Chapter 23 Electric Potential

Electric potential energy (sec. 23.1)

Electric potential (sec. 23.2)
Calculating elec. potential (sec. 23.3)
Equipotential surfaces (sec. 23.4)
Potential gradient (sec. 23.5)

C 2010 J. Becker
Learning Goals - we will learn: ch 23
How to calculate the electric potential
energy (U) of a collection of charges.
The definition and significance of
electric potential (V).
How to use the electric potential to
calculate the electric field (E).
(a) When a positive charge moves in the direction of
an electric field, the field does positive work and the
potential energy decreases. Work = qo E d
POSITIVE charge moving in an E field.
The charge qo moves along a straight line
extending radially from charge q.
 The work done on charge qo
by the electric field produced by charge q
depends only on the distances ra and rb.
Graphs of the potential energy U of two point
charges q and q0 versus their separation r.
The potential energy associated with a charge
qo at point a depends on charges q1, q2, and q3
and on their distances r1, r2, and r3
from point a.
 In both cases
(positive or negative
point charges), if you
move in the direction
of E, the electric
potential V
decreases;
if you move in the
direction opposite E,
V increases.

Calculating the electric potential by

integrating E.dl for a single point charge.
 Electric field E
and potential V at
points inside and
outside a
positively
charged
spherical
conductor.
 Find the potential V at point
P on the axis of the ring.

All charges in the ring (Q) are the same

distance a from point P on the ring axis.
 Find the
potential V at
point P.

Find the electric potential on the

perpendicular bisector of a charged rod.
 Review

C 2010 J. F. Becker