CHAPTER - 02

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

Electric potential energy difference between two points is the work required to be done by an external
force in moving charge q from one point to another.

Potential Difference (pd)

Consider an isolated point charge +q at O in free space. Let A and B be two points in the electric field
due to this charge. Let a unit positive charge be placed at A. It experiences a force of repulsion.

Now let the unit positive charge be moved from A to B without acceleration against this force. For this,
work has to be done against the force of repulsion. Let this work be denoted by W AB. This is called the
Potential difference between the two points A and B.

Thus 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 without acceleration against
electric forces.

ie., VB  VA  WAB ; where VA and VB are the potentials at A and B respectively. W AB will be +ve, or -ve
according as the potential at B is greater than, equal to or less than the potential at A. The unit of
potential difference is volt.

The potential difference between two points is one volt if one joule of work done in moving one coulomb
of charge from one point to another without acceleration against electrical forces.

Electric Potential (V)

The potential at a point far away from the charge producing the field is taken as zero. If A is at infinity,
VA =0.  WAB  VB .

Here W AB is the work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to the point B and VB is the
potential at B. Thus electric potential at a point is defined as the work done in moving a unit +ve
charge from infinity to that point without acceleration against electric forces.

This work done is stored in the unit +ve charge as the potential energy of the charge.

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 Note:
1) Electric potential is denoted by the letter V and is scalar quantity.

2) The electric potential is measured by V  W q ie., work done per unit charge.

3) Unit of potential is J/C or volt (V)

4) Dimension of potential = ML2T-3A-1
5) Also, pd can be expressed as VB-VA = W AB/q; if we are moving a charge q instead of unit charge.
Relation connecting electric field and electric potential
Consider two close points A and B in the electric field

due to a small charge +q, separated by a distance dr. Let dV be the pd between A and B. This means
than dV is the work done in moving a unit positive charge from A to B.

ie., dV  E  dr  {because W = F×S}

dV dV
or E   Here is called potential gradient, which shows the rate of change of
dr dr
potential with distance. Thus electric field is equal to negative gradient electric potential.
Note :
1) If V is the pd between two plates kept at a distance d apart, then the electric field between them,
E=V/d. or pd, V=Ed.
2) The work done in moving a charge q between two points in an electric field is given by W=qV;
where V is the pd between the two points. This work done is stored as electric potential energy.
3) If m is the mass of the particle, q is charge and v is the velocity acquired by it in a pd V, then
qV  1 mv 2 .
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Potential Due to a point charge
Consider a point P lying at a distance r from a point charge q,

1 q
V r  
40 r

Note : Potential at a point due to +ve charge is positive and due to -ve charge is negative. When a +ve
charge is placed in an electric field, it moves from higher potential to lower potential. For negative
charge, it moves from lower to higher potential.

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Variation of Potential V and E with r

Potential Due to an electric dipole

V  V1  V2

k  q  k  q r  r 
   kq  1 2 
r1 r2  r1r2 

If P is very far from dipole,

r1  r2  AB cos   2a cos  and r1 r2  r 2

p cos 
V k 2aq  p
r2
 
p r
V k 2
r
If P is on the axial line of the dipole,

1 p
  00 or 180 V
40 r 2 , for a << r
0

If P is on the equatorial line of the dipole,   900 , V  0 .

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Potential due to system of charges
Consider a system of charges q1, q2, q3......qn with position vectors r1, r2, r3, ..........rn relative to some
origin. Potential at P due to q, is V=V1 + V2 + V3 + ........+Vn

1  q1 q2 q 
V    ........  n 
40  r1 r2 rn 

1 n
qi
V
40
r
i1 i

Electrostatic potential due to a thin charged spherical shell

If the sphere carries charge q and has radius R, at any point P lying:

i) inside shell : V 1 q
40 R

1 q
ii) on the surface :V 
40 R

1 q
iii) outside shell :V  r  R 
40 r

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 Equipotential Surface
A surface which has some electrostatic potential at every point on it is known as equipotential surface.
Properties :
1) No work is done in moving a test charge over an equipotential surface.
2) Electric field is always normal to the equipotential surface at every point.
3) Equipotential surfaces are closer together in regions of strong field and farther apart in the regions
of weak field.
4) No two equipotential surfaces can intersect each other.
Equipotential surfaces of various charge systems
i) Positive point charge :

ii) Electric dipole

iii) Two positive charges

iv) Uniform electric field

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 Electrostatic Potential Energy
Electrostatic potential energy of a system of point charges may be defined as the amount of work
done in assembling the charges at their location by bringing them from infinity.
For a system of two point charges :

1 q1 q2
U  W1  W2  
40 r12

For a system of three charges :

1  q1 q2 q1 q3 q2 q3 
U    
40  r12 r13 r23 

Potential Energy in an External field

i) Of a single charge : Potential energy of a single charge q, at a point with position vector r, in an
external field = qV(r).
ii) Of a system of two charges :

q1 q2
U  q1 V  r1   q2 V r2  
40 r12

V  r1   potential at r1 due to external field.

V  r2   potential at r2 due to external field

Note : The most common unit of energy in atomic physics is electron volt (eV). 1eV = 1.6×10-19 J
Potential Energy of a Dipole

 
Two equal and opposite forces  qE and qE form a couple   qE  2a sin   pE sin  .

