Electric Potential

Work Required to Move a Point Charge

The work W required to move a test charge 𝑄𝑄𝑡𝑡 along any path from point a to point b
with a force that just overcomes the coulombic force from a point charge 𝑄𝑄 :

𝑏𝑏
𝑊𝑊 = − � 𝐅𝐅 ∙ 𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝
𝑎𝑎

𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏 𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚 ∙ 𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝

=− �
4𝜋𝜋𝜀𝜀0 𝑎𝑎 𝑟𝑟 2

In terms of electric field strength,

𝑏𝑏
𝑊𝑊 = −𝑄𝑄 � 𝐄𝐄 ∙ 𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝
𝑎𝑎

The differential length in terms of Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates can
be expressed as:

Solution:

𝑏𝑏
𝑊𝑊 = −𝑄𝑄 � 𝐄𝐄 ∙ 𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝
𝑎𝑎
Thus, the work done is:

Solution:

𝑏𝑏
𝑊𝑊 = −𝑄𝑄 � 𝐄𝐄 ∙ 𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝
𝑎𝑎

The equation of the line can be determined as:

𝑦𝑦 − 0 1 − 0
= → 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 − 1
𝑥𝑥 − 1 2 − 1

𝑧𝑧 − 3 3 − 3
= → 𝑦𝑦 = (𝑧𝑧 − 3)
𝑦𝑦 − 0 1 − 0

Thus, the work done is:

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE