Establishing the Electric Field in a

Wire Wire
1
Establishing the Electric Field in a
Wi Wire
2
A Model of Conduction
eE F
m
eE
m
F
a
x
= =
t
m
eE
v t a v v
ix x ix x
+ = + =
The energy transfer is
the friction that raises
the temperature of the
3
m wire.
A Model of Conduction
eE
t
m
eE
v t a v v
ix x ix x
+ = + =

eE
v v v
ix d
+ = =

m
eE
v
d
=
4
m
ix d
m
A Model of Conduction A Model of Conduction
eE

m
eE
v
d
=
d
nAv i =
d
AE ne
i

=
The electron current is
directly proportional to the
m
i =
directly proportional to the
electric field strength.
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Current and Current Density Current and Current Density
) ( E of direction the in
dQ
I
r
) , ( E of direction the in
dt
I
1 Ampere = 1 A = 1 coulomb per second = 1 C/s 1 Ampere = 1 A = 1 coulomb per second = 1 C/s
eN Q
ei
t
eN
t
Q
I
e
=

=
The direction of the current I in a metal is opposite pp
the direction of motion of the electrons.
The current direction in a wire is from the positive
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terminal of a battery to the negative terminal.
Current and Current Density Current and Current Density
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The Current Density in a Wire The Current Density in a Wire
A nev ei I
d
= =
I
d
nev
A
I
density current J = = =
JA I =
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Conservation of Current
= I I =
out in
I I
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Conductivity and Resistivity
E J = E J =
E
ne E e
ne nev J
d

2
) ( = = =
m m
m
ne
ty conductivi

2
= =
m

2
1
ne
m
y resistivit = = =
10
ne
Conductivity and Resistivity
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Summarizing
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The Electric Potential
The potential energy per unit charge, U/q
o
, is
the electric potential the electric potential
The potential is independent of the value of q
o
The potential has a value at every point in an The potential has a value at every point in an
electric field
The electric potential is
U
V =
The electric potential is
o
V
q
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The Electric Potential
The potential is a scalar quantity
Since energy is a scalar
As a charged particle moves in an electric field, it will
experience a change in potential
U
The difference in potential is the meaningful quantity
B
A
o
U
V d
q

= =

E s
The difference in potential is the meaningful quantity
We often take the value of the potential to be zero at some
convenient point in the field convenient point in the field
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Charged Particle in a Uniform Field C a ged a t c e a U o e d
A positive charge is released
from rest and moves in the
direction of the electric field
The change in potential is
negative
The change in potential energy
is negative
The force and acceleration are
in the direction of the field
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The Electric Potential
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Work and Electric Potential
Assume a charge moves in an electric field
without any change in its kinetic energy
The work performed on the charge is
W= V = q V
Units:
1 V = 1 J/C
V is a volt
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It takes one joule of work to move a 1-coulomb
charge through a potential difference of 1 volt
Potential and Point Charges Potential and Point Charges
The electric potential is independent of the path between points A and B
It is customary to choose a reference potential of V = 0 at r
A
=
Then the potential at some point r is
q
e
q
V k
r
=
The superposition principle:
q

i
e
i
i
q
V k
r
=

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E and V for a Point Charge E and V for a Point Charge
The equipotential lines are
the dashed blue lines
The electric field lines are
the brown lines
The equipotential lines are
everywhere perpendicular
to the field lines to the field lines
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20
Quiz 1: What is the potential at P? Quiz 1: What is the potential at P?
P
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Quiz 2
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The Electric Potential Inside a
Parallel-Plate Capacitor Parallel Plate Capacitor
qEs U =
Ed V V V = =
qEs U
elec
=
Es V =
Ed V V V
C
= =
+
d
V
E
C

=
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d
Potential Difference in a Uniform Field Potential Difference in a Uniform Field
The equations for electric potential can be simplified if the electric
field is uniform:
B B
V V V d E d Ed

E
The negative sign indicates that the electric potential at point B is
lower than at point A
B A
A A
V V V d E d Ed = = = =

E s s
lower than at point A
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Finding the Electric Field from the
P t ti l Potential
V
E
C

=
s
E

=
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Electric Field from Potential
In general, the electric potential is a g p
function of all three dimensions
Equipotential surfaces must always be Equipotential surfaces must always be
perpendicular to the electric field lines
passing through them passing through them
Given V (x, y, z) you can find E
x
, E
y
and E
z
as partial derivatives as partial derivatives
x y z
V V V
E E E
x y z

= = =

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x y z
Electric Potential for a Continuous
Charge Distribution Charge Distribution
Consider a small charge Consider a small charge
element dq
Treat it as a point charge
The potential at some
point due to this charge
element is element is
e
dq
dV k
r
=
e
dq
V k
r
=

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r
V Due to a Charged Conductor V Due to a Charged Conductor
Consider two points on the
surface of the charged
conductor as shown
E is always perpendicular to
the displacement ds
Therefore, E ds = 0
Therefore, the potential , p
difference between A and B is
also zero
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V Due to a Charged V Due to a Charged
Conductor
V is constant everywhere on the surface of a charged
conductor in equilibrium
V = 0 between any two points on the surface V = 0 between any two points on the surface
The surface of any charged conductor in electrostatic
equilibrium is an equipotential surface
Because the electric field is zero inside the conductor,
we conclude that the electric potential is constant
everywhere inside the conductor and equal to the everywhere inside the conductor and equal to the
value at the surface
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E Compared to V
The electric potential is a
function of r
Th l t i fi ld i f ti The electric field is a function
of r
2
The effect of a charge on the
di it space surrounding it:
The charge sets up a vector
electric field which is
l t d t th f related to the force
The charge sets up a scalar
potential which is related to
th the energy
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Cavity in a Conductor Cavity in a Conductor
Assume an irregularly Assume an irregularly
shaped cavity is inside a
conductor
Assume no charges are
inside the cavity
Th l t i fi ld i id The electric field inside
the conductor must be
zero zero
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Cavity in a Conductor
The electric field inside does not depend on the charge
distribution on the outside surface of the conductor
F ll th b t A d B For all paths between A and B,
0
B
B A
A
V V d = =

E s
A cavity surrounded by conducting walls is a field-
free region as long as no charges are inside the cavity
A

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2
2
1
1
r
q
k
r
q
k V
e e
= =
2 1
r r
1 1
r q
=
2 2
r q
1
q 2
q
k E
2
1
1
1
r
q
k E
e
=
2
2
2
2
r
q
k E
e
=
E
1
2
2
1
r
r
E
E
=
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