ANIMATION

 q1  q2

If we move q2 towards q1, potential energy

will increase
Work done in bringing unit
charge from infinity to R is,
R
  Edr

R
1 dr
 q 2
4 0  r
q 1

4 0 R
If the potential of two charges separated
by an infinite distance is defined to be 0
then the stored potential energy is:
1 q1q2
U  r 
4 0 r
 Joule
Units of potential: 1  1 Volt
Coulomb

One electron-volt = energy gained by moving one

electron charge through one Volt

3

 1.6 10 19

C 1V  1.6  10 19
J
1 Kev = 10 eV
1 Mev = 106 eV
1 Gev = 109 eV
1 Tev = 1012 eV
Positive charges accelerate toward
regions of lower potential. 

Negative charges accelerate toward

regions of higher potential.
Potentials are more positive in regions
which have more positive charge.
 8J
V    4V
2C
• The electric potential exists only because
the electrostatic force is conservative.

• The electric potential is similar but differs

from the gravitational potential in one way.

• The electric potential determines the

electric field and vice versa.

• The electric potential is a scalar quantity.

V  V1  V2  VN
N
V   Vi
i 1
N
1 qi

4 0

i 1 ri
 q1

r12
q2
r13

r23
q3
1 q1q2 1 q1q3 1 q2 q3
U  r   
4 0 r12 4 0 r13 4 0 r23
 q

Dipole Moment
d
p=charge x distance
=q d
q
 q r1
 P
d r

r2
q
r2  r1  d cos 
VP  V1  V2
1  q q 
   
4 0  r1 r2 
q r2  r1

4 0 r1r2
For r  d
r2  r1  d cos 
r1r2  r 2

q d cos  1 p cos 
V 
4 0 r 2
4 0 r 2


Note that V  0 at  
2
 P
ring of charge
z
r

y
R
dq
x
 1 dq
dV 
4 0 r 2

1 dq
V   dV  
4 0 r 2

1 q
V
4 0 R z
2 2
 Charged Disk

z
r

 y
d R
x
dq    2   d  
1 dq 1  2 d 
dV  
4 0 r 4 0  2  z 2
 R

 
1/ 2
V   dV  2
z 2
 d
2 0 0

V

2 0
 R z z
2 2

 charge in a uniform electric field

b
Wab  q0 EL
Vb  Va  EL 
E


a
Equipotential Lines: Constant Field
Equipotential Lines: point charge
Equipotential Lines: dipole
Heart Equipotential Surfaces
 zinc

acid

copper

chemical energy electrical energy

 Electric Current
zinc

acid

copper
Symbols

 
OR

 
ANIMATION
  

 High voltage
terminal 
 Ion source  Beam

  
 Van de Graaff
 accelerator

Q: Find the ratio of charges on the two
spheres. Are the electric fields on
the two surfaces equal ?

q2
q1 Wire

1 R1 R2
2
 1 q1 1 q2
V 
4 0 R1 4 0 R2
q1 R1

q2 R2
 1 R2
 (recall that q=4 R  )
2

 2 R1
Esmall sphere  Elarge sphere