ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL

+q +1

B A

Consider an isolated point charge+𝑞 lying at point 𝑂. A and B are points in the
electric field. Let 𝑊𝐴𝐵 be the work done by an external agent moving a unit charge
from point A to B. We may define the potential difference between two points in
an electric field as the amount of work done in moving a unit charge from one
point to the other against electrical forces or
𝑊𝐴𝐵 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴
where 𝑉𝐴 and 𝑉𝐵 stands for potential at points A and B respectively. The SI unit of
potential difference is the volt.
The potential difference between two points is 1𝑉 if 1 joule of work is done in
moving 1 coulomb of charge from one point to the other against electrical forces.
If A is at infinity then 𝑉𝐴 = 0 and 𝑊 = 𝑉𝐵 where 𝑊 is the work done in moving a
unit positive charge from point infinity to point B. 𝑉𝐵 is the potential at point B.

Relation between Electric Field and Electric

Potential
We can calculate the Electric field 𝐸⃗ if potential function 𝑉 is known throughout
some region of space. Consider two neighboring points 𝐴(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) and 𝐵(𝑥 +
𝑑𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑑𝑥, 𝑧 + 𝑑𝑧)

1
 E
dl
B
A

Let 𝑑𝑉 be the change in potential in going from 𝐴 to 𝐵. Then

𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
Let 𝑑𝑉 = 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 + 𝜕𝑧 𝑑𝑧

This can be expressed in terms of the dot product

𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑑𝑉 = (𝒂𝒙 + 𝒂𝒚 + 𝒂𝒛 ) (𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒙 + 𝒂𝒚 𝒅𝒚 + 𝒂𝒛 𝒅𝒛)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
where (𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒙 + 𝒂𝒚 𝒅𝒚 + 𝒂𝒛 𝒅𝒛) is the displacement vector 𝒅𝒍 between A and B.
Thus
𝑑𝑉 = ∇. 𝒅𝒍 (𝟏)
The work done by an external agent in moving a test charge 𝑞 from A to B along
⃗⃗⃗
𝑑𝑙 is
𝑑𝑊 = −𝑭. 𝑑𝑙 = −𝑞𝑬. 𝒅𝒍
Or
𝑑𝑊
= −𝑬. 𝒅𝒍
𝑞

𝑑𝑊
But by definition is the potential difference between points A and B thus
𝑞

𝑑𝑉 = −𝑬. 𝒅𝒍 (𝟐)
Comparing 1 and 2

2
 𝐸 = −∇𝑉

Poisson’s and Laplace Equations

Poisson’s equation: Differential form of Gauss law states that the
divergence of the electric field 𝑬 at any point is given by
𝜌
∇. 𝑬 = (1)
𝜀0
where 𝜌 is the volume charge density. If 𝐸 and 𝑉 are the electric field
and electric potential at any point respectively, then we have the relation
𝐸 = −∇𝑉 (2)
Substituting equation 2 into equation 1 we obtain
𝜌
∇2 𝑉 = (3)
𝜀0
This is known as Poissons equation. It expresses the relation between the potential
𝑉 and the charge density 𝜌 at any point in electric field space. Any static electric
field must satisfy the relationship.

Laplace equation:
In a region where there are no free charges (𝜌 = 0) the Poisson’s equation reduces
to:
∇2 𝑉 = 0 (4)
This is called Laplace equation. This equation applies to the particular case where
all the charges are distributed on surfaces of conducting bodies so that the volume
charge density is zero at all points. The electrostatic potential function in the space
between the conductor and outside are found by this equation.