10 𝑁𝑚 −9
(9 𝑥 2 )(25 𝑥 10 𝐶)
𝐶
𝑟= 1000 𝑉
= 0. 225 𝑚
For the 2000 V equipotential surface,
9 2
10 𝑁𝑚 −9
(9 𝑥 2 )(25 𝑥 10 𝐶)
𝐶
𝑟= 2000 𝑉
= 0. 1125 𝑚

For the 3000 V equipotential surface

9 2
10 𝑁𝑚 −9
(9 𝑥 2 )(25 𝑥 10 𝐶)
𝐶
𝑟= 3000 𝑉
= 0. 075 𝑚

4. What is the electric potential at the point indicated with the dot in the figure shown below.

SOLUTION
The electric potential at the corner of the square shown above is equal to the sum of the
potentials created by each charge.

( ) ( ) ( )⎤⎥⎦ = 1410𝑉
−9 −9 −9
9 2 2
𝑉 = 9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚 /𝐶 ⎡⎢
2𝑥10 𝐶 2𝑥10 𝐶 2𝑥10 𝐶
−2 + −2 + −2
⎣ 3𝑥10 𝑚 4𝑥10 𝑚 5𝑥10 𝑚
 1. When the distance between a proton and an electron is doubled, the force on the electron
changes in magnitude from F1 to F2, and the potential energy of the two-particle system
changes from U1 to U2. The final value of each quantity is a certain fraction of its initial value.
When we compare the two fractions, do we find that U2/U1 is less than, equal to, or greater
than F2/F1? Briefly explain.
Force Formula: F = kQ1Q2 / r2
F1:
F1 = kQ1Q2 / r2
F2:
F2 = kQ1Q2 / (2r)2
= kQ1Q2 / 4r2
= (¼)( kQ1Q2 / r2 )
Calculating F2/F1:
F2/F1 = [ (¼)( kQ1Q2 / r2 )] / [kQ1Q2 / r2]
=¼
Potential Energy Formula: U = kQ1Q2 / r
U1:
U1 = kQ1Q2 / r
U2:
U2 = kQ1Q2 / 2r
= (½)(kQ1Q2/r)
Calculating U2/U1:
U2/U1 = [(½)(kQ1Q2/r)] / [kQ1Q2 / r]
=½
With the equations: (1) F2/F1: ¼ , (2) U2/U1: ½. We can say that ¼ < ½. Therefore, we can conclude
that U2/U1 > F2/F1.
Answer: U2 / U1 is greater than F2 / F1.
2. What does it mean if the electric potential at a certain point is 20 V? (Hint: use the SI unit of
potential)
The S.I. Unit for electric potential can be either “volts (V)” or “joules per coulomb (J/C)”. This means
that “20 V” may also be stated as “20 J/C”. Therefore, there are 20 joules of energy being
exerted per unit charge at that certain point.
3. During a lightning flash -15C of charge moves through a potential difference of 8 x 107V.
Determine the change in the electric potential energy of this system of charges.
Given: ∆𝑉 = 8 x 107 V , q = -15C
Formula: ∆𝑉 = ∆𝑈 / q
∆𝑈 = ∆𝑉 x q
∆𝑈 = (8 x 107 V)(-15C) = -120 x 107 = - 1.2 x 109
∆𝑈 = - 1.2 x 109 J

Final Answer: The change in the electric potential energy is - 1.2 x 109 J or 1200000000 J.
 4. Two objects of charges -Q and +Q are separated by a distance D. Determine an expression for
the electric potential at a point that is located at a distance D from each charge.
Electric Potential Formula: V = kQ1Q2 / r where ; (1) k is a constant equal to 9 x 109 Nm2/c2, (2)
Q1 is the charge of object 1 and is equal to -Q, (3) Q2 is the charge of object to and is equal to +Q
and (4) r is the distance between the charges and is equal to D.
Solution:
V = (9 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚𝐷 /𝑐 )(−𝑄 )
2 2 2

V = - (9 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚𝐷 /𝑐 )(𝑄 ) or V =

2 2 2 2
−𝑘𝑄
𝐷

Answer: V = - or V = .
2 2 2 2
(9 𝑥 109 𝑁𝑚 /𝑐 )(𝑄 ) −𝑘𝑄
𝐷 𝐷

5. The equation below describes one or more physical situations. Solve the equation for the
unknown and write a (YOUR OWN) problem statement for which the equation is a
satisfactory solution.
9 2 2 −5 9 2 2 −5
9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚 /𝐶 (2 𝑥 10 𝐶) 9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚 /𝐶 (−4 𝑥 10 𝐶)
1000 𝑚
+ 2000 𝑚
=𝑉

Problem Statement:
Point P lies in a segment. At opposite ends of the segment, two charged particles A and B have a
charge of 2 x 10-5 C and -4 x 10-5 C respectively. What is the net electric potential that is
experienced by point P if the segment is 3 kilometers long and the distance between point P and
charged particle B is two times longer than the distance between P and A?
Solution:
3 kilometers = 3000 m
Expand: rA + rB = rA + 2rA → 3rA = 3000 → rA = 1000 m , rB = 2(1000 m) = 2000 m
Use the formula: V = kQ / r
VA = kQA / rA , VB = kQB / rB , Vnet = VA + VB
VA = 9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚1000 = 180
9 2 2 −5
/𝐶 (2 𝑥 10 𝐶)
𝑚

VB = 9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚2000 = -180
9 2 2 −5
/𝐶 (−4 𝑥 10 𝐶)
𝑚

Vnet = 9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚1000
9 2 2 −5 9 2 2 −5
/𝐶 (2 𝑥 10 𝐶) 9 𝑥 10 𝑁𝑚 /𝐶 (−4 𝑥 10 𝐶)
𝑚
+ 2000 𝑚
Vnet = 180 + (-180) = 0
Vnet = 0
Answer: The net potential experienced by point P is 0 volts.