Field of point charges:

a)
Field is conservative:
Mathematically this property is expressed as
1.
For any arbitrary closed curve. Physical significance:
. = 0
That is no net work is gained or lost when charged particle
traverses a closed path in an electric field
2.

depends only on the end positions of points O

and P and is independent of the path between the end
points.
Consider a field of point charge q and some path running
from P1 to P2
Path A:
Along radial segment
Magnitude of =
1
4
0
/
2

And = parallel to E
Line integral along this
Contribution from the arc =0

1
= (
1

1

1

2
)
Path B:
Field radial with magnitude q/r^2
. ~(/
2
)dr even when dl is not
radial. So contribution =that of A .
and from Loop beyond r2 =0

Path A and B give the same result.
Line integral of E
Line integral is independent of path; depends only on the end
positions
From this it can be shown that the integral must have a form
. =

Is called the electrostatic
Potential
Line integral of E Work done per unit charge (Potential V)
any reference point
Usually Potential Difference is important
From Gradient theorem 3.
. = ( ).
4. =
Equivalence of 4 with other three forms follow from Stokes Theorem
Note: For this equation , in right
handed coordinate system sense of
the curve C should be maintained
C


From each of the four statements other three follow. It is true
for any central force. Thus they are also valid for the finite sum
of central forces and consequently also for the field of point
charges

=
1
4
0

Its correctness can be verified by forming the gradient
= =
1
4
0

Here, we have chosen arbitrary additive constatnt so that V()=0
Note: differentiation with respect to coordinates of P. Sources remain fixed
Potential V is a scalar function, grad of which gives the electric field
Potential obeys superposition principle
V = V
1
+ V
2
+ .. A simple scalar sum
Because, statements 1-4 are valid for any arbitrary potential fields.
These speak far less far less about the electric field than the
coulombs law. They are equivalent to Coulombs law only when
taken together with the Gausss law
Potential due to CONTINUOUS CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS
LINE CHARGE
dl
P

P
SURFACE CHARGE
dS
P
VOLUME CHARGE
dt
Potential V due to a spherical shell
Electric field due to a spherical shell outside, E = 0
inside
Potential V outside
Total charge is centred at the origin
Potential V inside (depends on what the effect outside environment
has!)
Potential is constant
inside
P
r
(A). Electric field at P at a distance r from the wire
Draw Gaussian surface (cylinder of radius r and height
h, enclosing the wire) such that the P is on the surface.
h
Gaussian
cylinder
1
2
3
From symmetry,
flux through flat
surfaces (1 & 2) = 0, E dS
(B). E due to infinite cylinder, volume charge density
h
Gaussian
cylinder
1
2
3
P
r
(i) E outside
a
(ii) E inside
Potential V due to an infinite wire (), cylinder ()
Potential V due to an infinite wire
Infinity as a reference point is NOT good;
only a potential difference can be found in this case
where r = a is a point where the potential is well defined
with the condition that
Potential due to uniformly charged disk (o), radius a, along the
axis
z
y
dS
d
r
P
Potential at the centre of disk, d = 0
O
Behavior pf V at very large d is interesting . For d>>a
(

= [ ( +

]b ~^/
At considerable distance , only total charge matters and not its shape
Potential at the rim of disk
Potential is max. at the centre of disk and decreases towards the rim! DISK is NOT
an EQUIPotential surface
If d >> a
Consider A wedge of length R and
angular width du
Charge on element of the wedge at r
from P2 is =
Its contribution to potential at P2 is
just
Contribution of the entire wedge is
=

0

R=2acosu
Whole disc is swept out as angle -
t/2<u<t/2

Thus
= 2 cos
/2
/2
=

0

The results holds for all points on positive z axis.
From the symmetry: potential must have the same value for positive and
negative axis. We have made choice of sign in taking the root . Correct
expression for z
=

2
0
[ (
2
+
2
) + d
A singularity in V at d=0. Function has abrupt change of slope there. Disc
not equipotential surface
Potential falls off from
center to rim . The E field
should have outward
component in the plane of
disc. Electric field on axis

General properties of filed lines and equipotential surface.
Field lines perpendicular to equipotential surfaces.
ELECTROSTATIC ENERGY
Difference between potential and potential energy of charge configuration
When a test charge Q is moved from a to b in an electric field E, work done

Potential difference between 2 points a and b is the amount of work done per unit charge in
moving the charge from a b
If the test charge is brought from , where V = 0, then
(a) Point charge configuration
Bring q
3
from and keep it at B (r
13
w.r.t. q
1
). Work done is W
3

Bring q
1
and keep it at O. No work needed, W
1
= 0
q
1
O

.

q
3
.

r
13
r
23
B

q
2
.

r
12
A

Bring q
2
from and keep it at A (r
12
w.r.t. q
1
). Work done is W
2

For n charges
where V(r
i
) the potential at r
i
due to all charges except q
i
Energy required to put together a configuration of n point charges
Energy stored in the charge configuration
Energy released when the configuration is dismantled
Eg: 3 charges at the corners of a square as shown.
(a) Find work done to bring charge +q to the 4
th
corner
(b) Energy of the charge configuration
.
+q
P
(a) If V is the potential at P (4
th
corner), then
.
. .
+q
q
q a
1
3
2
4
( B) Energy of configuration (work done needed to assemble) : assemble charges one
by one
.
. .
.
+q
q
q
+q
a
1 2
3 4
P
Here dt, odS and dl are
infinitesimal charges and
V is the potential due to
the remaining elements.
ELECTROSTATIC ENERGY in terms of electric field
t volume which encloses the charge density
S surface bounding the volume

t
2
t
1

Here volume t is arbitrary; any volume will do
as long as it encloses the charges
If the volume is extended to , surface integral zero
Eg : energy of sphere, radius R and uniform charge density
Let us take a spherical volume of radius a (a > R) enclosing the charge density
As a , this term will 0
Surface integral term
cancels out, whatever
may be the volume!
Another method : assemble charge layer by layer
R
r
dr
At each stage, add a small amount of charge dQ to form a thin
layer from r dr. Repeat the process until we reach R
If Q
r
is the charge on the sphere when it has bee built up to
the radius r, then work done in adding dQ to form radius r + dr
is
c
o
A
E
above

E
below

(1) (2)
E
(2)
E
(1)
Electrostatic boundary conditions
NORMAL component of E is discontinuous by an
amount o/c
0
across a surface charge


o
E
// below

c l
E
// above

(1) (2)
E
(2)
E
(1)
PARALLEL component of E is continuous