ELECTRIC

POTENTIAL
 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
Work is required to overcome the repulsion
between the two positive charges to hold
them together in this way. That amount of
work gives the system of two charges
electric potential energy U. This means that
the charges have stored energy. If for
whatever reason they are let loose, they will
immediately move away from each other,
converting their potential energy to kinetic
energy as they go.
Figure 1.1 Work is needed to overcome the
repulsive force .
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
• Work formula is
W= d
We can substitute from the Coulomb’s law to the equation for work:
W= k r
Thus the work done in bringing two charges closer together from infinity to where they are
separated by the distance r is:
W= k
Work is expressed in joules(J). It is a scalar quantity. This is also the amount of electric
potential energy stored in the system of two charges:
U= k
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
• Work and electric potential energy (EPE) can be positive, negative or even
zero. If both charges are positive or both negative, then the work, and
therefore the electric potential energy of the system, is positive. But if the
charges have opposite signs, then the work done and the electric potential
energy is both negative. And if the charges are very far apart , their potential
energy is equal to zero.
• Electrostatic force is a conservative force. This means that, the path taken by
the charge is not important as long as it got to where it is, then the potential
energy is the same.
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
• Sample problem:
1. Two point charges Q= 44 and q= -5 are separated by distance of 17cm.
(a) Find the electric potential energy of the system.
U= kq1q2/r
U= (9x10^9 N.m^2/C^2)(4.4x10^-5C)(5x10^-6C)/0.17m = 11.65 N.m or 11.65J
(b) If q is free to move and Q is held fixed, will q move toward or away from
Q? towards
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
• Sample Problem:
3. How much electrical energy is needed to bring two charges Q1= 5.5 x10^-7
C and Q2= 1.7 x10^-6 C from infinity to where they are 1m apart?
U= kq1q2/r
U= (9x10^9 N.m^2/C^2)(5.5x10^-7C)(1.7x10^-6C)/1m = 8.415x10^-3 N.m or 8.415x10^-3 J
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL V
• The Electric Potential V at a point is defined as the work done per unit charge in
bringing that charge from infinity to the point in question.
V=
• Unit for electric potential V is joule per coulomb(J/C) which is also called volts
(V). Like work and EPE, electric potential(or simply potential) is also a scalar
quantity.
We can substitute work equation to potential equation:
V= =
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL V
• This gives us another way of calculating the electric potential.
V=
• Potential may be positive or negative depending on Q. If the charge Q is positive ,
then the potential around it is positive everywhere; if it is negative, then the
potential around it is negative everywhere.
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL V
• Sample Problem:
1. Determine the electric potential at o.oo1m from a charge of
2nC.
V= kq/r = (9x10^9 N.m^2/C^2)(2x10^-9C)/0.001m = 18 00 N.m/C
18 000 J/C or 18 000 V
EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES
Examples of equipotential surfaces

Point Charge Two positive charges

Electric field lines and equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular to
one another.