LESSON 5: ENERGY AND ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL

At the end of the chapter, readers:

 Are knowledgeable in Potential Difference.
 Understand the concept of Energy and Potential in a Moving Point Charge in a Electric
Field.

Potential Difference and Potential

Potential difference is the term used to describe how large the electrostatic force is
between two charged objects. If a charged body is placed between two objects with a potential
difference, the charged body will try to move in one direction, depending upon the polarity of the
object.

Due to the force of its electrostatic field, these electrical charges have the ability to do
work by moving another charged particle by attraction and/or repulsion. This ability to do work
is called "potential"; therefore, if one charge is different from another, there is a potential
difference between them. The sum of the potential differences of all charged particles in the
electrostatic field is referred to as electromotive force (EMF).

The basic unit of measure of potential difference is the "volt." The symbol for potential
difference is "V," indicating the ability to do the work of forcing electrons to move. Because
the volt unit is used, potential difference is also called "voltage."

Electrostatic Potential

Electrostatic potential – the electric potential resulting from the location of charged
bodies in the vicinity.

Q kQ
V= =
4 π εo εr d d

where

V = electrostatic potential (volt) at a distance of d (meter) from a charge body of

charge Q (coulomb)
k =¿ free space constant in SI units equal to 9 x 10 9
Sample Problem:
An isolated positive point charge of 2 x 10−8 coulombs is in free space. How far away
must the charge be in order to produce an electric potential of 120 volts?

Sol’n:
kQ kQ
V= d=
d V

( 9 x 109 ) (2 x 10−8)
d=
120

d=1.5m