Electric Potential and Fields

Chapter 3
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

Units of Chapter 3
• Electric Potential Energy and Potential Difference

•Relation between Electric Potential and Electric Field
•Equipotential Lines
•The Electron Volt, a Unit of Energy
•Electric Potential Due to Point Charges
•Potential Due to Electric Dipole; Dipole Moment
•Potential Gradient

Electrostatic Potential Energy and
Potential Difference
The electrostatic force is conservative –

potential energy can be defined
Change in electric potential energy is
negative of work done by electric force:
(2-1)
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ELECTROMAGNETISM
Electric potential is defined as potential energy per unit charge:
(2-2a)
Unit of electric potential: the volt (V).

1 V = I J/C.
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2.1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and
Only changes in potential can be measured,
(2-2b)
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Let’s think…
Suppose a negative charge such as an electron, is placed near a
negative plate at point b as in the figure. If the electron is free to
move, will its electric potential energy increase or decrease?
How will the electric potential change?
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Analogy between gravitational and electrical potential energy:
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Concept: Electric Potential Energy
A proton and an electron are in a 1) proton
constant electric field created by 2) electron
oppositely charged plates. You 3) both feel the same force
release the proton from the
positive side and the electron from 4) neither – there is no force
the negative side. Which feels the 5) they feel the same magnitude
larger electric force? force but opposite direction
electron
electron
-
+
proton
proton 
E
Concept : Work and Potential Energy
Which group of charges took more work to bring

together from a very large initial distance apart?
+1
d d d
+2 +1
+1 +1
d
Both took the same amount of work

Concept: Electric Potential
1) V > 0
What is the electric 2) V = 0
potential at point A?
3) V < 0
A B

Concept: Electric Potential
1) V > 0
What is the electric 2) V = 0
potential at point B?
3) V < 0
A B

Concept : Equipotential Surfaces
1) 1 4) 4
At which point
2) 2 5) all of them
does V = 0?
3) 3
3
+Q –Q

Relation between Electric Potential and
Electric Field
Work is charge multiplied by potential:
Work is also force multiplied by distance:
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Relation between Electric Potential and
Electric Field
Solving for the field,
(2-4b)
If the field is not uniform, it can be calculated at multiple

points:
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Let’s try..
Two parallel plates are charged to produce a

potential difference of 50V. If the separation
between the plates 0.050m, calculate the
magnitude of the electric field in the space
between the plates.
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Equipotential Lines
An equipotential is a line or surface over

which the potential is constant.
Electric field lines are perpendicular to
equipotentials.
The surface of a conductor is an
equipotential.
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Equipotential Lines
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Topographic Map
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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.
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Electric Potential Due to Point Charges
The electric potential due to a point charge can be derived

using calculus.
(2-5)
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These plots show the

potential due to (a) positive
and (b) negative charge.
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Let’s try..
Determine the potential due at a point

0.50m
(a)From a +20µC point charge
(b)From a - 20µC point charge
Answer: (a) 3.6 x 105 V (b) - 3.6 x 105 V
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Using potentials instead of fields can make solving

problems much easier – potential is a scalar quantity,
whereas the field is a vector.
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Let’s try..
Calculate the electric potential at :
(a)Point A (b) Point B
Due to the two charges shown.
A B
Answer: (a) 7.5 x 105 V (b) 0 V

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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.
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Moment
Approximation for potential far from

dipole:
(2-6a)
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Moment
Or, defining the dipole moment p = Ql,
(2-6b)
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Summary of Chapter 3
• Electric potential energy:
• Electric potential difference: work done to move charge from

one point to another
• Relationship between potential difference and field:
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Summary of Chapter 3
• Equipotential: line or surface along which potential is the same
• Electric potential of a point charge:
• Electric dipole potential:
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Electric Potential and Fields

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Electric Potential and Fields

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Chapter 3

NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

• Electric Potential Energy and Potential Difference

NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

The electrostatic force is conservative –

Unit of electric potential: the volt (V).

Only changes in potential can be measured,

Which group of charges took more work to bring

NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

NSYA @ SFT3013 ELECTROMAGNETISM

Work is also force multiplied by distance:

Solving for the field,

If the field is not uniform, it can be calculated at multiple

Two parallel plates are charged to produce a

An equipotential is a line or surface over

One electron volt (eV) is the energy gained by an electron

The electric potential due to a point charge can be derived

These plots show the

Determine the potential due at a point

Answer: (a) 3.6 x 105 V (b) - 3.6 x 105 V

Using potentials instead of fields can make solving

Answer: (a) 7.5 x 105 V (b) 0 V

The potential due to an electric dipole is just the

Approximation for potential far from

Or, defining the dipole moment p = Ql,

• Electric potential difference: work done to move charge from

• Electric dipole potential:

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