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Potential Energy of Charges in Electric Fields
Potential Energy of Charges in Electric Fields
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Solution: We have
The Greens function may be obtained by trial and error or, better, by contour integration which
will be explained later. The result is
as one can verify by differentiation. Thus it follows that in particular for p ( z ) = eb(z
- 20):
Such a linear potential is known as a confinement potential, since particles (like quarks) bound
together by such a potential cannot be separated with finite energy. (See also Example 18.5).
In the case of 2 space dimensions one can go to polar coordinates r , q ,so that
2.6
4 = const. Inr.
Let a charge q be moved from A to B against the field E. The work done in
this process is
B
W = - L qE(r).dr=q
rB
(2.14)
The minus sign indicates that the force exerted on the charge q is directed
opposite to the field E. The final result shows that the work done is independent of the path from A to B, that is, qE is a conservative field, i.e.
VxE=O.