Chapter 4

Energy and potential

• W= force x displacement

• Computing work by contour integration

B
A--- initial point
W= ∫F .dL A B--- final point

Where:

• W = work (N-M or Joules)

• F = force (Newtons)
• dL = differential line (Meters)
Work done in terms of charge & electric field
intensity
B

Work done in terms of an

incremental line ∆L

W = - Q E . ∆L
Differential line
• Cartesian :

• dL = dxãx + dyãy + dzãz

• Cylindrical

dL = drãr + rdФãФ + dzãz

•
• Spherical

dL = drãr + rdѲãѲ + rsinѲ dФ ãФ

• Example:

• Given the force F = 2 [y ax + x ay + z az]

• Initial point : A( 1, 0, 1 )
• Final point : B(0.8, 0.6, 1)
• Path follows x² + y² = 1
• Find the work done?
Problem:
2. Given: E = y ã x + x ã y + 2 ã z
Q = 2 coul.

Initial point A (0,0,4) 3. An electric field is given asE = 3yz

Final Point B (0.3 , 0.7 , 4.5) ax + 3 yz ay + 6xy2az N/C. An
incremental path is given by ∆L =
Find : W along ( ⎯ ax + 3 ay – 2 az ) 10-6 meters,
find the work done in moving a 4
uC charge along this path if the
a. x ² + y ² = 1
location of the path is at a) PA(0,
b. y = -3 (x - 1) 1, 3); b) PB (1, 1, 1); c) PC(-0.8, -2,
-0.6)?
Figure
Answer key
1. W = 0.96 J
2. a) W = -2.96 J
b) W = - 4.767 J
3. a) W = - 72 pJ
b) W = 24 pJ
c) W = - 182.4 pJ
 (VAB)
B

A to B
 A to B

Therefor: VAB= Q ∫ E.dL

Q
B

W = Work done

Q = charge in coulombs
VAB = potential difference
in joules/coul or volts
dL = differential distance
in meters
• Note :

VAB > 0 means, the charge has received energy in moving from B to A.
This is considered as POTENTIAL ENERGY!

VAB < 0 means, the charge has released energy to the external agent.
 • ABSOLUTE POTENTIAL

Q
VA = 4∏ε₀ RA
Volts
‫ع‬o = 8.854 x 10-12 farad /meter or C2/N-m2
• Reference point :

• Ground
• Earth
• Point at Infinity
For a point charge :

VAB = VA – VB A B
Q Q
= 4∏ε₀ RA
- 4∏ε₀ RB

Q 1
VAB = 4∏ε₀ ( R1A - RB )

With reference to point x

Q 1 1
VA = 4∏ε₀ ( Rx - RA
)
 B
For a line charge
A
line charge

ρL RB
VAB = 2∏ε₀ ln RA
volts or joules/coul

With reference to point Rx A

x
x
x

ρL RA x
VA = 2∏ε₀
ln Rx
volts or joules/coul
Examples
1. Given points A(2, 0, 0) B(0.5, 0, 0) and C (1, 0, 0)
Let VA = 15V, VB = 30V. Find VC in
a) the field of Q at (0, 0, 0)
b) the field of a uniform Pl on the Z – axis
c) a uniform field

VAB = VA – VB
 Calculating the potential difference
@ different reference point
The zero reference is @ point in question
z
R2
Q VA
VA = 4∏ε₀ R + C1 R1 Zero reference
y
QA
x
The zero reference is @ infinity(∞)
z ∞
Q Q VA
VA = 4∏ε₀ R + 4∏ ₀ ∞ R
Q y
VA = 4∏ε₀ R QA
x
Examples
2. A point charge of 10-7 coul. is located at the origin find the
potential at r = 6 if
a) The zero reference is at ∞
b) The zero reference is at r = 10
c) The potential is 50V at r = 9
Examples Ans Key
1. a)Vc = 20 Volts
b) Vc = 22.5 Volts
c) Vc = 25 Volts
2. a) V = 150 Volts
b) V = 60 Volts
c) V = 100 Volts
The dipole (Self Study)

