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Phy2 11 - 12 Q3 0303 FD
Phy2 11 - 12 Q3 0303 FD
Learning Objectives 2
Warm Up 3
Bibliography 16
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Lesson 3.3
Calculating Electric Potential and
Potential Difference
Introduction
Voltage is almost as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. Everything around you that is
powered by electricity operates due to potential difference. Even the cells inside your body
are designed to conduct electricity, thus enabling you to move, feel, and think. It is
noteworthy that a failure in these highly systematized bioelectrical processes often leads to
illnesses. Irregular electrical pulses in the heart, for instance, may lead to a heart attack. Let
us now try to further study the mathematical nature of potential and voltage.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 1
Unit 3: Electric Potential
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 2
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Warm Up
Charges and Fields 8 minutes
This PhET simulation will help you study the relationship between the potential at a given
location in space and the distance from electric charge(s).
Procedure
1. Set up the charges and fields simulation to its initial condition using the link below. A
screenshot of the simulation is presented in Fig. 3.3.1.
Fig. 3.3.1. Charges and fields simulation
2. Next, position one positive charge into the center of the screen. Observe the
direction of the field lines around the positively charged particle. Drag the blue
voltmeter sensor from the right-hand part of the simulator and move it around the
charge, first at equal distance in all directions, and second, at varying distances.
3. Then, using the tape measure, take the measurements provided in Table 3.3.1. Note
down the measured value on the voltmeter sensor accordingly.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 3
Unit 3: Electric Potential
4. Tick “reset”. Drag one positive charge onto the center of the screen. Measure the
potential difference 122.4 cm away from this charge using the voltmeter sensor.
Then, stack one more positive charge on top of the first and measure the potential
difference from the same distance (122.4 cm). Do this step four times and record
your observations on Table 3.3.2.
Data Tables
Table 3.3.1. Distances and voltmeter reading
1 4.5 cm
2 14.1 cm
3 43.0 cm
4 301. 7 cm
5 604.4 cm
Table 3.3.2. Charge number and voltmeter reading
1
2
3
4
Guide Questions
1. Where are the values of the voltage the same around the positive charge? Where are
they different?
2. Based on the data you have gathered in Table 3.3.1, what is the relationship
between the distance and potential difference?
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 4
Unit 3: Electric Potential
3. Based on the data you have gathered in Table 3.3.2, what is the relationship
between charge and potential difference?
and is solved by or . Potential difference, on the other hand, is the
change in potential energy UE of a charge displaced from point A to B and is solved by VAB =
VA – VB.
Electric potential difference is most commonly referred to as voltage. Its relationship with
electric potential energy UE is given by:
Equation 3.3.1
where ΔU is the change in electric potential energy, VA is the potential at point A, VB is the
potential at point B, q is the magnitude of the point charge, ΔV is the potential difference.
The Electron Volt
In electrostatics, the value of electric energy often results in extremely low amounts of joule.
To deal with the tedious task of writing these very small values, an easier way of expressing
electrical energy and work was devised. Physicists call this unit the electron volt (eV). It
refers to the quantity of work done to displace a charge through a potential difference of 1
V. 1 eV is thus equivalent to the product of one volt 1 V and 1 elementary charge, hence:
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 5
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Equation 3.3.2
where V is the electric potential due a point charge , is the electric constant, q0 is the
magnitude of the point charge, r is the distance where potential is measured with respect to
the charge.
In this equation, the electric potential V is set arbitrarily at 0, and r is at an infinite distance
from the point charge. Therefore, the electric potential V, with respect to the point
charge, decreases with distance, and the electric field , with respect to the point charge,
decreases with distance squared. In such case, the electric field is given by:
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 6
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Equation 3.3.3
where V is the electric potential due a system of charges, is the electric constant, q0 is
the magnitude of the ith point charge, r is the distance where potential is measured with
respect to the ith charge.
Tips
The resulting electric potential at a given point (P) is the summation
of the potentials at that point due to each of the charges. You
need not take direction into consideration since potential is a scalar.
Be mindful, however, of the charges’ signs.
Remember
A negative voltage implies that the positively charged particle will
be attracted from a greater distance and the potential will be lower.
The opposite is true for a negative charge.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 7
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Let’s Practice!
Example 1
Solve the potential at a point 18 m away from a 17.14 μC (A) and a -17.14 μC (B).
Solution
Step 3: Write the working equations.
