ECE

Engr. Marcelo V. Rivera

An electric potential (also called the electric field potential or
the electrostatic potential) is the amount of work needed to
move a unit positive charge from a reference point to a specific
point inside the field without producing any acceleration.
𝐵
W = −𝑄 න 𝐄 ∙ 𝑑𝐥
𝐴
where:
W – is the work done
(−) – the negative sign indicates that the work is being done
by an external agent
 𝐵
W
VAB = = − න 𝐄 ∙ 𝑑𝐥
Q 𝐴
where:
VAB – is the potential difference between points A and B in
joules per coulomb or in volts.
If the E field is due to a point charge Q located at the origin
then
𝑄
𝐄= 2
𝑎𝑟
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
𝑟𝐵
𝑄
VAB = − න 2
𝑎𝑟 ∙ 𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑟
𝑟𝐴 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
𝑄 1 1
= −
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟𝐵 𝑟𝐴
VAB = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴
 VAB = VB − VA
where VB and VA are the potentials at B and A, respectively.
If VA = 0 as 𝑟𝐴 → ∞, at 𝑟𝐵 → 𝑟 due to a point charge Q located
at the origin is
𝑄
𝑉=
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
The potential at any point is the potential difference between
that point and a chosen point at which the potential is zero.

by assuming zero potential at infinity,

𝑟

𝑉 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑙
∞
If the point charge Q is not located at the origin but at a point
whose position vector is r',
𝑄
𝑉 𝑟 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟′
We have considered the electric potential due to a point
charge. For n point charges Q1, Q2, …, Qn located at points with
position vectors r1, r2, …, rn, the potential at r is
𝑄1 𝑄2 𝑄𝑛
𝑉 𝑟 = + + ⋯+
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟1 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟2 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟𝑛
 𝑄1 𝑄2 𝑄𝑛
𝑉 𝑟 = + + ⋯+
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟1 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟2 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟𝑛
𝑛
1 𝑄𝑘
𝑉 𝑟 = ෍ (point charges)
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑟𝑘
𝑘=1
 1 ρ𝐿 𝑟 ′ 𝑑𝑙′
𝑉 𝑟 = න (line charge)
4𝜋𝜀0 𝐿 𝑟 − 𝑟′
1 ρ𝑆 𝑟 ′ 𝑑𝑆 ′
𝑉 𝑟 = න (surface charge)
4𝜋𝜀0 𝐿 𝑟 − 𝑟′
1 ρ𝑣 𝑟 ′ 𝑑𝑣 ′
𝑉 𝑟 = න (volume charge)
4𝜋𝜀0 𝐿 𝑟 − 𝑟′
where the primed coordinates are used customarily to denote
source point location and the unprimed coordinates refer to
field point (the point at which Vis to be determined)
Given the electric flux density, 𝐃 = 0.3𝑟 2 𝑎𝑟 𝑛𝐶/𝑚2 in free
space:
a) Find 𝐸 at point 𝑃 𝑟 = 2, 𝜃 = 25°, 𝜙 = 90° ;
b) Find the total charge within the sphere 𝑟 = 3;
c) Find the total electric flux leaving the sphere 𝑟 = 4.
a) 135.5𝑎𝑟 V/m;
b) 305𝑛𝐶
c) 965𝑛𝐶
Two point charges −4𝜇𝐶 and 5𝜇𝐶 are located at 2, −1, 3 and
0, 4, −2 , respectively. Find the potential at 1, 0, 1 assuming
zero potential at infinity.
-5.872kV
If point charge 3 uC is located at the origin in addition to the
two charges of last example, find the potential at (-1, 5, 2)
assuming V(∞) = 0.
10.23kV
A point charge 5 nC is located at (-3, 4, 0) while line y = 1,
z = 1 carries uniform charge 2 nC/m.
(a) If V = 0 V at O(0, 0, 0), find V at A(5, 0, 1).
(b) If V = 100 V at B(1, 2, 1), find V at C(-2, 5, 3).
(c) If V = -5 V at O, find VBC
(a) 8.477 V
(b) 49.825 V
(c) -50.175 V
 𝑉𝐵𝐴 = −𝑉𝐴𝐵
𝑉𝐵𝐴 + 𝑉𝐴𝐵 = ර 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑙 = 0

(the second Maxwell's equation) ‫ = 𝑙𝑑 ∙ 𝐸 ׯ‬0

Applying Stokes's theorem: ‫ = 𝐒𝑑 ∙ 𝐸 × 𝛻 ׬ = 𝑙𝑑 ∙ 𝐸 ׯ‬0
(the second Maxwell's equation) 𝛻 × 𝐸 = 0
Recall:

𝑉 = − න 𝐄 ∙ 𝑑𝐥

𝑑𝑉 = −𝐄 ∙ 𝑑𝐥 = −𝐸𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝐸𝑦 𝑑𝑦 − 𝐸𝑧 𝑑𝑧
But:
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑑𝑉 = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
therefore:
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = − , 𝐸𝑦 = − , 𝐸𝑧 = −
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Thus:
𝐄 = −𝛁𝑽
Note: The negative sign shows that the direction of E is opposite
to the direction in which V increases.
 10
Given the potential 𝑉 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜑,
𝑟
(a) Find the electric flux density D at (2, 𝜋/2, 0).
(b) Calculate the work done in moving a 10uC charge from
point A(l, 30°, 120°) to B(4, 90°, 60°).
(a) 2.5𝜀0 𝑎𝑟 C/m2 = 22.1 𝑎𝑟 pC/m2
(b) 28.125𝜇J
1. A point charge of 30 nC is located at the origin while plane
y = 3 carries charge 10nC/m2. Find D at (0, 4, 3).
2. A point charge of 5 nC is located at the origin. If V = 2 V at
(0, 6, -8), find
(a) The potential at A(-3, 2,6)
(b) The potential at B(1, 5, 7)
(c) The potential difference VAB
1) 5.076𝑎𝑦 + 0.0573𝑎𝑧 𝑛𝐶/𝑚2