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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

ALL DERIVATIONS

Electric potential at a point due to a point charge

Let a charge of 1 C be placed at a distance x from a charge q. Work done by electrostatic
force if we move this charge from A to B towards q through small distance dx

dW  Fdx cos180o

kq 1
 dW   dx
x2
Work done to move this charge from x   to x  r is

r kq
W   dx
 x2
r
 x 1 
 W  kq  
 1  
r
 1
 W  kq  
 x 
1 1 
 W  kq   
r 
kq
W
r
By definition, this is the potential at P. Thus potential at a distance r due to a charge q is

1 q
V
4πε o r

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Electric potential energy
Consider a charge kept at A. Let another charge q2 be brought from infinity to point B at a
distance r from it, then work done to bring it at P is
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W  q2 V
 1 q1 
 W  q2  
 4πε o r 
1 q1q2
W
4πε o r

This work is stored in the system of two charges as electric potential energy. Thus

1 q1q2
U
4πε o r

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Relation between electric field and electric potential (potential gradient)
Consider a charge q moving from A to B in the direction of electric field as shown

Small amount of work done is

dW  q  VB  VA 
 dW  q  V  dV  V 
 dW  qdV
 dW  Fdr  qEdr
 qdV  qEdr
dV
 E
dr
 
Or dV   E.dr
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POTENTIAL DUE TO DIPOLE
At a point on axial line
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Potential at P due to +q
kq
V q 
r  a 
Potential at P due to –q
kq
Vq 
r  a 
Therefore, total potential at P is

Vaxial  V q  V q
kq kq
 Vaxial  
r  a   r  a 
kq  r  a   kq r  a 
 Vaxial 
r 2  a2
kqr  kqa  kqr  kqa
 Vaxial 
r 2  a2

 Vaxial
 2aq k
 2
r  a2
kp
 Vaxial 
r  a2
2

For short dipole a<<r

kp
Vaxial  
r2
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At a point on equatorial line
As shown in the diagram, potential at P due to +q
kq
V q 
a2  r 2
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Potential at P due to –q
k( q)
V q 
a2  r 2

Therefore, total potential at P is

Veq  V q  V q  0

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Potential at any arbitrary point
Consider a point P at a distance along a line making an angle θ with the dipole axis. If we

resolve p into two rectangular components as shown.
Point P lies on the axial line of the dipole with dipole moment pcosθ and on equatorial line
of the dipole with the dipole moment psinθ
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kpcosθ
V 0
r2
kpcosθ
V
r2

CAPACITANCE
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
Consider a parallel plate capacitor as shown.

Let
V = potential difference between the plates
Q = charge on the capacitor
E = potential difference between the plates
σ = Surface charge density of the plates
d = distance between the plates

Q σA Q
As C   [ σ  ]
V V A
 V  Ed
σA
C
Ed
σ
field between plates capacitor is E 
εo
σA ε A
C  C o
σ d
d
εo

If there is a medium of dielectric constant k between the plates, then

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ε
k  ε  kε o
εo
kε o A
C
d

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Energy stored in capacitor (not in syllabus for session 2022-23)
Let dW be the small amount of work by the battery to store small charge dq
So, dW = Vdq, where V is the voltage of the battery

q
V 
C
q
dW  dq
C
Then, the total work done to store charge Q is
Q q
 dW  
0 C
dq

1 Q
C 0
W qdq
Q
1  q2 
W  
C  2 0
1  2
Q  0 
2
W
2C  
Q2
W
2C
This work is stored in the capacitor in the form of electrostatic energy
Q2
 U
2C
 Q  CV
C2 V 2
U 
2C
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1
 U CV 2
2
Q Q2
or C  U 
V Q
2
V
1
U QV
2
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Energy density (u)

Energy stored
u
volume
1
CV 2
 2
Ad
1 ε o A E2 d2

2 d  Ad

1
u ε oE2
2
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Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor with dielectric slab between the plates
Consider a slab of thickness t inserted between the plates as shown
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Potential difference between the plates is given by

V  Eo  d  t   Et
Eo
 V  Eo  d  t   t
k
 t
 V  Eo  d  t  
 k

Let new capacitance be C'

Q
C' 
V
Q
 C' 
 t
Eo  d  t  
 k
εo A
 C' 
 1
d  t 1  
 k

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Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with conducting slab between the plates
Consider a conducting slab placed between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor as shown
Since, electric field inside the conducting slab is zero, potential difference between the plates is
given by
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V  Eo  d  t   Et
 V  Eo  d  t    0  t
 V  Eo  d  t 
σ
V d  t
εo

σ
V d  t
εo
Q Q ε A
 C'    C'  o
V Q dt
d  t 
Aε o

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COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS
Series combination
Consider three capacitors of capacitances C1, C2 and C3 connected in series as shown. Let
potential difference across them be V1, V2 and V3 and charge stored by each is Q.

If V is applied voltage, then

V  V1  V2  V3
Q
V 
C
Q Q Q
V   
C1 C2 C3
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If equivalent capacitance is Ceq

Q Q Q Q
  
Ceq C1 C2 C3
Q  1 1 1 
  Q   
Ceq  C1 C2 C3 
1 1 1 1
   
Ceq C1 C2 C3

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Parallel combination

Figure shown three capacitors connected in parallel, let charge stored by each is Q1,Q 2 and Q3
and potential difference across each is V. If charge supplied by battery be Q, then

Q  Q1  Q2  Q3
 Q  Ceq V, Ceq  equivalent capacitance

Q  C1V  C2 V  C3 V
 Ceq V  V  C1  C2  C3 
 Ceq  C1  C2  C3

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Common potential
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If two capacitors of capacitances C1 and C2 are charged to potential V1 and V2 and are connected
together, then, the charge flows from the capacitor at higher potential to the other at lower potential
till the potential of both become equal, this equal potential is called common potential.
Since total charge before and after remains same, therefore

C1V  C2 V  C1V  C2 V
C1V1  C2 V2
 V
C1  C2

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Loss of energy on sharing of charges
When charge is shared between the capacitors, energy is lost in the form of heat
Total energy before sharing

1 1
Ui  C1V12  C2 V22
2 2
total energy after sharing
1
Uf   C1  C2  V 2
2
 Heat loss, U  Ui  Uf

1
U 
2

C1V12  C2 V22   C1  C2  V 2 
1    C1V1  C2 V2 2  
U  C1V1  C2 V2   C1  C2  
2 2

 
2
2  C  C 
  1 2  
1  C1V1  C1  C2   C2 V2  C1  C2    C1V1  C2 V2  
2 2 2

 U   
 C1  C2 
2
2
 
1  C1 V1  C1C2 V1  C1C2 V2  C2 V2  C1V1  C2 V2  2C1C2 V1V2 
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

 U   
2 C1  C2 


1  V 2  V22  2V1V2 
 U  C1C2  1 
2  C1  C2 
1 C1C2  V1  V2 
2

 U 
2 C1  C2
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