PHY121

Chapter 3
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

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 Electric potential energy
 Electric potential
 Potential gradient

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 Electric Potential Energy
First essential point
When a force acts on a particle that moves from point a to point b, the work Wa b done by the force is given by a
line integral:

where is an infinitesimal displacement along the particle’s path and is the angle between and at each
point along the path.
Second essential point
If the force is conservative, the work done by can always be expressed in terms of a potential energy U.
When the particle moves from a point where the potential energy is Ua to a point where it is Ub , the change in
potential energy is ∆U = Ub - Ua and

When Wa b is positive, Ua is greater than Ub , ∆U is negative, and the potential energy decreases.
Third essential point
The work–energy theorem says that the change in kinetic energy ∆K = Kb - Ka during a displacement equals the total
work done on the particle. If only conservative forces do work, then equation above gives the total work, and
Kb - Ka = -(Ub - Ua). Normally written as Ka + Ua = Kb + Ub
That is, the total mechanical energy (kinetic plus potential) is conserved under these circumstances.
 Electric Potential Energy
• A pair of large charged parallel metal plates sets up a uniform, downward
• exerts a downward force with magnitude on a positive test charge .
• As moves downward a distance from point to point , the force on the test charge is constant
and independent of its location.
• The work done by is the product of the force magnitude and
the component of displacement in the (downward) direction of
the force: →
• The work is positive, since the force is in the same direction as the
net displacement of the test charge.

• The -component of the electric force, is constant,

and there is no - and -components.
• The work → done by the field is independent of the path the
particle takes from to .
 Electric Potential Energy
• Hence this work , can be represented with a potential-energy function .
• The potential energy for the electric force is therefore given by

• When the test charge moves from height to , the work done on the charge by the field is given
by → 𝑎
 Electric Potential Energy
• When 𝑦 > 𝑦 the positive test charge 𝑞 moves in • When 𝑦 < 𝑦 the positive test charge 𝑞
the same direction as E; the displacement is in the same moves upwards. The displacement is
direction as 𝐹⃗ , so the field does positive work and 𝑈 opposite the force
decreases. 𝑊 → = −∆𝑈 = − 𝑈 − 𝑈 = − 𝑞 𝐸𝑦 − 𝑞 𝐸𝑦𝑎 = 𝑞 𝐸 𝑦 − 𝑦

A positive charge moving (a) in the direction of and (b) in the direction opposite .
 Electric Potential Energy
If the test charge q is negative, the potential energy increases when it moves with the
field and decreases when it moves against the field (Fig.a &b).

Note
Whether 𝑞 is positive or negative,
the rules are the same: 𝑈 increases
if 𝑞 moves in the direction opposite
𝐹⃗ and 𝑈 decreases if 𝑞 moves in
the same direction as 𝐹⃗ .

A negative charge moving (a) in the direction of the electric field and (b) in the direction opposite .
 Example
A pair of oppositely charged, parallel plates are separated by 5.33 mm.
A potential difference of 600 V exists between the plates. (a) What is
the magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates? (b)
What is the magnitude of the force on an electron between the
plates?

d  0.00533m V  Ed Fe Fe
E 
V  600V 600  E (0.0053) q 1.6 x10 19 C
E ? E  113,207.55 N/C
Fe  1.81x10-14 N
qe   1.6 x10 19 C
 Example
Calculate the speed of a proton that is accelerated from rest
through a potential difference of 120 V

q p   1.6 x10 19 C

m p   1.67 x10  27 kg
V  120V 1
v? W K 2mv 2
V   
q q q
2qV 2(1.6 x10 19 )(120) 1.52x105 m/s
v   27

m 1.67 x10
 Electric Potential Energy of Two Point Charges
• The force on 𝑞 is given by Coulomb’s law, and its radial component is
1 𝑞𝑞
𝐹 =
4𝜋𝜖 𝑟
• If 𝑞 and 𝑞 have the same sign the force is repulsive and 𝐹 is positive.
• If the two charges have opposite signs, the force is attractive and 𝐹 is negative.
• The force is not The force is not constant during the displacement, and we must integrate to calculate the work

