Conservative Property of Potential Field

Work done in moving a point charge from point B to point A does not
depend on path taken
It follows that moving around a point charge and placing it back to its
original position will result no work done. That is
∮ 𝐸⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝐿⃗ = 0
If you have a point A and B in space does
not matter which path you take, when you
integrate the work done going from point A
to point B the end result will only matter
A B
with initial and final state of your
movement.
If your movement was from point A to
point B and again back to point A, then there is no work done.
So, if you move around a point charge and place it back to its original
position then then there is no work done
Therefore, close loop integral of electric field dotted to its path is zero
You are familiar with this. Because this
close loop is a circuit loop. See the circuit
in the right. If you start at any point in the
circuit, go around and come back to that +
point the sum of voltages are zero. -

Remarks:
Only valid for electrostatic case
The integral is the basis for Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
A vector field that satisfy the above condition is a conservative field

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

Potential Gradient
Potential field equation

𝑉 = −∫ 𝐸⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝐿⃗
Question

Given an electric field 𝐸⃗ , the potential field V may be determined. Is it possible

to solve for 𝐸⃗ if V is given?
Answer

Differentiate V with respect to 𝐿⃗

How do you differentiate a scalar with respect to a vector?

 Consider a region in space where

electric field exists, the potential
difference ∆𝑉 across a very short
segment ∆𝐿 may be approximated.
 Since
𝑑𝑉 = −𝐸⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝐿⃗ then
𝑑𝑉 = −𝐸 𝑑𝐿 cos 𝜃
∆𝑉 = −𝐸∆𝐿 cos 𝜃
𝑑𝑉 ∆𝑉
∴ ≈ = −𝐸 cos 𝜃
𝑑𝐿 ∆𝐿
Here 𝜃 is the angle between direction of E field and direction of path
𝑑𝑉
 𝑑𝐿
is the rate at which the potential is changing with respect to
distance
𝑑𝑉
 𝑑𝐿
is maximum if 𝜃 = 1800 (cos 𝜃 = −1)
 When 𝜃 = 1800 , 𝑑𝐿⃗ points in the opposite direction of as 𝐸⃗

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

Remarks
𝑑𝑉
| =𝐸
𝑑𝐿 𝑚𝑎𝑥
 The magnitude of electric field is equal to the maximum value of rate
of change of potential with distance
𝑑𝑉
 The direction at which is maximum is opposite to 𝐸⃗ . In other
𝑑𝐿
words, the direction of 𝐸⃗ is opposite to the direction in which the
potential is increasing most rapidly.

Potential Gradient
If a scalar field is T, the gradient of T is given by
𝑑𝑇
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑇 = 𝑎̂
𝑑𝑁 𝑁
Gradient of T is a vector field
𝑎̂𝑁 is a unit vector normal to the equipotential surface of T, and pointing
toward increasing T
𝑑𝑇
𝑑𝑁
is the rate at which T is changing with respect to the distance at the
direction of 𝑎̂𝑁
Direction of gradient of T = direction of maximum space rate of increase of
T
Magnitude of grad T = maximum space rate of increase of T

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

Consider a differential of V:
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑑𝑉 = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Since 𝑑𝑉 = −𝐸⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝐿⃗ = −(𝐸𝑥 𝑎̂𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 𝑎̂𝑦 + 𝐸𝑧 𝑎̂𝑧 ) ∙ (𝑑𝑥 𝑎̂𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 𝑎̂𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧 𝑎̂𝑧 )

= −𝐸𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝐸𝑦 𝑑𝑦 − 𝐸𝑧 𝑑𝑧

Comparing above two equations we can write

𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = − , 𝐸𝑦 = − , 𝐸𝑧 = −
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

So x component of electric field is basically defined by the change of voltage

with respect to change in x direction
If you move along x direction and if V changes its value, it means there is an
electric field present in that direction. That is how you can interpret the above
equations.
It is true with y component and z component
Combinely we can write with vector notation the electric filed as
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝐸⃗ = − ( 𝑎̂ + 𝑎̂ + 𝑎̂ )
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑧

