Electricity and Magnetism

Engineering Physics 2A04

Electrostatics
Electric Dipoles and Energy
 Contents
• Voltage, Electric Potential Energy, and Work
• Electric Dipoles
• Energy in Electrostatic Fields

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Electric Potential, Electric Potential Energy, and Work
(Sections 4.7-4.8 in Sadiku)
Work, in general, is the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of
a force along a displacement - the dot product of force and displacement:
Work from the force 𝐅 to an object = 𝐅 ∙ 𝐝
A positive value of work in this case means energy is transferred from the force
to an object.

If energy is transferred from the force to the object, the potential energy of the
object decreases (think of gravity). The negative of the work done by the electric
force is the change in potential energy for the object in question:

Δ(Work from the force 𝐅 to an object) = FΔx = −ΔW

Our textbook (and other E&M textbooks) uses variable 𝑾 for the potential
energy of the object).
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 Electric Potential, Electric Potential Energy, and Work
(Sections 4.7-4.8 in Sadiku)

The force one must exert to oppose a force F = Q𝐄 from an electric field 𝐄 is:
F = −Q𝐄.
Therefore the potential energy required, in moving a charge Q from locations A to B is:
B B
W = න 𝐅 ∙ d𝐥 = −Q න 𝐄 ∙ d𝐥 = Q V 𝐛 − V 𝐚 = QVAB
A A

If you want to bring Q from ∞ and put it at point 𝐫, W = Q[V 𝐫 − V ∞ ].

As discussed, our reference point is most often V ∞ = 0, therefore we have:

W
W = QV(𝐫) and V 𝐫 = [J/C] or [V]
Q

Potential is potential energy (the work required to create the system) per unit
charge. Just as the field is the force per unit charge. 4
 Electric Dipole
(Section 4.9 in Sadiku)

An electric dipole consists of two point charges of equal magnitude and opposite
polarity separated by a small distance d.
Applications: dielectrics, molecular bonds, antennas.
We will now determine V and 𝐄 at any point P at a distance 𝑟 from the dipole center
where r >> d (in free space).
The potential at point P r, θ, ϕ is given by:
Q 1 1 Q r2 − r1
V= − =
4πϵ0 r1 r2 4πϵ0 r1 r2
If r ≫ d, r2 − r1 ≈ dcosθ, r1 r2 ≈ r 2.
Q dcosθ
V=
4πϵ0 r 2 5
 Electric Dipole
(Section 4.9 in Sadiku)
(cont.)
Q dcosθ
V=
4πϵ0 r 2
Since dcosθ = 𝐝 ∙ 𝐫ො, where 𝐝 = dො𝐳, and we define
𝐩 = Q𝐝 as the dipole moment, we can write the
potential as:
1 𝐩 ∙ 𝐫ො
V=
4πϵ0 r 2
Note that the dipole moment 𝐩 is directed from –Q to +Q. If the dipole center is not
at the origin but at 𝐫 ′ , the equation above becomes:

1 𝐩 ∙ (𝐫 − 𝐫 ′ )
V=
4πϵ0 𝐫 − 𝐫 ′ 3
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 Electric Dipole
(Section 4.9 in Sadiku)

Next, we can determine the electric field 𝐄:

𝜕V 1 𝜕V
𝐄 = −∇V = − 𝐫ො + ෡
𝛉
𝜕r r 𝜕θ
Qdcosθ Qdsinθ
= ො
𝐫+ ෡
𝛉
2πϵ0 r 3 4πϵ0 r 3
Q dcosθ
p V=
= ෡
(2cosθො𝐫 + sinθ𝛉) 4πϵ0 r 2
4πϵ0 𝐫 𝟑

Where 𝑝 = 𝒑 = 𝑄𝑑. The electric dipole moment.

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 Electric Dipole - Example
(Example 4.13 in Sadiku)

Two dipoles with dipole moments −5 𝐳ො nC ∙ m and 9 𝐳ො nC ∙ m are located at points

0, 0, −2 and (0, 0, 3) respectively. Find the potential at the origin.

1 𝐩 ∙ 𝐫ො
V=
4πϵ0 r 2

Take up in class.
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 Energy in Electrostatic Fields
(Section 4.10 in Sadiku)
To determine the energy present in an assembly
of charges, we must first determine the amount of
work necessary to assemble them.
Suppose we wish to position three point charges in
an empty space. No work is required to transfer Q1 from ∞ to P1 because the
space is initially charge free and there is no electric field.
Transferring Q2 and Q3 requires work due to the presence of the preceding charges.
𝑊 = 𝑊1 + 𝑊2 + 𝑊3
= 0 + 𝑄2𝑉21 + 𝑄3 (𝑉31 + 𝑉32 )
If the charges were placed in the reverse order:
𝑊 = 𝑊3 + 𝑊2 + 𝑊1
= 0 + 𝑄2 𝑉23 + 𝑄1 (𝑉12 + 𝑉13 )
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 Energy in Electrostatic Fields
(Section 4.10 in Sadiku)

Adding these equations together gives:

2W = W1 + W2 + W3
= Q1 V12 + V13 + Q2 V21 + V23 + Q3 V31 + V32
= Q1 V1 + Q2 V2 + Q3 V3
1 1
Or W = (Q1 V1 + Q2 V2 + Q3 V3 )
2
Line: WE = ‫׬‬L ρL Vdl
2

Where V1 , V2 , and V3 are the potentials at P1 , P2, and 1

Surface: WE = ‫׬‬S ρS VdS
P3 . In general, if there are n point charges: 2
1
WE =
1 n
σ Q V (in joules) Volume: WE = ‫׬‬v ρv Vdv
2
2 k=1 k k

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 Energy in Electrostatic Fields
(Section 4.10 in Sadiku)

1
Using Gauss’s Law ρv = ∇ ∙ 𝐃, we can further develop WE = ‫׬‬v ρv Vdv (see
2
textbook for proof):
1 1
WE = න 𝐃 ∙ 𝐄 dv = න ϵ0 E2 dv
2 v 2 v
This is the electrostatic energy stored in the field for a continuous charge distribution.

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 Energy in Electrostatic Fields - Example
(Section 4.10 in Sadiku)

What is the energy stored between the two

plates?
Q Qd
𝐄=− 𝐲ො and V =
ϵ0 S ϵ0 S

1
WE = න ϵ0 E2 dv
2 v The volume between the plates is Sd.
2
1 Q
= ϵ0 න dv
2 ϵ0 S v
2
1 Q Q2 d
= ϵ0 Sd WE =
2 ϵ0 S 2ϵ0
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 Summary
• Dipoles form when two equal but oppositely charged particles are separated by
some small distance d.
• The electric dipole moment is equal to the magnitude of the charge times the
distance and points in the direction of the positive charge, 𝐩 = Q𝐝.
1
• The potential due to a dipole varies as
R2

• The electrostatic energy stored in the field for a continuous charge distribution is
1
WE = න ϵ0 E2 dv
2 v

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 Readings and Problems

Electric Dipoles and Energy in Electrostatic Fields

Reading Sections in Sadiku: 4.9 (ex. 4.13), 4.10 (ex. 4.14, 4.15)
Practice Exercises: 4.13,
Problems: 4.62, 4.64, 4.68

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