CHAPTER - 2 ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

SYNOPSIS :
Potential energy of a charge is amount of work needed to bring a test charge from infinity to given point, in the field of a charge. Electrostatic potential is work done per unit charge to bring a test charge from infinity to given point in electric field. V=

W q

Potential difference is the amount of work needed to displace charge from one point to another in electric field. Electric potential due to a single charge is given by V=
1 q 40 r

Electric potential due to a dipole along an axial line is V=

1 p 2 40 r

Electric potential due to a dipole at an equatorial point is given by V= P cos 40 r2

Electric potential due to system of n charges is given by

V= 1 40

v
i =1

qi
i

Equipotential surface is a surface around a charge configuration where potential is constant. Electric field and potential can be related as follows, E=
dv dx

Potential energy of system of three charges is given by U=

1 q1q2 q1q3 q2q3 + + 40 r12 r13 r23

Potential energy of dipole in uniform electric field is U= P E =pEcos

Electrostatic potential : The electrostatic potential at a point

in an electric field is defined as the amount of work done per unit positive test charge in moving it from infinity to that point against the electrostatic force due to the electric field.
Potential difference : Potential difference between two

points B and A in an electric field is equal to negative of line integral of

E from point A to B.

Potential at a point in an electric field integral of

E is equal to line

E between infinity and that point

Electric potential is a characteristic of electric field. It does not matter, whether a charge is placed in the electric field or not. Electric potential at a point due to a group of charge is equal to algebraic sum of the potential at that point due to individual charges.

Potential energy of a configuration of two charges is due to work done in bringing the charges to their respective positions after having been put infinite distance apart.
Electric capacitance of a conductor is related to its ability to store the electric charge.

qv q = cv c = Capacitance Capacitance of a conductor : The ratio of electric charge on it to its electric potential due to that charge
Capacitance of an isolated spherical conductor situated in vacuum

C = 40r
Capacitor : A capacitor is a device for storing a large

quantity of electric Charge. The energy stored in a charged capacitor resides inside it in the form of electric field.