But 𝐸⃗ = −𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑉
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
∴ 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑉 = 𝑎̂𝑥 + 𝑎̂𝑦 + 𝑎̂𝑧 = ⃗∇𝑉
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝐸⃗ = −∇
⃗𝑉 𝑉 = −∫ 𝐸⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝐿⃗

1. Use left equation to get Electric field from voltage

2. Use right equation to get voltage from electric field.
Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST
So how many ways we can calculate the electric field?

E-field and potential gradient of a dipole

Example
Consider an electric dipole (pair of point
charges of equal magnitude and opposite signs
separated by a distance d). Determine the
electric field and potential field at a generic
point P located far from the middle of the
dipole.

Solution:
 Derive the potential field and then use gradient operator to get the
electric field.
 Potential field at point P. Get the individual potential due to point
charges and then add.
𝑄 1 −𝑄 1
𝑉 (𝑃 ) = +
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅1 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅2
𝑄 𝑅2 − 𝑅1
𝑉 (𝑃 ) = ( )
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅1 𝑅2

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

  The point P is very far way. Therefore
we can approximate that
𝑅⃗1 , 𝑅⃗2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅⃗ are parallel
 The far field approximation is valid
when we consider that 𝑑 ≪ 𝑟
 If 𝑅⃗ makes an angle 𝜃 with z axis then
as 𝑅⃗1 , 𝑅⃗2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅⃗ are parallel, therefore
𝑅⃗1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅⃗2 also makes an angle 𝜃 with
the z axis.
 The electric dipole is located along z
axis and its center is located at origin.
 We are interested to find the electric
potential at point P in spherical
coordinates which has distance 𝑟
form the origin and angle 𝜃 from z
axis
 Potential is not a function of 𝜙[why] 𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
 If you talk about the similarity then cos 𝜃 =
𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠
𝑅⃗1 ≈ 𝑅⃗2 𝑅2 − 𝑅1
 If you talk about the difference then cos 𝜃 =
𝑑
𝑅2 − 𝑅1 = 𝑑 cos 𝜃 ∴ 𝑅2 − 𝑅1 = 𝑑 cos 𝜃

𝑄 𝑅2 − 𝑅1 𝑄 𝑑 cos 𝜃 𝑄𝑑 cos 𝜃
𝑉 (𝑃 ) = ( )= ( )=
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅1 𝑅2 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2
∇ in spherical coordinate
𝜕 1 𝜕 1 𝜕
⃗∇= 𝑎̂ + 𝑎̂ + 𝑎̂
𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝜃 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝜕𝜙 𝜙

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

We know that 𝐸⃗ = −∇
⃗𝑉

𝜕𝑉 1 𝜕𝑉 1 𝜕𝑉
⃗∇𝑉 = − ( 𝑎̂𝑟 + 𝑎̂𝜃 + 𝑎̂ )
𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝜕𝜙 𝜙
So we can see from the above equation that there is a change in voltage with
respect to radius and two arc lengths in spherical coordinate system.
But voltage is not a function of 𝜙 therefore we can neglect it.
𝜕𝑉 1 𝜕𝑉 1 𝜕𝑉
⃗∇𝑉 = − ( 𝑎̂𝑟 + 𝑎̂ + 𝑎̂ )
𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝜃 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝜕𝜙 𝜙
𝜕 𝑄𝑑 cos 𝜃 1 𝜕 𝑄𝑑 cos 𝜃
=− ( ) 𝑎
̂ 𝑟 − ( ) 𝑎̂𝜃
𝜕𝑟 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2
2𝑄𝑑 cos 𝜃 𝑄𝑑 sin 𝜃
= 𝑎
̂ + 𝑎̂
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 3 𝑟 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 3 𝜃
𝑄𝑑
𝐸⃗ = [(2 cos 𝜃)𝑎̂𝑟 + (sin 𝜃)𝑎̂𝜃 ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 3

