Lecture 13

Learning Objectives
•Shell Theorems and Electric Field due to
Sperical Charge Distribution.
•Electric Potential Energy and Electric
Potential
Shell Theorems
 Put a conductor in an electric field.
 The free electrons inside the conductor will
accelerate in the opposite direction of the field
lines.
 As the negative and positive charges separate,
an internal field opposing the external field will
be established.
 The acceleration of charges will continue until
the internal field cancels out the external field
and the conductor will reach electrostatic
equilibrium.
 The electric field is zero everywhere inside a
conductor at electrostatic equilibrium.
 Take a Gaussian surface inside a conductor that is
arbitrarily close to the surface.
 Since the electric field inside the conductor (and
hence on the Gaussian surface) is zero, there is no net
charge inside the surface.
 Since the surface is arbitrary, and can be made
infinitesimally close to the outer surface of the
conductor, any net charge on a conductor will reside
on the surface.
 ◼ The flux through the top
surface is EA, since E is
perpendicular to A
(electrostatic equilibrium).
◼ Therefore the flux is zero
through the side wall outside
the conductor.
◼ The field, and hence the flux,
through the surfaces inside the
conductor are also zero.

q
 E =  EdA = EA = in
0
 The electric field is zero everywhere inside a
conductor at electrostatic equilibrium.
 Any net charge on a conductor will reside on the
surface.
 The electric field just outside a conductor is
perpendicular to the surface and is proportional to the
charge density.
 The charge density is highest near parts of the
conductor with the smallest radius of curvature.
Put a conductor in an electric field.
The free electrons inside the conductor will
accelerate in the opposite direction of the field
lines.
As the negative and positive charges
separate, an internal field opposing the
external field will be established.
The acceleration of charges will continue
until the internal field cancels out the
external field and the conductor will reach
electrostatic equilibrium.
The electric field is zero everywhere inside a
conductor at electrostatic equilibrium.
 Take a Gaussian surface inside a conductor that is
arbitrarily close to the surface.
 Since the electric field inside the conductor (and
hence on the Gaussian surface) is zero, there is no
net charge inside the surface.
 Since the surface is arbitrary, and can be made
infinitesimally close to the outer surface of the
conductor, any net charge on a conductor will
reside on the surface.
 ◼ The flux through the top
surface is EA, since E is
perpendicular to A
(electrostatic equilibrium).
◼ Therefore the flux is zero
through the side wall outside
the conductor.
◼ The field, and hence the flux,
through the surfaces inside the
conductor are also zero.

q
 E =  EdA = EA = in
0
 The electric field is zero everywhere inside a
conductor at electrostatic equilibrium.
 Any net charge on a conductor will reside on the
surface.
 The electric field just outside a conductor is
perpendicular to the surface and is proportional to the
charge density.
 The charge density is highest near parts of the
conductor with the smallest radius of curvature.
Electric Potential Energy
▪ Work done by a conservative force is independent of
the path of the object.
▪ Gravity and elastic forces are examples.
▪ This leads to the concept of potential energy and
helps us avoid tackling problems using only forces.
 Electric Potential Energy

Ԧ 𝑑𝑠
𝑊 = −∆𝑈 = − න 𝐹.

The vector 𝑑𝑠 represents an infinitesimal displacement along the

direction of motion from a to b. The force F and displacement are
always parallel for this motion.
Ԧ 𝑑𝑠 = 𝐹𝑑𝑠 = 𝐹𝑑𝑟
𝐹.
Hence
𝑏 𝑏 𝑟𝑏 1 𝑞1 𝑞2
∆𝑈 = Ԧ 𝑑𝑠 =
− ‫𝐹 𝑎׬‬. − ‫=𝑟𝑑𝐹 𝑎׬‬− ‫𝑟׬‬ 2 𝑑𝑟
𝑎 4𝜋𝜀 0 𝑟
1 1 1
= 𝑞1 𝑞2 − =𝑈𝑏 − 𝑈𝑎
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟𝑏 𝑟𝑎
Electric Potential Energy
𝑏 𝑏
Ԧ 𝑑𝑠 = − න 𝐹𝑑𝑟
∆𝑈 = − න 𝐹.
𝑎 𝑎
𝑟𝑏 1 𝑞1 𝑞2
=‫𝑟׬‬ 𝑑𝑟
𝑎 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2

1 1 1
= − 𝑞1 𝑞2 −
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟𝑏 𝑟𝑎
𝑖𝑓 𝑞1 𝑞2 =- 𝑞1 𝑞2

=𝑈𝑏 − 𝑈𝑎
• When the charges move closer together ∆𝑈 < 0
• When the charges move further apart ∆𝑈 > 0
Electric Potential Energy

𝑏 𝑏
Ԧ 𝑑𝑠 = − න 𝐹𝑑𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠900
∆𝑈 = − න 𝐹.
𝑎 𝑎
=0
Electric Potential Energy
Electric Potential Energy
𝑊 = −∆𝑈 = − න 𝐸. 𝑑𝑠

• So far we have discussed difference in potential energy between two

point : ∆𝑈=𝑈𝑏 − 𝑈𝑎 .
• To define the potential energy at a single point b by choosing reference

𝑈( 𝑟) =𝑈𝑏 − 𝑈𝑎

1 1 1
= 𝑞1 𝑞2 −
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟𝑏 ∞

1 1
= 𝑞1 𝑞2
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟

Hence U is positive when both charges have same sign and negative for opposite signs.
 Potential Energy of a system of Charges
The electric potential energy of a system of fixed point charges at rest is equal to the work
that must be done by an external agent to assemble the system, brining each charge in from
an infinite distance where it is also at rest.
Sample Problem 28-3
 Electric Potential
 Work, U, is dependent on the magnitude of the test
charge, q0.
 We’d like to have a quantity independent of the test
charge and only an attribute of the electric field.

the electric potential is the amount of electric potential

energy per unit charge when a positive test charge is
brought in from infinity
Properties of Electric Charges
Potential Due to a Group of Charged Particles
Example: Potential is not a Vector: Orientation is not important
Example: Net Potential of Several Charged Particles
Electric Potential Energy
Electric Potential Energy
Calculating the Electric Potential from Electric
Field
Calculating Electric Field from electric
Potential
𝑊 = −∆𝑈
𝑞0 𝐸∆𝑠 = −𝑞0 ∆𝑉
𝐸∆𝑠 = −∆𝑉
∆𝑉
𝐸=−
∆𝑠

• This equation gives fundamental connection between the

Electric Field and electric potential: The electric field is the
negative of the change in potential with distance.
• If ∆𝑉 is positive , the electric field give a force that opposes
the movement of the positively charged test particle from a to
b.
• If ∆𝑉 is negative , the electric field give a force in the direction
of the motion.
Calculating Electric Field from Electric
Potential
Calculating Electric Field from Electric
Potential
Potential due to an Electric Dipole

If 𝑟 >> 𝑑
Conservation of Energy
If a charged particle moves through an electric field with no force
acting on it other than the electric force due to the field, then the
mechanical energy is conserved

Work by an applied force

Electric Potential
Electric Potential
Conservation of Energy
28.2
28.2
28.4
28.4
Chapter 25 Practice Problems
1) Exercises
20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,36,37,38,39,71