Electric Scalar Potential

1- Function of Electric Field

 The voltage V between two points represents the potential
energy required to move a unit charge between the two points.

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 Electric Scalar Potential
1- Function of Electric Field

The electric field is a conservative field

-The line integral is independent of the specific integration path between P1
and P2 .
-We assume V1 =0 when P1 is at infinity. 3
 Electric Scalar Potential
2- due to Point Charge
^
R r Q
V ( R ) = −  E  R = −  aˆr  ˆ
a dr 
4πε ( r  )
2 r
 

Q  dr  Q
=  =
4πε r ( r  ) 2
4πεr
P

r
spherically symmetric

Q
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 Electric Scalar Potential
2- due to Multiple Point Charges
R2
Q2 P(R,q,f)

r 2 Qk
V (r ) = 
r R1 n

Q1 k =1 4πεR k
r 1
O

No longer spherically symmetric!

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 Electric Scalar Potential
3- due to Continuous Distribution

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 4- Electric Field as a Function of
Electric Potential

 The electric field vector points from higher to lower potentials

dV = − E.d l
for a scalar function V
dV = V .d l
E = −V

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Example 4.7

An electric dipole consists of two point charges of equal

magnitude and opposite polarity, separated by a small distance.
Determine V and E at any point P in free space, given that P is at
a distance R>>d, where d is the spacing between the two charges.

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Example 4.7

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Example 4.7

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 Electric Scalar Potential
5- Poisson’s Equation


V = −
2
This is the Poisson’s Equation


• If the medium contains no free charges, we get

Laplace’s Equation
V = 0
2

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 Electric Scalar Potential
5- Poisson’s Equation

 Poisson’s and Laplace’s equations are

useful for determining the electrostatic
potential V in regions at whose
boundaries V is known.

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Exercise 4.11

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 Electric Properties of the Material
 Conductivity ( S/m) of a material is a measure of how easily
electrons can travel through the material under the influence of an
external field.

 Materials are conductors or dielectrics or semiconductors,

according to .

 J = E (A/m2) (Ohm’s law)

 Perfect dielectric has =0, J=0 regardless of E. Perfect conductor has

=, E=0 regardless of J.
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 Conductors in Electrostatic Equilibrium
The electric field is zero everywhere inside the conductor
Why is this so?
---------------------
++++++++++++

The charges in the conductor

move creating an internal electric
Ein
field that cancels the applied field
E E on the inside of the conductor

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The electric field is always perpendicular to the surface of
a conductor – if it weren’t, the charges would move along
the surface.

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 Example
A conducting spherical shell of inner radius a and outer radius b with a net charge -Q is
centered on point charge +2Q. Use Gauss’s law to find the electric field everywhere,
and to determine the charge distribution on the spherical shell.

-Q First find the field for 0 < r < a

a This is the same as the previous Example and is
the field due to a point charge with charge +2Q.
2Q
+2Q E = ke 2
b r
Now find the field for a < r < b

The field must be zero inside a conductor in equilibrium. Thus, from Gauss’s law Qin is
zero. There is a + 2Q from the point charge so we must have Qa = -2Q on the inner
surface of the spherical shell. Since the net charge on the shell is -Q we can get the
charge on the outer surface from Qnet = Qa + Qb.
Qb= Qnet - Qa = -Q - (-2Q) = + Q. 17
Worked Example cont’d
-Q Find the field for r > b
From the symmetry of the problem, the field in this
region is radial and everywhere perpendicular to
a
the spherical Gaussian surface. Furthermore, the
+2Q field has the same value at every point on the
Gaussian surface so the solution then proceeds
b
exactly as in the previous Ex., but Qin=2Q-Q.

 E  dA =  E dA = E  dA = E ( 4 r )
2

Gauss’s law now gives:

2Q − Q
(
E 4 r 2
)= 
Qin
=
0
=
Q
0
or E =
1 Q
4 0 r 2
Q
= ke 2
r 18
0
 Potentials and Fields Near
Conductors

When there is no net flow of charge, or no flow at all (the

electrostatic case), then a number of conclusions can be
reached using Gauss’ Law and the concepts of electric fields
and potentials…

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Summary of key points (electrostatic case)
- The electric field inside a conductor is zero.
- Any net charge on the conductor lies on the outer surface.
- The potential on the surface of a conductor, and everywhere inside, is
the same.
- The electric field just outside a conductor must be perpendicular to the
surface.
-

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