Electrical Potential Energy

The electrical potential energy of like charges increases as they are forced nearer each other and
decreases as they move apart.

The electrical potential energy of unlike charges increases as they pulled apart and decrease as they
move apart.

Equation for the change in electrical potential energy : Conservation of Energy

Q + W = ∆𝐸system

Where : Q = is the heat flow into or out of the system

W = the work done on the objects in the systems by forces that act from outside the system

∆𝐸system = ∆KE + ∆PEg + ∆PEq+……..

∆PEq = change in electrical potential energy

When work is done on the system its electrical potential energy changes.

Recall like charges repel each other with an electrical force whose magnitude is given F = kq1q2 / ro2

The change in electrical potential energy ∆PEq when the separation f two charges q1 and q2 is changed
from an initial position r0 to r is given by an equation
1 1
∆PEq = PEq + PEqo = kq1q2 ( − ) Equation 1
𝑟 𝑟𝑜

This equation applies for charges in a vacuum.

If the charges are in a medium with dielectric constant K, the force between the charges are reduced by
a factor 1/K the change in electrical potential energy is then
𝑘 𝑞1 𝑞2 1 1
∆PEq = PEq + PEqo = 𝐾
(𝑟 − 𝑟𝑜
) Equation 2

The electrical potential energy is measured in units Joules.

Equation 1 and 2 can be used for both positive and negative charges : the sign of the charges must be
included in the calculations involving the two equations. Notice the electrical potential energy is
proportional to 1/r.

Example 1. Suppose the electric nut cracker has a stationary positive charge of +5.0 x10 – 5 C initially at
0.4 m from a negatively charged block with a charge of – 2.0x10 - 5 C. When the block is released, it
accelerates toward the positive charge and the nut.

a.) Calculate the change in electrical potential energy when the negatively charge block moves 0.1
m from the positive block. Dielectric constant of the air surrounding the charges is 1.0.
b.) If all lost electrical potential energy from part (a) is converted to kinetic energy of the 0.5 kg
block, how fast is it moving from the positive charge, assuming that the block starts at rest.
 PEq

Positively Negatively charged

charged

Kinetic energy

Solution:

a.) Given; q1 = + 5.0 x10 -5 C q2 = - 2.0 x10 -5 C

ro ( initial separation) = 0.4 m

r ( final separation) = 0.1 m

K =1.0 k = 9.0x109 Nm2/ C2

𝑘 𝑞1 𝑞2 1 1
∆PEq = ( − )
𝐾 𝑟 𝑟𝑜

1 1 1
= ( 9.0x109 Nm2 / C2) ( 5.0x10- 5 C) ( - 2.0 x10 – 5 C) (0.1 𝑚 − 0.4 𝑚
) 1.0

= - 68 N m = - 68 Joules

Unlike charge lose 68 J of electrical potential energy as they move closer together.

b.) 68 J is converted to Kinetic energy.

Initial speed = 0
The block’s final kinetic energy = ½ mv2 = 68 J

2 ( 68 𝐽) 2 ( 68 𝐽)
v=√ √ = 16 m / s
𝑚 .50 𝑘𝑔

Note that 1 J/kg = 1 N m / kg = 1( kg m s2) m /kg = 1 m2 s2

Electric Potential :

The electric potential V at a given point is the electric potential energy EPE of the small test
charge qo situated at that point divided by the charge itself.

𝐸𝑃𝐸
V= 𝑞𝑜
SI Units of Electric Potential : joule/ coulomb = volt (V)
Electric potential is an energy per unit charge and is measured in Joules per coulomb or volts.

The electric potential difference , VB – VA between two points A and B is related to work per
unit charge in the following manner:

𝐸𝑃𝐸𝐵 𝐸𝑃𝐸𝐴 − 𝑊𝐴𝐵

VB – VA = 𝑞𝑜
− 𝑞𝑜
= 𝑞𝑜

∆𝑉 = VB – VA
∆𝐸𝑃𝐸 = EPEB – EPEA

∆(𝐸𝑃𝐸) − 𝑊𝐴𝐵
∆𝑉 = =
𝑞𝑜 𝑞𝑜

Neither the potential V nor the electric potential energy EPE can be determined in the absolute
sense, only the differences ∆𝑉 and ∆𝐸𝑃𝐸 are measurable in terms of work.

