CHAPTER

Electrostatic Potential
2 and Capacitance

+ q
+ +
 + + R
Relation between E & V For a non-conducting Sphere + + +
+ +
 −∂V + +
1 q 1 q + + + + +
E = −grad V = − ∇V , E = ; For r ≥ R : E = ,V=
∂r 4π ∈0 r 2 4π ∈0 r +
 ∂V  ∂V  ∂V ˆ r2  


E= − i− j− k , ∆ V = − ∫ − E.dr 1 qr 1 q (3R 2 − r 2 )

∂x ∂y ∂z r1 =
For r<R:E = ,V
4π ∈0 R 3 4π ∈0 2R3
Electric Potential Energy of two point Charges 3 kq
Vcenter
= V= max = 1.5Vsurface
1 q1q2
q1 q2 2 R
U=
4π ∈0 r r
For a Conducting/non Conducting Spherical shell
+
Electric Potential due to an Electric Dipole 1 q 1 q +
q
+
For r ≥ R
= :E = ,V
™ At a point which is at a distance r from midpoint of dipole and 4π ∈0 r 2
4π ∈0 r R
making angle q with dipole axis. + +
1 q
1 p cos θ For r < R : E = 0, V = + +
Potential V = 4π ∈0 R +
4π ∈0 r 2
Equipotential Surface and Equipotential Region For a Charged Circular Ring
+
In an electric field the locus of points of equal potential is called q
an equipotential surface. An equipotential surface and the electric + +
field lines meet at right angles. In a region where E = 0, potential
+ C + x
of the whole region must remain constant as no work is done in P
displacement of charge in it. It is called as equipotential region. R
Material of conductors is an equipotential region.
+ +

Potential due to Various Bodies +

+
+
q
+ 1 qx q
For a Conducting Sphere = EP = 2 2 3/ 2
,Vp
R 4π ∈0 ( x + R ) 4π ∈0 ( x 2 + R 2 )1/ 2
1 q 1 q + +
For r ≥ R
= :E = ,V R
4π ∈0 r 2 4π ∈0 r + + Electric field will be maximum at x = ±
+ 2
q
For r < R : E = 0, V = Electric potential will be maximum at x = 0
π∈ R

Name/Type Formula for Potential Note Graph

Point charge ™ q is source charge. V
kq
™ r is the distance of the point from the point
r charge.

4 JEE (XII) Module-1 P

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Ring (uniform/ ™ Q is source charge. V
kQ
non uniform charge At center: ™ x is the distance of the point on the axis from
distribution) R center of ring
kQ
At the axis
R2 + x2 x
Uniformly charged kQ ™ R is radius of sphere V
hollow conducting/ For r ≥ R, V= ™ r is the distance from center of sphere to the
r kQ/R
non conducting/solid point
conducting sphere kQ
For r ≤ R, V = ™ Q is total charge = s4pR2.
R r
R
Uniformly charged kQ ™ R is radius of sphere V
solid nonconducting For r ≥ R, V = ™ r is distance from center to the point 3kQ/2R
r kQ/R
sphere
For r ≤ R, 3
™ Vcenter = Vsurface .
V=
(
kQ 3R 2 − r 2 ) 2
R
r
4
2 R3 ™ Q is total charge =ρ πR3 .
3
ρ
=
6ε 0
(3R 2 − r 2 ) ™ Inside the sphere, potential varies parabolically
™ Outside the sphere potential varies
hyperbolically.

Infinite line charge Not defined ™ Absolute potential is not defined.

™ Potential difference between two points is
given by formula:
VB – VA = −2k λln ( rB /rA )

Infinite nonconducting Not defined ™ Absolute potential is not defined.

thin sheet ™ Potential difference between two points is
given by formula
σ
VB − VA = − ( rB − rA )
2ε 0
Infinite charged Not defined ™ Absolute potential is not defined.
conducting thin sheet ™ Potential difference between two points is
given by formula
σ
VB − VA = − ( rB − rA )
ε0

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