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

Energy of an Electrostatics system
When we say electrostatic, it means there
is no moving of charges in our system.
Let us consider first an empty space. We
want to put charges in each point in
space. Visualize that we are putting the
point charges from ∞ to the point of
interest.
To move 𝑞1 in the empty space we don’t
need to exert any effort since no other
charges are present. Therefore, no
electric field is setup there yet.
So to move 𝑞1 we exerted zero (0) effort
𝑊𝐸 = 0
To move 𝑞2 from infinity to the point of interest then 𝑞1 has an effect on 𝑞2
If they oppose each other, then you are exerting effort to put 𝑞2 from ∞ to
point of interest. Because 𝑞1 emanates electric field.
The exerted effort is equal to the charge times the potential difference.
𝑊𝐸 = 0 + 𝑞2 𝑉21 {potential difference =work done/charge }
When you bring the third charge then
𝑊𝐸 = 0 + 𝑞2 𝑉21 + 𝑞3 [𝑉31 + 𝑉32 ]
Similarly for charge 𝑞4
𝑊𝐸 = 0 + 𝑞2 𝑉21 + 𝑞3 [𝑉31 + 𝑉32 ] + 𝑞4 [𝑉41 + 𝑉42 + 𝑉43 ] + ⋯ … … … ..

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

So the potential energy of the system is given by
𝑊𝐸 = 0 + 𝑞2 𝑉21 + 𝑞3 [𝑉31 + 𝑉32 ] + 𝑞4 [𝑉41 + 𝑉42 + 𝑉43 ] + ⋯ (1)
Also it is easy to prove that 𝑞2 𝑉21 = 𝑞1 𝑉12
𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑞2 𝑉21 = 𝑞2 = 𝑞1 = 𝑞1 𝑉12
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟21 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12
Thus we can write the equation (1) as
𝑊𝐸 = 𝑞1 𝑉12 + 𝑞1 𝑉13 + 𝑞2 𝑉23 … (2)
If we combine equation (1) and equation (2) together
2𝑊𝐸 = 𝑞1 (𝑉12 + (𝑉13 + ⋯ ) + 𝑞2 (𝑉21 + (𝑉23 + ⋯ ) + 𝑞3 (𝑉31 + (𝑉32 + ⋯ ) +
1
𝑊𝐸 = [𝑞 𝑉 + 𝑞2 𝑉2 + 𝑞3 𝑉3 ]
2 1 1
𝑛
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∑ 𝑞𝑖 𝑉𝑖
2
𝑖=1

To obtain an expression for the energy stored in a region of continuous

charge distribution, each charge is replaced by 𝜌𝑣 𝑑𝑣, and the summation
becomes an integral,
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝜌 𝑉𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣

Short Question
Show that the total potential energy present in a system of point charges is
given by
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝜌𝑣 𝑉𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST
To make the above expression more meaningful we will use Maxwell’s first equation
and its equivalence. From the vector identities we can write
⃗ ∙ (𝑉𝐷
∇ ⃗ ) = 𝑉(∇⃗ ∙𝐷⃗ )+𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇
⃗ 𝑉)
∴ 𝑉(∇⃗ ∙𝐷
⃗ )=∇ ⃗ ∙ (𝑉𝐷⃗ )−𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇⃗ 𝑉)
From Maxwell’s first equation we know that ∇ ⃗ ∙𝐷⃗ = 𝜌𝑣
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝜌𝑣 𝑉𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ (∇ ⃗ ∙𝐷⃗ )𝑉𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ [∇ ⃗ ∙ (𝑉𝐷⃗ )−𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇⃗ 𝑉)]𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = [∫ ⃗∇ ∙ (𝑉𝐷 ⃗ )𝑑𝑣 − ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇
⃗ 𝑉)𝑑𝑣 ]
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙
We know from divergence theorem that
∫ ⃗ 𝑑𝑣 = ∮
∇∙𝐷 ⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑆
𝐷
𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
Applying the divergence theorem
1
𝑊𝐸 = [∫ ⃗∇ ∙ (𝑉𝐷
⃗ )𝑑𝑣 − ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇
⃗ 𝑉)𝑑𝑣 ]
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = [∮ ⃗ ) ∙ 𝑑𝑆 − ∫ 𝐷
(𝑉𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇
⃗ 𝑉)𝑑𝑣 ]
2 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙
𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
For first integral we choose a surface that encloses all charges. We select surface at
infinity. As the surface is at infinity and potential at infinity is zero, 𝑉 = 0, Therefore
the first integral vanishes.
1 1
𝑊𝐸 = − ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇
⃗ 𝑉)𝑑𝑣 = − ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (−E⃗ )𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙 2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = − ∫ 𝜀0 𝐸⃗ ∙ (−E
⃗ )𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝜀0 𝐸 2 𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST
Broad Question
Show that the total potential energy present in a system of point charges is
given by
1
𝑊𝐸 = − ∫ 𝜀0 𝐸 2 𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
Example
Calculate the energy
stored in the
electrostatic field of a
section of a coaxial
cable of length 𝑙. In
between the conductors
𝑎𝜌
𝐸⃗ = 𝑠 𝑎̂𝜌 . Where 𝜌𝑠 is
𝜀0 𝜌
the surface charge density of inner conductor, whose radius is ‘a’.
Solution:
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝜀0 𝐸 2 𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
The differential volume can be written as
𝑑𝜌 × 𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑑𝑧 = 𝑑𝜌 × 𝜌 𝑑𝜙 × 𝑑𝑧
Earlier we found that the electric flux density of coaxial cable is given by
𝑎𝜌𝑠
𝐷𝜌 =
𝜌
𝑎𝜌𝑠
∴𝐸= 𝑎̂
𝜀0 𝜌 𝜌
𝑙 2𝜋 𝑏
1 𝑎2 𝜌2𝑠
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ ∫ ∫ 𝜀0 𝜌𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜙𝑑𝑧
2 𝜀20 𝜌2
0 0 𝑎

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST

 𝑙 2𝜋 𝑏
1 𝑎2 𝜌2𝑠 1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝑑𝑧 ∫ 𝑑𝜙 ∫ 𝑑𝜌
2 𝜀0 𝜌
0 0 𝑎
1 𝑎2 𝜌2𝑠
𝑊𝐸 = × 𝑙 × 2𝜋 × (log 𝑏 − log 𝑎)
2 𝜀0
𝜋𝑙 𝑎2 𝜌2𝑠 𝑏
𝑊𝐸 = log
𝜀0 𝑎

Energy Density
Energy Density quantifies how an energy is distributed over a region of space. It
is a differential work with respect to volume.

1 1 1
𝑊𝐸 = − ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (∇
⃗ 𝑉)𝑑𝑣 = − ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ (−E
⃗ )𝑑𝑣 = ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙ ⃗E 𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙 2 𝑣𝑜𝑙 2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑊𝐸 = ∫ 𝐷 ⃗ ∙E
⃗ 𝑑𝑣
2 𝑣𝑜𝑙
1
𝑑𝑊𝐸 = ⃗ ∙ ⃗E 𝑑𝑉
𝐷
2
𝑑𝑊𝐸 1
= 𝐷⃗ ∙ ⃗E
𝑑𝑉 2
𝑑𝑊𝐸 1
⃗ ∙E
= ε0 E ⃗
𝑑𝑉 2
𝑑𝑊𝐸 1 2
∴ ⃗⌉
= ε0 ⌈E
𝑑𝑉 2

Lt Col K M Mustafizur Rahman, EECE Dept, MIST