Electric Potential Energy

and Potential
Potential Energy

The presence of charges can give rise to a

potential energy (PE)
Electrical Work and Energy
An external force F moves +q from
A to B against the field force qE. B ++++
Work = Fd = (qE)d Fe
At level B, the potential energy U is: +q + d
qE E
U = qEd (Electrical)
A - - - -
The E-field does negative work;
External force does positive work.

The external force F against the E-field increases the

potential energy. If released the field gives work back.
Electric Potential Energy
The change ΔU in the potential energy is given by

ΔU = - Wc = - ∫Fds

Relating this to a force exerted by an electric field E on a point

charge qo is
F = qo E

We define the change ΔU in the electric potential energy as

ΔU = - ∫ qoE ds
 The Electron Volt, a Unit of Energy

One electron volt (eV) is the energy gained by

an electron moving through a potential
difference of one volt.
Identify which situation (final or initial)
has more electrical potential energy.
Initial Final
Identify which situation (final or initial)
has more electrical potential energy.
Initial Final
+ +
+ +
+ +
+

+
Conservation of Energy
in Electrostatics
If a charged particle gains kinetic energy in an
electric field, it loses an equivalent amount of
potential energy.
Point B is at a lower
electric potential than is
point A.

Points B and C are at the

same electric potential.

The gain in kinetic energy depends only on the potential

difference and not the path taken.
 Electric Potential
Electric potential is another property
of space allowing us to predict the P. V 
U
P.E. of any charge q at a point. q
r
Electric U + ++
V ; U  qV +
++Q++
Potential: q
The units are: joules per coulomb (J/C) Potential

For example, if the potential is 400 J/C at point P,

a –2 nC charge at that point would have P.E. :

U = qV = (-2 x 10-9C)(400 J/C); U = -800 nJ

 UB UA
V  VB  V A  
q q
U
B 
    E  ds
q A
Electric Potential due to a Point Charge
Electric Field:
Q
E  ke 2 (radially outward)
r
Electric Potential: 
ds
 
rb

V  Vb  Va    E  ds
ra
rb rb
dr
   Edr   keQ  2
ra ra
r
Convention: V=0 at infinite r
1 1
  keQ    Q
V  ke (electricpotential)
 rb ra  r
Electric Potential due to a Point Charge
Electric potential at a Electric potential at a
distance r from a distance r from a
positive charge Q negative charge Q
 Electric Potential due to a System of
Point Charges
For a system of point charges Qi at distances ri
from a point P:
Q1 r1 r4 Q4
P
r3
r2
Q2 Q3
Qi
V  ke  … an algebraic sum of scalars!
i ri
Electric Potential Due to Point Charges

Using potentials instead of fields can make

solving problems much easier – potential is a
scalar quantity, whereas the field is a vector.
Potential Due to Electric Dipole; Dipole
Moment

The potential due to an electric dipole is

just the sum of the potentials due to each
charge, and can be calculated exactly.
 Electric Potential due to Dipole

• Two equal point charges Q, of

opposite sign, separated by a distance
l, is called an electric dipole

• The electric potential at an arbitrary

point P, due to an electric dipole is
The sum of the potentials due to each
charge
 Electric Dipole Potential
1 Q 1  Q  1 1 1  Q r
V   Q   
40 r 40 r  r  40  r r  r   40 r r  r 

r
for r  l , cos   r  l cos
l
if r  r , we can neglect r in the denomin ator
Q  Q r Q l cos
V   
40 r r  r )  40 r 2
40 r 2
• If we define p = Ql as dipole moment, then:
1p cos
V
40 r 2
 Electric Potential due to a
Continuous Charge Distribution
If the charges are not discrete but are
continuously distributed over some object or
region, the summation is replaced by an integral:
Qi dq
V  k  V  k
i ri r
where r is the distance from a point P where the
potential is to be determined to an element of
charge dq and the integral is taken over the entire
distribution of charge.
Example of Continuous Charge Distribution:
Ring of Charge
Calculate the electric potential V at a distance x
along the axis of a thin, uniformly charged ring of
radius R carrying a total charge Q.
dq
V  ke 
r
dq
 ke 
x2  R2
ke

x R 2 2  dq
keQ

x2  R2 Uniformly Charged Ring
Example of Continuous Charge Distribution:
Uniformly Charged Disk
Calculate the potential on the axis at a distance x from a uniformly
charged disk of radius R.
Divide the disk into thin rings of radius r and thickness dr.
dq 2 rdr
 
r  x r
2 2
Q  R2
dq
 2Q 
dq   2  rdr V  ke 
R  r
R
dq 2Q rdr
V  ke   ke 2 
x2  r 2 R 0 x2  r 2

V 
2k e Q
R 2
x r
2 2 r R
r 0

2k e Q
R 2
 x R x
2 2

 Determination of the Electric Field from the
Electric Potential

ds
A B
• The potential difference between two points in an
electric field is known to be:
 Determination of the Electric Field from
the Electric Potential
If the electric potential is known in space, the
electric field may be determined from it.
Relationship between electric potential and electric field:
B
 
VBA  VB  VA    E  ds
A

The component of E in any direction is the

dV negative of the
rate of change of the 
Es   (component of E in some arbitrary direction s )
ds electric potential with the distance in that
direction.
Electric Potential is a scalar field
Electric Potential is a scalar field

it is defined everywhere

it doesn’t depend on a charge being there

but it does not have any direction

 Equipotential Surfaces and Lines
• The electric potential is a scalar characteristic of
the electric field (a vector quantity).
• Regions of space at the same electric potential
are called equipotential surfaces.

Uniform Electric Field Point Charge

Equipotential surfaces are always
perpendicular to electric field lines.
Electric field lines point in the direction
of decreasing electric potential.
a) What is the direction of the electric field
associated with the surfaces?

b) For each path, is the work we do positive,

negative, or zero?

c) Rank the paths according to the work we do,

greatest first.
Example 1. What is the potential energy if a +2 nC
charge moves from  to point A, 8 cm away from a
+6 mC charge?

A
 +2 nC
8 cm
+Q
+6 mC
Example 1. What is the potential energy if a +2 nC
charge moves from  to point A, 8 cm away from a
+6 mC charge?
The P.E. will be positive at
point A, because the field can A
do + work if q is released.  +2 nC
8 cm
Potential
Energy: U = KQq/r +Q
+6 mC

U = 1.35 mJ Positive potential energy

Quiz

A charge +Q is placed on a
spherical conducting shell.
What is the potential (relative +Q
to infinity) at the centre?

A) keQ/R1
B) keQ/R2 R1 R2
C) keQ/ (R1 - R2)
D) zero
 q1 q2
d

d P d

d
q3 q4
What is the potential at point P, located at the
center of the square of point charges.
Assume that d = 1.3m and the charges are
q1 = +12 nC, q2= -24 nC
q3 = +31 nC, q4= +17 nC
Relative to V = 0 at infinity, what are the
electric potential and the electric field at
the center C of the circle due to the 12
electrons?