• As 𝑞 moves from 𝑎 to 𝑏, the work done is therefore

1 𝑞𝑞 𝑞𝑞 1 1
𝑊 → = 𝐹 𝑑𝑟 = 𝑑𝑟 = −
4𝜋𝜖 𝑟 4𝜋𝜖 𝑟 𝑟
The work done by the electric force for this path depends on only the endpoints.
Test charge 𝑞 moves along a straight line extending
radially from charge 𝑞. As it moves from 𝑎 to 𝑏 the
displacement along the radial line distance varies from 𝑟 to 𝑟 .
 Electric Potential Energy of Two Point Charges

Consider a more general displacement in which a and b do not lie do not lie on the same radial line,
the work done 𝑊 → on 𝑞 during this displacement is given by

𝑊 → = ∫ 𝐹 cos 𝜙 𝑑𝑙 = ∫ cos 𝜙 𝑑𝑙 But Fig shows that 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜙 𝑑𝑙 = 𝑑𝑟 That is, the work done during a small
displacement dl depends only on the change dr in the distance r between the charges, which is the radial component of the displacement
•𝑊 on charge 𝑞 by the electric field of charge 𝑞 does not depend on the path taken, but only on the distances ra and rb.
For consistent with the equations we have derived before we therefore define the potential energy to be

This equation is valid no matter what the signs of the charges q0 and q
U positive if charges have the same sign and negative if they have opposite signs.
 Electric Potential Energy with Several Point Charges
• If the electric field 𝐸 in which charge 𝑞 moves is caused by several point charges 𝑞 , 𝑞 , 𝑞 … at distance 𝑟 , 𝑟 , 𝑟 …
from 𝑞 , the potential energy will be

This equation shows that we can always find a potential-energy function for any static electric field. It follows that for every
electric field due to a static charge distribution, the force exerted by that field is conservative.
Equation above gives the potential energy associated with the presence of the test charge qo in the E
field produced by q1 q2 q3, ….. But there is also potential energy involved in assembling these charges.
• If charges are separated from each other by infinite
distances, to bring them together so that the distance
between is given as the sum of the potential
energies of interaction for each pair of charges.
 Electric Potential
• Electric potential is the potential energy per unit charge given as

• But, → . Dividing work done by , we obtain

→

• The potential due to a collection of charges will be given by

• And the potential due to a continuous distribution of charge is given as

 Calculating Electric Potential

If q is positive, the potential that it produces is positive at all points; if q is negative, it produces a potential that is negative
everywhere. In either case, V is equal to zero at r = an infinite distance from the point charge.
The potential due to a collection of charges will be given by

And the potential due to a continuous distribution of charge is given as

 Finding Electric Potential from Electric Field
• The electric potential can also be calculated from the electric field. We know that : it follows
that the work done by the electric force as the test charge moves from to is given
by →

• Dividing the equation above by , we get

The value of 𝑉 − 𝑉 is independent of the path taken from
a to b, just as the value of 𝑊 → is independent of the path.

If the line integral is positive, the electric field does positive work on a positive test charge as it moves from a to b. In this case the electric
potential energy decreases as the test charge moves, so the potential energy per unit charge decreases as well;
Note that equation above can be rewritten as

This has a negative sign compared to the integral in equation above and the limits are reversed hence equations are same. To move a unit
charge slowly against the electric force, we must apply an external force per unit charge equal to −𝐸, equal and opposite to the
electric force per unit charge E . Va − Vb=Vab the potential of a with respect to b, equals the work done per unit charge by this external
force to move a unit charge from b to a.
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Example A
Points A, B, and C lie in C
E B
a uniform electric field.
What is the potential difference between points A and B?
ΔVAB = VB - VA
a) ΔVAB > 0 b) ΔVAB = 0 c) ΔVAB < 0

The electric field, E, points in the direction of decreasing potential

Since points A and B are in the same relative horizontal location in the
electric field there is on potential difference between them
Example A
Points A, B, and C lie in
E C
a uniform electric field. B

Point C is at a higher potential than point A.