Step 4: Substitute the given values.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 8
Unit 3: Electric Potential
The potential due to point A is 8.57 ✕ 103 V, and due to point B is -8.57 ✕ 103 V.
1 Try It!
Calculate the electric potential at a point 32.16 m away from a 55.67 μC (C) and a
‒55.67 μC (D).
Example 2
Consider, for instance, that during a thunderstorm, the magnitude of the change in electric
potential energy ΔUE of an electron that has moved between a thundercloud and the
ground is 1.33 ✕ 10-28 J. Determine the electric potential difference ΔV between the ground
and the cloud.
Solution
Step 3: Write the working equation.
The electric potential difference is hence given by:
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 9
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Thus, the electric potential difference between the ground and the cloud is 8.31 ✕ 10-10 V.
2 Try It!
What will be the electric potential difference ΔV between the ground the cloud if the
magnitude of the change in electric potential energy of two electrons becomes 4.13
✕ 10-28 J?
Example 3
A positive and a negative charge are found on the corners of a rectangle with w = 0.15 mm
and l = 0.35 mm. The negatively-charged particle, found at the upper left hand corner, has a
magnitude of ‒8 ✕ 10-6 C. The positively-charged particle at the lower right corner, on the
other hand, has a magnitude of 4 ✕ 10-6 C. What will be the electric potential at the upper
right hand corner (point P) of the rectangular region?
Solution
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 10
Unit 3: Electric Potential
The potential at the upper right hand corner of the rectangle VP is 3.43 ✕ 107 V.
3 Try It!
A positive and a negative charge are found on the corners of a rectangle with
w = 0.254 mm and l = 0.741 mm. The negatively-charged particle, found at the upper
left-hand corner, has a magnitude of ‒15 ✕ 10-6 C. The positively-charged particle at
the lower right corner, on the other hand, has a magnitude of 24 ✕ 10-6 C. What will
be the electric potential at the upper right hand corner (point P) of the rectangular
region?
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 11
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Key Points
___________________________________________________________________________________________
● Potential refers to the electric potential energy UE per unit charge. Potential
difference, or voltage, on the other hand, is the change in potential energy UE of a
charge displaced from Point A to B.
● The electron volt (eV) is defined as the quantity of work done to displace a charge
through a potential difference of 1 V. One eV is equivalent to the product of one volt
1 V and 1 elementary charge.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Key Formulas
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 12
Unit 3: Electric Potential
● r is the radius.
● ΔV is the potential
difference.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 13
Unit 3: Electric Potential
constant;
● qi is the magnitude of the ith
point charge, and
● ri is the distance where
potential is measured with
respect to the ith charge.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
.
_________________ 2. 1 electron volt (eV) is equivalent to the product of 1 volt
and 1 elementary charge.
_________________ 3. The electric potential due to a point charge is given by
.
_________________ 5. A negatively-charged q will have its potential positive at all
points in the system.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 14
Unit 3: Electric Potential
An insulating sphere with a radius of r1 = 2.5 mm is located inside a larger spherical
insulating shell with radius r2 = 5.7 mm. The smaller sphere contains a charge of q1 =
7.5 μC and the larger one contains a charge of q2 = ‒9.15 μC, both of which are
uniformly distributed over their respective surfaces.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 15
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Challenge Yourself
1. If Points A and B are at a similar electric potential, does it follow that no work is
exerted to move a charged particle to a certain distance?
2. If the electric potential due to a given point is equivalent to zero, can the electric
field at that point be nonzero? Explain your answer.
3. Do two car batteries which have the same voltage contain the same amount of
energy? Explain your answer.
4. If a power line of high voltage accidentally falls on a car such that its body is at a
potential of 9 550 V relative to the ground, will the people inside this car be hurt?
Why or why not?
5. Will it be safe for the car’s occupants to get out of the car? Why or why not?
Bibliography
Coletta, Vincent P. Physics Fundamentals. Lakeville, MN: Physics Curriculum & Instruction,
Inc., 2010.
Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics (11th ed). New York: Pearson Education, 2010.
Holt, R., Serway, R., & Faugn, J. Physics. Austin, TX: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 16
Unit 3: Electric Potential
Macalalad, E. P. and Vergara, R. L. Exploring the Realms of Science: Physics. Valenzuela City:
JO-ES Publishing House, Inc., 2011.
Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Resnick, R. Fundamentals of Physics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011.
3.3. Calculating Electric Potential and Potential Difference 17