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Lecture4 GPHYS2SP2014 ElectricPotential
Lecture4 GPHYS2SP2014 ElectricPotential
104
Lecture 4
Electric Potential (Ch 17)
These lecture slides are not for dissemination or posting on the internet, and are
not a substitute for attending lectures.
Topics in Chapter 17
• Electric Potential Energy
• Potential Difference (voltage)
• Equipotential Lines
• Acceleration of Charged objects by Electric fields
• The Electron Volt, a Unit of Energy
• Capacitance
• Dielectrics
• Storage of Electric Energy
Electrostatic Potential Energy and
Potential Difference
• Don’t be intimidated by the names, this is just the work-energy theorem again.
ΔPE=W=F*d.
• Think about this analogy between gravitational and electrical potential energy:
GPE = mg.h
EPE = qE.d
• If you push a charge against the electric field, you do work, increasing the object’s EPE.
• If you release a charge in an E-field, it accelerates, just like dropping a weight. The change in EPE = KE
• Both Electrostatic and Gravity are inverse square-law forces
• Both are also Conservative Forces
ConcepTest 17.7a Work and Electric Potential I
1) P → 1
Which requires the most work,
2) P → 2
to move a positive charge from
P to points 1, 2, 3 or 4 ? All 3) P → 3
points are the same distance 4) P → 4
from P. 5) all require the same
amount of work
3
2
1 4
P
r
E
ConcepTest 17.7a Work and Electric Potential I
1) P → 1
Which requires the most work,
2) P → 2
to move a positive charge from
P to points 1, 2, 3 or 4 ? All 3) P → 3
points are the same distance 4) P → 4
from P. 5) all require the same
amount of work
3
For path #1, you have to push the
positive charge against the E field, 2
which is hard to do. By contrast,
path #4 is the easiest, since the 1 4
P
field does all the work. r
E
Electrostatic Potential Energy and
Potential Difference
The electrostatic force is
conservative
Change in electric potential
energy is negative of work
done by electric force:
V = -Ed
Compute the Electric Field between
the two charged wires shown in the
figures below:
7.0 cm
ConcepTest 17.1a Electric Potential Energy I
A proton and an electron are in 1) proton
a constant electric field created 2) electron
by oppositely charged plates.
3) both feel the same force
You release the proton from the
positive side and the electron 4) neither – there is no force
from the negative side. Which 5) they feel the same magnitude
feels the larger electric force? force but opposite direction
electron
electron
-
+
r
proton
proton
E
ConcepTest 17.1a Electric Potential Energy I
A proton and an electron are in 1) proton
a constant electric field created 2) electron
by oppositely charged plates.
3) both feel the same force
You release the proton from the
positive side and the electron 4) neither – there is no force
from the negative side. Which 5) they feel the same magnitude
feels the larger electric force? force but opposite direction
electron
electron
-
+
r
proton
proton
E
ConcepTest 17.1b Electric Potential Energy II
A proton and an electron are in 1) proton
a constant electric field created 2) electron
by oppositely charged plates.
3) both feel the same acceleration
You release the proton from the
positive side and the electron 4) neither – there is no acceleration
from the negative side. Which 5) they feel the same magnitude
has the larger acceleration? acceleration but opposite direction
electron
electron
Since F = ma and the electron is much less -
massive than the proton, then the electron
experiences the larger acceleration. +
r
proton
proton
E
ConcepTest 17.1c Electric Potential Energy III
A proton and an electron are in 1) proton
a constant electric field created 2) electron
by oppositely charged plates.
3) both acquire the same KE
You release the proton from the
positive side and the electron 4) neither – there is no change of
KE
from the negative side. When
it strikes the opposite plate, 5) they both acquire the same KE
but with opposite signs
which one has more KE?
electron
electron
-
+
r
proton
proton
E
ConcepTest 17.1c Electric Potential Energy III
A proton and an electron are in 1) proton
a constant electric field created 2) electron
by oppositely charged plates.
3) both acquire the same KE
You release the proton from the
positive side and the electron 4) neither – there is no change of
KE
from the negative side. When
it strikes the opposite plate, 5) they both acquire the same KE
but with opposite signs
which one has more KE?
An equipotential is a line or
surface over which the
potential is constant.
Electric field lines are
perpendicular to
equipotentials.
The surface of a conductor is
an equipotential.
Equipotential Lines
B Q D
E
ConcepTest 17.6 Equipotential of Point Charge
1) A and C
Which two points have 2) B and E
the same potential?
3) B and D
4) C and E
5) no pair
3
2
1 4
P
r
E
ConcepTest 17.7b Work and Electric Potential II
1) P → 1
Which requires zero work, to
2) P → 2
move a positive charge from
P to points 1, 2, 3 or 4 ? All 3) P → 3
points are the same distance 4) P → 4
from P. 5) all require the same
amount of work
+V
(17-7)
+Q –Q
ConcepTest 17.8 Capacitors
Capacitor C1 is connected across 1) C1
a battery of 5 V. An identical 2) C2
capacitor C2 is connected across
3) both have the same charge
a battery of 10 V. Which one has
4) it depends on other factors
the most charge?
+Q –Q
In other words the Capacitance is fixed, and determines how much charge is
stored for a given applied Voltage.
+Q –Q
ConcepTest 17.9a Varying Capacitance I
What must be done to 1) increase the area of the plates
a capacitor in order to 2) decrease separation between the plates
increase the amount of 3) decrease the area of the plates
charge it can hold (for
4) either (1) or (2)
a constant voltage)?
5) either (2) or (3)
+Q –Q
Since Q = C V, in order to increase the charge
that a capacitor can hold at constant voltage,
one has to increase its capacitance. Since the
A
capacitance is given by C = ε 0 , that can be
d
done by either increasing A or decreasing d.
Dielectrics -Improving the basic capacitor
This means that the electric field within the dielectric is less than it would be in
air, allowing more charge to be stored for the same potential.
1. Nothing
2. More charge flows onto the plates (from the battery)
3. Some charge flows out of the plates (back to the
battery)
The keys in your computer/laptop
keyboard are all capacitors
(17-10)
(17-11)
1. Nothing
2. Increase the energy stored on the capacitor
3. Decrease the energy stored in the capacitor
4. Increase the charge stored
The electrocardiogram
detects heart defects by
measuring changes in
potential on the surface
of the heart.
Summary
• Electric potential energy:
+Q –Q
ConcepTest 17.9b Varying Capacitance II
A parallel-plate capacitor 1) the voltage decreases
initially has a voltage of 400 V 2) the voltage increases
and stays connected to the 3) the charge decreases
battery. If the plate spacing is
4) the charge increases
now doubled, what happens?
5) both voltage and charge change
+Q –Q
ConcepTest 17.9c Varying Capacitance III
A parallel-plate capacitor initially has 1) 100 V
a potential difference of 400 V and is 2) 200 V
then disconnected from the charging
3) 400 V
battery. If the plate spacing is now
doubled (without changing Q), what 4) 800 V
is the new value of the voltage? 5) 1600 V