Electrostatic Potential

Electric Potential difference Potential difference between two points in

: an electric field may be defined
as the amount of work done in moving a unit positive charge from one point to the other against
the electrostatics forces .

if Yp and Y be the electric potential at point p and R respectively

then AV= Yp- YR
external
WpR work done
=

or AV= NPR kR HEF

Yp-VR
PR
and =
= -

of Potential difference jc
I
31 unit = =
1 volt.

Note - Test that it does not disturb the distribution of the Source Change
:

Change is so small
· we
just apply so much external force on the test charge that it just balances the repulsive electric force
on it and hence does not produce any acceleration in it Sun
(ie Potential difference
il Ja is path independent)
. .

Electric Potential

ng
Electric Potential at electric field is the in moving
any point in an amount of work done a unit
electrostatic forces

ra P ysics
positive charge from infinity to that point against the .

if the point lies infinity that y Yp (

at then V
R VR = 0 1
or
=

so
=
=

· Electric Potential always decrease in the direction of electric field .

h
·
Electric Potential is a scalar
quantity
Potential due to a Point
charge
q -du +90 F
0I ⑧ ⑧ , -----
consider a the point charge a placed at the origin
O p B A 0 .
we Gu have to - the potential at point p.

r
K x Let a test ch
ruji placed at point A .

k D
X
Acc to Coulomb Law , Force
acting on charge 9 is
F 120 Work done in moving the test charge 9. from A to B
through small displacement du
=

48o x2
against the electrostatic force is dN=E di .
=
di =

Faucos180"->dN=-Fou
the total work done in moving the charges to from infinity to that point p will be
190
-E]
p
/d
-)Fd 2ran
W b I
Ide =
= = = = -

4120
-

k
= -6) Est
Hence Electric Potential x
=I = I
:
**

or

potential due to dipole

1 (v a) -
potential dipole at a point axial line
-

due to on .

a
-
⑧ ⑧

Potential due to +90-9 charge at point p is

-

a a +9 P
Y = - y - - -
+ -
r
4(3(r a) 41T30(+ a)
-

k x
(V a)
potential at point p is
+

total .

X =
Y +
+

"-
ural citras *** (Iras-ital) * Y=
so ta]-> "It real *** s
 Here P =920
For short dipole
Vaxial-I
risa

·
potential due to dipole at a point on equatorial line
P
potential due to positive charge a
Negative charge at point p is

arra"-
+
=

& X = =
4155(v4a"2
saya
ve
es
So Total Potential at Point i
is eta R ;
2
Veg 0
=

q 9
-

a
+

C
Potential due to dipole at any point .

Potential due to +9 and -9 at points are

respectively .

Y +
= A a =
Sunil J
4iEo
Potential
4 ITEoz

is
a
Net at point P

ng
y x v x 1 1
Y- ( !)
= =
+ -
= =

418441522

ra P ysics
= [ -]
h
if the point p lies far away from the dipole , then
U
, - 2acOSO and ricr2

Y
=

.. 20sO=> :
Y= * = KASO = qx2a & 1
s -2 82
Gu :2
ruji
potential due to a System of Charges
Let there be n number of charges 9 , 928s----- In
at distances from
is ry--un v
,
v
respectively
the point p.
potential due to 9, 09- charge at point p is given
by y =

1 Yz
=

1
,
41T2,IP 4ITE2P
similarly
Y
=

an
4158 Unp The total Potential at point ↑ due individual charges is
given by
Y =
Y
,
+

Ye +

Yzt - - - -
+ Yn
V =

& +
12 + + 9n
--

- -

41T3YP 41582 41T8Unp

a re
so v =
 Equipotential Surfaces
·
Any surface that has same electric potential at every point on it is called "Equipotential
Surface" . Equipotential Surface is an imaginary surface .

properties of Equipotential Surface

· No work is done in
moving a test charge over an equipotential Surface .

· b
=

9 . (Yx-xB) on equipotential Surface VA-XB

=

0 So w =

· Electric Field is always perpendicular (Normall to the equipotential surface at every point .