True False
As stated previously the electric field points in the direction of
decreasing potential

Since point C is further to the right in the electric field and the electric
field is pointing to the right, point C is at a lower potential
The statement is therefore false
Example A
Points A, B, and C lie in E C
a uniform electric field. B

If a negative charge is moved from point A to point B, its

electric potential energy
a) Increases. b) decreases. c) doesn’t change.

The potential energy of a charge at a location in an electric field

is given by the product of the charge and the potential at the
location
As shown in Example 4, the potential at points A and B are
the same

Therefore the electric potential energy also doesn’t change

Example A
Points A, B, and C lie in C
a uniform electric field. E B

Compare the potential differences between points A and C

and points B and C.
a) VAC > VBC b) VAC = VBC c) VAC < VBC

In Example 4 we showed that the the potential at points A and

B were the same

Therefore the potential difference between A and C and the

potential difference between points B and C are the same
Also remember that potential and potential energy are scalars
and directions do not come into play
 Example
If you want to move in a region of electric field without
changing your electric potential energy. You would move
a) Parallel to the electric field
b) Perpendicular to the electric field

The work done by the electric field when a charge moves

from one point to another is given by
b   b  
Wa b   F  dl   q0 E  dl
a a

The way no work is done by the electric field is if the

integration path is perpendicular to the electric field giving a
zero for the dot product
Example
A positive charge is released from rest in a region of
electric field. The charge moves:
a) towards a region of smaller electric potential
b) along a path of constant electric potential
c) towards a region of greater electric potential
Example, Net Potential of Several Charged Particles:
Example
An electric dipole consists of two charges q1 = +12nC and q2 = -12nC, placed 10 cm
apart as shown in the figure. Compute the potential at points a,b, and c.

q1 q2
Va  k  (  )
ra ra
12 x10 9  12 x10 9
Va  8.99 x10 (
9
 )
0.06 0.04
Va  −899 V
 Example cont’
q1 q2
Vb  k  (  )
rb rb
12 x10 9  12 x10 9
Vb  8.99 x10 ( 9
 )
0.04 0.14
Vb  1926.4 V

Vc  0 V

Since direction isn’t important, the electric potential at “c” is zero. The electric field however is NOT. The electric field would
point to the right.
Example, Potential is not a Vector:
Potential Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution: Line of Charge:
Potential Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution: Charged Disk:
Example, Potential Energy of a System of Three Charged Particles:
Example, Conservation of Mechanical Energy with Electric Potential Energy:
 Potential Gradient
• Electric field and potential are related by the equation
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At each point, the potential gradient points in the direction in which V increases most rapidly with a change in position.
Hence at each point the direction of is the direction in which V decreases most rapidly and is always perpendicular to
the equipotential surface through the point.
Therefore that moving in the direction of the electric field means moving in the direction of decreasing potential. 34
Example, Finding the Field from the Potential:
 Example 10
The electric potential in a region of space is given by
V ( x)  3x 2  x3
The x-component of the electric field Ex at x = 2 is

(a) Ex = 0 (b) Ex > 0 (c) Ex < 0

We know V(x) “everywhere”

To obtain Ex “everywhere”, use

  dV
E  V Ex   E x  6 x  3 x 2
dx
E x (2)  6(2)  3(2) 2  0
 Equipotential Surface

The name equipotential surface is given to any surface consisting of a

continuous distribution of points having the same electric potential.