Example 1. The work done by an electric force as the test charge qo = + 2.5x10 – 6 C moves from
A to B is WAB = + 5.0 x10 – 5 Joules.
a.) Find the difference, ∆𝐸𝑃𝐸 = = EPEB – EPEA , in the electric potential energies of the charge
between these points.
b.) Determine the potential difference, ∆𝑉 = VB – VA

positively charge plate

A qo

F = qo E

F = qoE

Negatively charged plate

 a.) The difference in the electric potential energies of the charge at points A and B
∆𝐸𝑃𝐸 = EPEB – EPEA = - WAB = - 5.0 x 10 – 5 J
The charge has a higher electric potential energy at A than at B.

b.) The potential difference ∆𝑉 between A and B

𝐸𝑃𝐸𝐵 𝐸𝑃𝐸𝐴 − 5.0 𝑥10 − 5
VB – VA = 𝑞𝑜
− 𝑞𝑜
= 2.5 𝑥10− 6
= - 20 V

The electric potential is higher at A than at B.

A positive charge accelerates from a region of higher electric potential energy ( or higher
potential) towards a region of lower electric potential energy ( or lower potential).

If negative charge is placed between the plates. A negative charge accelerates from a lower
potential toward a region of higher potential.

Example 2. Determine the number of particles, each carrying a charge of 1.6x10 – 19 C ( the
magnitude of the charge on an electron ), that pass between the terminals of a 12 V car
battery when 60 Watts headlight burns for one hour.

A B
+ -

12 V

60 Watts = 60 Joules / second 1 hour = 3600 seconds

Energy = Power X Time
= ( 60 Joules/second ) ( 3,600 seconds) = 2.2 x10 5 Joules

EPEA – EPEB = 2.2 x10 5 Joules

EPEA – EPEB
𝑞𝑜
= VA – VB

2.2 𝑥105 2.2 𝑥105 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠

𝑞𝑜
= 12 V qo = 12 𝑉
= 1.8x104 C

Volt = Joule/ coulomb

The number of particles whose individual charges combine to provide this total charge is
1.8 𝑥104
1.6𝑥10− 19
= 1.1 x023 particles
Potential of a Point Charge

V = kq/r

Represents the amount by which the potential at a distance r from a point charge differs from the
potential at an infinite distance away.

Example: Using a zero reference potential at infinity, determine the amount by which a point charge of
4.0x10 – 8 C alters the electric potential at a spot 1.2 m away when the charge is
a.) positive b.) negative
9.0𝑥109 𝑁𝑚2 / 𝐶 2
a.) V = ( ) (+ 4.0x10 – 8 C ) = + 300 V
1.2 𝑚
9 2
9.0𝑥10 𝑁𝑚 / 𝐶 2
b.) V = ( 1.2 𝑚
) (- 4.0x10 – 8 C ) = - 300 V

A single point charge raises or lower at a given location, depending on whether the charge is positive
or negative. When two or more charges are present , the potential due to all charges is obtained by
adding together the individual potential.

Example: At locations A and B, find the total electric potential due to the two point charges.
A B
+8.0 x 10 -9C -8.0 x 10 -9C
= =

0.20m 0.20m 0.40m

= = =
Solution:

Location A Contribution from + Charge

V = (9x109 ) ( + 8.0x10 -9) / 0.20m = 360 V

Location B Contribution from + charge

V = (9x109) ( +8.0 x10 – 9) / 0.40 m = 180 V

Location A contribution from a – charge

V = (9x109) ( - 8.0x10 -9) / 0.60 m = - 120 V

Location B from a – charge

V = (9x109) ( - 8.0x10 -9) / 0.40 m = - 180 V

Total Potential at A = 360 V – 120 V = 240 V

Total potential at B = 180 V – 180 V = 0 V

Seatwork: Three point charges; initially they are infinitely far apart. They are then brought together and
placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Each side of the triangle has a length of 0.50 m.
Determine the electric potential energy of the triangular group. In other words, determine the amount
by which electric potential energy of the group differs from that of the three charges in their initial,
infinitely separated locations.

+ 5.0 𝜇𝐶 , + 6.0 𝜇𝐶 , and - 2.0 𝜇𝐶