If the field were not Normal to the equipotential surface , it would have a non zero component along
the surface .
so to move a test
charge against this component a , work would have to be done .

·
Equipotential Surfaces are closes
together in the region of strong field and further apart in the
regions of weak fields .

Because E
c dr=-c equipotential surface dy= Constant then
ICE
or on
=
-

· No two equipotential surfaces can intersect each other. because point of intersection
at the
there will be two values of electric potential at the point of intersection , which is impossiblee.
Sunil J
Surface

Gnipotenti>
spherical
↓
al a

ng
L >

ra P ysics
L -

⑤!}@°@}°
⑤
W

h
Relation between field and Potential
let p point on the surface
be a B . S1 is theperpendicular
distance of the Surface A from P .
Imagine that a unit positive
is moved perpendicular from the surface B
this
charge along Gu
to surface A against the electric field The work done in this process .
ruji
is

EFF-Fext
~

Sk FeF St here Cexternal force is ·nst

agal
=

force)
-

ie
.

Sk=-F :

XI
81 electrostatic Field .

Sk = -

9. E .
8L
E ST
=-
.

Sy = -
EST for uniform electric field .

-ve
showing that potential always decreases in the direction of electric field .

FOR Non-Uniform EoF

y =

* E di.
or E =

-c
Potential Energy of a System of Charges
There is external field which work
Note : - no
against needs to
be done .

Work done in bringing a

change from infinity to the point
k
=

0 · External field is zo .

and work in bringing a

charge from infinity to the point
Wy = Y %2 Y =

Potential due to 9 change at 9, Change is

, ,

W 1 x &2 Y 1 this work done

gets stored in i U
= =

e
=
.

415842 41530 Viz the form of Potential

energy .
ric
 Potential energy of a
system of three charges is given
by
+ at a)
U =

When there is no external electric field .

Potential energy in an External Electric Field

· For a system of two charges 9, and he
·
w(9 ,, 92)
· The work done in
Y is
bringing a charge 9 , from infinity to the point --- ⑧
"

... V2
->

W =

y ()
potential 9, x (i) =
Electric due to external field 9, 92
,
position vector i at
is the potential
work done in bringing the charge 92 from infinity to the point 2 Note: Y , (2)
chargeGi
91

12 X(r)9e + X, (42) 92 SX(E) potential at r due to external EOF)

dueThaue
=
=
.

i.e
Wa=V(E192+t Hence U x , +We W
Su nil+YE92+
v(n)9
rie
= =
+

Ja
,

ng
Potential Energy for (i e for n-charges)

ra P ysics
a Collection of More than Two Charges .

1 Ga
r =

e Here k=

h
it

i j

question : (i) Calculate the potential at a point

- .
due to Gu
a charge of 4NOTC located 9cm away
Solution : Potential at a point is given by y = 1 ruji
=
v =

40 so v 4N04y = .

4iTEot 9
(i) Hence obtain the work done in
.

bringing a charge of 2N8°C from infinity to that point.

Solution : we know workdonek= 90X

W =
2x0x4x104 =
8N0 Joule

question
:
- Three point A , B and C lie in a uniform electric field A 4cm B
>
⑳ ⑧

-------
(E) of 3x10NIC as shown in the figure . Find the potential "
-
>

........
3em
>
difference between A and C
E
.

30m
>
Solution : Potential at pt .
B and C are Same
C
3
Vi Vc
=

And Potential difference between A and C =

Potential diff between A and B
5 N0X4N8
2
ie .

P D=- Ed . = - =
-200 Volt

What is the between electric field equipotential

q angle and surface ?
:

a) 90 always (b) O'always (C) Oto 90 (d) O' to 188 Answer -> (a) .

question
:
Find Vas in an electric field E (2i =
+ 35 + 4K) NC
where = (I -2j+k)m and i =

(2i +

j -24) m

solution: Using dy=-E du .

Here dr =

Fa- =d =

(Y-2j + 4) (2i j 2)
- + -

Va-Vb=- E dr
- =
=
Y 35
- +
3k
Ya-Y =
-

(2i 35 4k) + + : )-i-35 34) +

=- 2-9 +
12) = -1 volt answer .