THE ELECTRIC FIELD & POTENTIAL

The Electric Field exists if and only if (iff), there is

a potential difference.
If the charge is the same at all points, no matter
how high the electric potential is, there will be
no electric field.
Electric potential at a given point is the electric
potential energy of a small test charge divided
by the charge itself.
 THE ELECTRIC FIELD & POTENTIAL
Electric potential V is mathematically given as
𝑈
𝑉= , so for two points X & Y
Q0
𝑈𝑌 𝑈𝑋 𝑊𝑋𝑌
𝑉𝑌 − 𝑉𝑋 = − =−
Q0 Q0 Q0
𝑉𝑌 , 𝑉𝑋 re the potential energies for the unit charge at
points Y and X.
The work done per unit charge by the electric force when
a charged body move a distance r from X to Y is the
potential at Y minus the potential at X
 THE ELECTRIC FIELD & POTENTIAL
𝑉 = 0 as r tends to infinite distance.
Electric potential is INDEPENDENT of the
test charge used to define it.
Electric field is the rate of change of
electric potential with respect to its
position r
∆𝑉
𝐸=
∆𝑟
 GAUSS LAW

It is one of Maxwell's Laws.

It is also known as Gauss Flux Theorem.
It relates the distribution of electric charges to
the resulting electric field.
It states that
“ electric flux Φ across any CLOSED surface is
proportional to the NET electric charge q
enclosed by the surface”
 GAUSS LAW

Φ∝q
q 1
Φ= , = 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑝a𝑐𝑒
𝜀0 𝜀0
= 8.854 𝑋 10−11 𝐶 2 𝑁 −1 𝑚−1
It can be inferred that isolated electric charges
exist and that like charges repel one another
while unlike charges attract.
 GAUSS LAW APPLICATION: INFINITE WIRE
Consider a long line of charge, with charge per unit
length as . Using cylindrical symmetry, electric field all
point away from the line of charge.
This indicates a NO parallel component to the line of
charge.
The electric field is perpendicular to the curved surface
of the cylinder.
Thus, the angle between the electric field and area
vector is zero and cosine θ = 1.
 GAUSS LAW APPLICATION: INFINITE WIRE

The top and bottom surfaces of the

cylinder lie parallel to the electric field.
Thus, the angle between the area vector
and the electric field is 90 degrees, and
cosine θ = 0.
Thus, the electric flux is only due to the
curved surface.
 GAUSS LAW APPLICATION: INFINITE WIRE
Φ = Φcurved + Φtop + Φbottom
Φ = → E . d → A = ∫E . dA cos 0 + ∫E . dA cos 90° + ∫E . dA cos 90°
Φ = ∫E . dA × 1
Φ = ∫E . dA = E ∫dA = E . 2πrl
The net charge enclosed by the surface is
qnet = λ.l
Using Gauss theorem,
Φ = E × 2πrl = qnet/ε0 = λl/ε0
E × 2πrl = λl/ε0
E = λ/2πrε0