Electric Potential Energy

and
Electric Potential
 Electric Potential Energy in a Uniform Electric
Field
• When a force, F, acts on a particle, work is done on the
particle in moving from point a to point b
b  
Wa b   F  dl
a
If the force is a conservative, then the work done can be
expressed in terms of a change in potential energy

Wab  U Ub Ua 

Also if the force is conservative, the total energy of the
particle remains constant
KEa  PEa  KEb  PEb
 Work Done by Uniform Electric Field
Forceon charge
 is
F  q0 E
Work is done on the
charge by field
Wa b  Fd  q0 Ed
The work done is independent of path taken from point
a to point b because
The Electric Force is a conservative force
 Sample Problem 1
A point charge of 3.0 nC with a mass of 4.0 g is
moved from x = 1.0 m to x = 1.5 m in an electric
field of 5.0 N/C with same direction as the
motion of the charge.
a. How much work is done on the charge by
the electric force? Ans.( 7.5nJ)
b. What is the change in the potential energy
of the charge? Ans.( -7.5nJ)
c. Assuming that the charge started from rest,
what is its speed at x = 1.5 m? Ans.(1.9 x 10 m/s)
-3
 Sample Problem 2
A point particle of charge 2.5 nC and mass 3.25
x 10-3 kg is in uniform electric field directed to
the right. It is released from rest and moves to
the right. After it has traveled 12.0 cm, its speed
is 25 m/s. Find the
a. Work done on the particle.
b. Change in the electric potential energy of
the particle.
c. Magnitude of the electric field.
 Electric Potential and Potential Difference

• Electric potential (also called electrostatic

potential or simply potential) at any point in
an electric field E is electric potential energy
per unit of charge at that point.
V = U/qo
• Electric potential is a scalar quantity. Its SI unit
is J/C
• 1 J/C = 1 volt
 Potential Difference

- the difference of potential between two point

A and B considering point A at infinity or
ground (zero potential energy)
 Electric Potential

General Points for either positive or negative charges

The Potential increases if you move in the
direction opposite to the electric field
and
The Potential decreases if you move in the same
direction as the electric field
 Sample Problem 3
A charge of 6.0 x 10-7 C is transferred
from infinity to point B. If the work
done by the electric force to do this is
1.2 x 10-5 J, what is the potential at
point B?
 Sample Problem 4
A stationary proton is moved from
point A, where the potential is 450 V
to point B, where the potential is 125
V.
a. How much work is done by the
electric force?
b. What is its speed at point B?
 Sample Problem 5
A point charge of -6.0 nC is 3.0 m from
point A and 5.0 m from point B. Find
the
a. Potential at point A and point B
b. How much work is done by the
electric field in moving a 2.0 nC
particle from point A to B?
 Sample Problem 6
Four charges,
q1 = 5.0 x 10-7 C,
q2 = -3.0 x 10-7 C,
q3 = -2.0 x 10-7 C, and
q4 = 6.0 x 10-7 C,
are situated at the corners of a square of
side 4.0 m. Find the potential at the center
of the square.