Electric Potential

Module 7 - Electric Potential and Circuits

PHYS 51 GHYZ | 1st Semester AY 2023-2024

Electric Potential and Circuits
Module 7

• CHAPTER 1: Electric Potential

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Determine the electric potential energy associated with a collection of

point charges

2. Calculate the electric potential produced by a collection of point

charges
 Recall: Electric Potential Energy
Two point charges

kqq0 1 qq0
U= =
r 4πϵ0 r
With several charges

q0 qi
4πϵ0 ∑
U=
i
ri

Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
- potential energy per unit charge
Electric potential due to a point charge q Electric potential due to a
collection of charges
kqq0
U r kq V=
1
4πϵ0 ∑
qi
V= = = i
ri
q0 q0 r Electric potential due to a
continuous charge distribution

Unit: 1 Volt (V) = 1 Joule per coulomb (J/C) 1 dq

4πϵ0 ∫ r
V=
 Recall:
Wa→b = − ΔU = − (Ub − Ua) = Ua − Ub
q0 q0 q0 q0 q0
Potential Di erence
(or Voltage)
Wa→b
= Va Vb = Vab
q0

Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
ff
Recall:
⃗
∫
Wa→b = − F ⋅ d l ⃗

q0 q0

Va − Vb = − E ⃗ ⋅ d l ⃗
∫
Volt Newton Meter
per
coulomb
1 V/m = 1 N/C
Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
Recall:
Wa→b = − ΔU = Va − Vb
q0 q0

Ua − Ub = q0(Va − Vb) = q0Vab

e 1 Volt

−19
Electron volt 1eV = 1.602 × 10 J
 Find the potential at any height y between
two oppositely charged parallel plates.

U(y) q0Ey
V(y) = = = Ey
q0 q0

Potential di erence between the plates

Vab = Va − Vb = Ed

Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
ff
 EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES
- electric potential is the same at every point on the surface

Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
 EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES
- electric potential is the same at every point on the surface

• Field lines and equipotential surfaces are always

mutually perpendicular.

• E need not be constant over an equipotential

surface.

Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
CONDUCTORS
What we know:

⃗
at all points inside a
E =0 conductor (otherwise,
charges would move)

• When charges are at rest, a conducting

surface is always an equipotential
surface.

• Since the electric eld is always

perpendicular to an equipotential
surface, eld lines are perpendicular to a
conductive surface,
Images from Young, et al., Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics: with Modern Physics 13th Ed
fi
fi
Potential Gradient
a b
⃗
∫b ∫a
Va − Vb = dV = − E ⋅ dl ⃗

b b
⃗
∫a ∫a
− dV = E ⋅ dl ⃗
E ⃗ = Ex i ̂ + Ey j ̂ + Ezk̂
⃗
Note:

−dV = E ⋅ d l ⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂
d l = dx i + dy j + dzk ̂

−dV = Exdx + Eydy + Ezdz

Potential Gradient

( ∂x ∂z )
Ex = −
∂V ⃗
E =− i ̂ ∂V
+j ̂ ∂V
+k ̂ ∂V
∂x ∂y
∂V
( ∂x ∂z )
Gradient operator
∇ ⃗ f = i ̂ + j ̂ + k̂
∂ ∂ ∂
Ey = − (“grad” or “del”) ∂y
f
∂y
∂V ⃗ ⃗
E = − ∇V
Ez = −
∂z
( ∂x ∂z )
∇ ⃗ V = i ̂ + j ̂ + k̂
Potential ∂ ∂ ∂
gradient V
∂y