 Unlike electric field lines, which start and end on electric charges, equipotential
lines and surfaces are always continuous and never end, and so continue
beyond.
Examples Equipotential Surfaces

Constant E field Point Charge Electric dipole

Plane Equipotential Surfaces Spherical Equipotential Surfaces

 Equipotential

• Point B is at a lower potential

than point A

• Points B and C are at the same

potential, since all points in a
plane perpendicular to a uniform
electric field are at the same
electric potential
 Equipotential Lines for uniform electric field in charged
parallel plates

Lines of + -
+ -
Equipotential + - Electric Field
+ - Lines
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ - Note: Electric
+ - field lines and
+ -
+ -
lines of
+ - equipotential
+ - intersect at right
+ -
+ -
angles.

Decreasing Electric
Potential / Voltage
 Equipotential Lines for Point Charge

Note: Electric
field lines and
lines of
equipotential
intersect at right
Lines of angles.
Equipotential

+
Electric Field
Lines

Note: A charged
surface is also
Decreasing Electric an equipotential
Potential / Voltage surface!
 Equipotential Curves

All points on equipotential curve are at same potential.

Each curve represented by V(x,y) = constant
 Properties of Equipotential Surfaces:
1. No work is done in moving a test charge from one point to another
on an equipotential surface.
WAB
VB - VA = ∆V =
q0
If A and B are two points on the equipotential surface, then VB = VA
. WAB
q0 = 0 or WAB = 0

2. The electric field is always perpendicular to the element dl of the

equipotential surface.

Since no work is done on equipotential surface,

B
WAB = - E . dl = 0
i.e E dl cos θ = 0
A
.
As E ≠ 0 and dl ≠ 0, cos θ = 0 or θ = 90°
3. Equipotential surfaces indicate regions of strong or weak electric fields.
Electric field is defined as the negative potential gradient.
dV dV
E=- or dr = -
dr E
Since dV is constant on equipotential surface, so
1
dr α
E
If E is strong (large), dr will be small, i.e. the separation of
equipotential surfaces will be smaller (i.e. equipotential surfaces are
crowded) and vice versa.
4. Two equipotential surfaces can not intersect.
If two equipotential surfaces intersect, then at the points of
intersection, there will be two values of the electric potential which is
not possible.
Note:
(Refer to properties of electric lines of force)
Electric potential is a scalar quantity whereas potential gradient is a
vector quantity.
The negative sign of potential gradient shows that the rate of change
of potential with distance is always against the electric field intensity.
 Equipotential 1. 1

The circle is at +5 V relative to the plate. Which of the below is the most
2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

5. 5

accurate equipotential map?

6. 6

1 4

2 5

3 6

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 Answer: 5

 The electric field is stronger between the plate and circle than on either outer side, so
the equipotential lines must be spaced most closely in between the two conductors.

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 Field Lines
The circle is at +5 V relative to the plate. Which of the below is the most
accurate electric field line map?

1 4

2 5

3 6
 Answer: 2

 Field lines must be perpendicular to equipotential surfaces, including the conductors

themselves.

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 What about Conductors
In a static situation, the surface of a conductor is an equipotential surface
But what is the potential inside the conductor if there is a surface charge?
We know that E = 0 inside the conductor
This leads to dV
 0 or V  constant
dx

The value of the potential inside the conductor is chosen to match that at the surface
Eight distinct rules for and properties of equipotential surfaces
or lines.

1. An equipotential surface is one in which all points are at the same potential.
2. An equipotential surface must be perpendicular to the electric field at any
point.
3. Equipotential lines and surfaces are always continuous.
4. Equipotential lines and surfaces never end.
5. The entire volume (including the surface) of a conductor is an equipotential.
6. No work is required to move a charged particle from one point on an
equipotential surface to another point on that surface.
7. Equipotential lines and surfaces cannot cross.
8. Electric field lines point from higher equipotential surfaces to lower
equipotential surfaces.
9. Closer spacing of equipotential indicates a larger electric field.
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