LESSON 4

BOOK CHAPTER 24

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
 Potential Due to a Point Charge:
We have …………… (iv)

[=

(|| )
𝑟=𝑟 𝑓
𝑞 1
V f − V i=− −
4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟 𝑟=𝑟 𝑖

𝑞 1 1
𝑉 𝑓 −𝑉 𝑖 = ⌈ − ⌉
4 𝜋 𝜀0 𝑟 𝑓 𝑟 𝑖
If goes to infinity (), then Vf= 0 and

Hence, 𝑞 1
0 −V i=
⌈ 0− ⌉
4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟𝑖
Finally we get, V =
1 𝑞
𝑞 1 4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟
V 𝑖= ⌈ ⌉
4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟𝑖
Potential Due to a Group of Point Charges:

General Formula: 𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
𝑟1
𝑛
1
𝑛
𝑞𝑖 𝑟2
𝑉=∑ 𝑉 𝑖 = ∑
𝑖=1 4 𝜋 𝜖 0 𝑖=1 𝑟 𝑖 𝑟4 𝑟3
𝒒𝟑
𝒒𝟒

[
𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞 3 𝑞4
]
4
For an example: 𝑉 =∑ 𝑉 =
1
𝑖 + + +
𝑖=1 4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟1 𝑟 2 𝑟3 𝑟 4
Problem: 4 (Book chapter 24)
Two large, parallel, conducting plates are 12 cm apart and have charges of
equal magnitude and opposite sign on their facing surfaces. An electric force of
acts on an electron placed anywhere between the two plates. (Neglect
fringing.) (a) Find the electric field at the position of the electron. (b) What is
the potential difference between the plates?

Answer:
Given
d= 12 cm = 0.12 m |𝐹 |=3.9 ×10− 15 𝑁
C ?

(a) We know
|𝐹 |=𝑞𝐸
3.9× 10−15 4 𝑁
𝐸= =2.437 ×10
1.6 ×10 − 19
𝐶
(b) The potential difference between the plates

|∆𝑉 |=𝐸𝑑=(2.437 ×10 ¿ ¿ 4) ( 0.12 ) =0.293 ×10 4 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡 ¿

Problem: 6 (Book chapter 24)
When an electron moves from A to B
along an electric field line in the
adjacent figure, the electric field does
of work on it. What are the electric
potential differences
(a) , (b) , and (c) ?

Answer:

−𝑊 − 3.94 ×10 −19

(a) 𝑉 𝐵 −𝑉 𝐴 = = =2.45 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡
𝑞 − 1.6 ×10
− 19

(b) 𝑉 𝑐 −𝑉 𝐴 =2.45 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡 [Because points B and C are

on the same equipotential surface]

(c) 𝑉 𝑐 −𝑉 𝐵=0 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡

Problem: 16 (Book chapter 24)
Figure shows a rectangular array of charged particles
fixed in place, with distance and the charges shown as
integer multiples of and . With at infinity, what is the net
electric potential at the rectangle’s center? (Hint:
Thoughtful examination of the arrangement can reduce
the calculation.)

Answer: Given 𝑎=39 𝑐𝑚=0.39 𝑚

𝑞1=3.40 𝑝𝐶=3.4 ×10 −12 𝐶
The net potential at the rectangle center is 𝑞2 =6.0 𝑝𝐶=6.0 ×10− 12 𝐶

𝑉=
1
[2𝑞 1 −3 𝑞 1 2 𝑞 1 − 𝑞1
4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟
+
𝑟
+
𝑟
+
𝑟
+ ]1
[
4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑎
4 𝑞2 4 𝑞 2
+
𝑎
]
2 2

𝑉 =0 +
1
[
4 𝑞2
+
4 𝑞2
4 𝜋 𝜖 0 0.195 0.195 ]
𝑉=
1
[
8𝑞 2
4 𝜋 𝜖 0 0.195
= ]
9× 109 × 8× 6 ×10 −12
0.195

2.215 Volt
Problem: 17 (Book chapter 24)
In the adjacent Figure, what is the net
electric potential at point P due to the
four particles if at infinity, , and ?

Answer:

Given
𝑞=5 𝑓𝐶=5 ×10 −15 𝐶 and 𝑑=4 𝑐𝑚=0.04 𝑚
The net electric potential at the point P is
1 𝑞 𝑞 −𝑞 −𝑞
𝑉= [ + + + ]
4 𝜋 𝜖0 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 2 𝑑
9 ×10 9 × 𝑞 1
𝑉= [1+1 −1 − ]
𝑑 2
9 ×10 9 × 5 ×10− 15 −6
𝑉= =562.5 ×10 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡
0.04 ×2
Potential Due to an Electric Dipole:
The net potential at P is given by
2
𝑉 = ∑ 𝑉 𝑖 =𝑉 ¿ ¿ ¿
𝑖 =1

𝑞
𝑉= ¿
4 𝜋 𝜀0

For dipoles, usually, r , where d is the distance between the charges.

Under the above condition, from the figure we can write

𝑟 (− ) − 𝑟 ¿¿

Substituting these values in the above equation, we get

where, θ is measured from the dipole axis as

shown in the figure.

where,
electric dipole moment

The vector is directed along the dipole axis, from the

negative to the positive charge.
THANK YOU