This is the point where

potential difference is
measured
d = location of (+Q) – location of ( ⎯ Q )
The potential in terms of the dipole moment

‘ ρ 𝑟−𝑟′ r --- point where the electric

V= 2.
4𝚷𝝴𝑜 |𝑟−𝑟 | |𝑟−𝑟 ′ |
′ field is computed
r’ --- location of the dipole
center
ρ = dipole moment
The Electric field intensity in terms of the dipole moment

E = Qd (2cosθ ar + sinθ aθ) V/m or N/C

4л𝝴Or3
 Examples

1. A dipole moment ρ = - 4ax + 5 ay + 3 az n C – m is located at D( 1,2,-1)

in free space. Find V at field points
a) PA (0, 0, 0) b) PB ( 1, 2, 0) c) Pc(2,3,4) ρ 𝑟−𝑟′
V= .
4𝚷𝝴𝑜 |𝑟−𝑟 ′ |2 |𝑟−𝑟 ′ |

2. Point charges of +3µc and -3µc are located at a) (0, 0, 1mm) and (0, 0, -
1mm) and b) (3,2,5)mm and (1,2,3)mm respectively in free space.
Find
a) ρ r is the location of E
b) E in spherical components at point r’ is the location of the
Pa(r = 2, θ = 40º, Ø = 50º) charge
c) @Pb(3, 60⁰, 45⁰ )
d) Located @ (3,2,5) and (1,2,3) respectively in free space.
find ρ and E.(note: convert these points to spherical)

E = Qd (2cosθ ar + sinθ aθ) V/m or N/C

4л𝝴Or3
Solution:

r – r` = ( 0 – 1) ax + (0 – 2) ax + (0 + 1) az
= - ax – 2ay + az
r – r` = √ (-1)2 + (-2)2 + (1)2
= √6
| r – r` |2 = (√6)2 = 6

From the above equation:

V = 1 x 10 -9 ( -4ax + 5ay + 3az) . ( -ax – 2ay + az)

4л€O(6) √6

= 1 x 10-9 . ( 4 – 10 + 3)
4лєO (6) √6

V= -1.8346 volts
Solutions:

a) ρ= Qd

d = (0 – 0) ax + (0 – 0) ay + (1- (-1)) az
= 2 x 10-3az

ρ= 3 x 10-6 c. (2 x 10-3) m. az
= 6 x 10-9 az C.m.
ρ = 6 az nC.m.
b) |Qd| = |(6 x 10-9) az| = √ (6 x 10-9) 2
= 6 x 10-9
= (6 x 10-9) (2cos40º ar + sin 40ºaѲ)
4л x 8.854 x10-12 (2x10-3 )3

= 10.33 ar + 4.33 aθ G V/m or N/C

b) r – r` = (1 – 1) ax + (2 - 2) ay + ( 0 +1) az
= az
r – r` = 1

r – r` 2 = 1

V = 1 x 10-9 ( -4ax + 5ay + 3az) . az

4лєO (1)
V = 27 volts
c) V = - 0.192 volts
Solutions:

a) ρ= Qd
c) ρ = 1.997ar + 3.459 aθ nC.m.

d = (3 – 1) ax + (2 – 2) ay + (5 – 3 ) az….mm
= 2 ax + 2az x 10-3

ρ= 3 x 10-6 c. (2 x 10-3) m. az
= 6 x 10-9 ax + 6 x 10-9 az C.m.
ρ = 6ax + 6 az nC.m.
b) |Qd| = |(6 x 10-9ax + 6 x 10-9 az| = √ 2(6 x 10-9) 2
= 8.485 x 10-9
= (8.485 x 10-9) (2cos40º ar + sin 40ºaѲ)
4л x 8.854 x10-12 (2x10-3 )3

= 14.56 ar + 6.104 aθ G V/m or N/C

the end