If dipole is rotated through angle d , small work done is, dW  d  pE sin  d

2
W   dW   pE sin  d  pE  cos 1  cos 2 
1

This work is stored as potential energy

U  pE  cos 1  cos 2 
 
U  pE cos   p  E (if 1  900 )

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  
 Stable equilibrium   0 :  pE cos 0  pE
0

 
 Unstable equilibrium   180 : pE cos180  pE
0

CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS

Conductors contain a large number of free charge carriers to conduct electricity, while insulators do
not contain any free charge carriers to conduct electricity.
Behavious of Conductors in Electrostatic Field
 Inside a conductor, electrostatic field is zero.
 At the surface electric field is normal
 The interior of the conductor can have no excess charge in the static situation
 Electric potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor


 Electric field at the surface of a charged conductor E  nˆ
0

Electrostatic Shielding
It is the process which involves making a region free from any electric field is called electrostatic
shielding. It is based on the fact that electric field is zero inside the cavity of the hollow conductor.
Note : This is the reason why we are advised to stay in a car rather than near a tree or in open space during
thunderstorm and lightning.
Dielectrics
The substances which are poor conductors of electricity are known as dielectrics. They are insulators.
There are two types. Polar dielectrics have a permanent dipole moment and non-polar dielectrics
have no permanent dipole moment.
i) In an External Electric field : When a conductor is placed in an external electric field, the free
charge carriers adjusts itself in such a way that the electric field due to charges and external field
cancel each other and the net field inside the conductor is zero.

In case of dielectrics however, the opposing field induced does exactly cancel the external field.

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 ii) A net dipole moment is developed, by an external field in either case, whether polar or non-polar
dielectric. The dipole moment per unit volume is called Polarisation.
CAPACITANCE AND CAPACITOR
Capacitor is an electric device for storing electrostatic potential energy.
Capacitance
Capacitance of a conductor is its ability to store electric charges. If electric charges are given to a
conductor, its potential rises. The potential V of a conductors is directly proportional to its charge q.

ie., q  V

or q  CV ; where C is called the Capacity or capacitance of the conductor..

Thus the capacitance of a conductor is defined as the ratio of the charge to the potential through
which the conductor rises.

q
ie., C  . If V = 1 volt, C=q. Thus capacitance of a conductor may be defined as the charge required
V
to raise its potential by unity.
Unit of capacitance is Coulomb/volt or farad (F)
The capacitance of a conductor is one farad if a charge of one coulomb is sufficient to raise its
potential through one volt.
Principle of a capacitor

Imagine a plate A, which is +vely, charged. If charge on plate is q and its potential is V, then C=q/V.
Now let another plate B be brought near A. Then -ve charge will be induced on that side of B which is
near to A and +ve charge on the other side of B. If B is earthed, these +ve charges will flow to earth.
Consequently the potential at A decreases and its capacitance increases. This is because, with the
presence of B, the amount of work done in bringing a unit +ve charge from infinity to A decreases as
there will be a force of repulsion due to A and a force of attraction due to B.
Thus, the resultant force of repulsion on a unit +ve charge is reduced. So the amount of work is less
and potential at A decreases. Therefore, capacity of A increases.
Thus, if an earthed conductor is placed near a charged conductor, the capacitance of the charged
conductor is considerably increased. This is the principle of a capacitor.
Note : Commonly used capacitors : 1) Parallel plate capacitor, 2) Cylindrical capacitor and 3) Spherical
capacitor.

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The Parallel Plate Capacitor
Two large plane parallel conducting plates, separated by a small distance.

d  V
V  Ed   E  d 
0  

Q A  A
C  ; C 0
V d d
0

Note : When a dielectric of dielectric constant K is filled fully between the plates then,

KA0
C  KC0
d
If it is partially filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant K then,

0 A
C t = thickness of dielectric
d  t  t K 
If it is partially filled with a conducting slab

0 A
C t = thickness of conducting slab
d t
Effect of dielectric on capacitors

1) A dielectric medium increases the capacitance by  r times

2) It avoids the electric discharge between the plates

3) The dielectric prevents the two plates coming into contact and keeps the plates very close together.
Note : Capacitance does not depend on nature of its material and amount of charge existing on the conductor.
It depends on shape, size and separation between conductors and also permittivity of the space
between them.
Capacitors in Series
Consider three capacitors of capacitance C1, C2 and C3 connected in series. In series combination,
each capacitor is charged with the same charge while they will be raised through different potentials
in accordance with their capacities.

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 If V1, V2 and V3 are the pd’s of capacitors respectively, V=V1 + V2 + V3; where V = pd between the three
capacitors.

q q q
Now V1  C ; V2  C ; V3  C
1 2 3

q
Also, V  ; where C is called equivalent or effective capacitance.
C

q q q q
   
C C1 C2 C3

1 1 1 1
ie., C  C  C  C
1 2 3

Here, C = effective or equivalent capacitance of the combination.

Capacitors in Parallel

Consider three parallel of capacitance C1, C2 and C3 connected in parallel. Let V be the pd applied.
Then all the capacitors will have the same pd, V. Let Q1, Q2 and Q3 be the charges acquired by the
capacitors.

Then total charge, Q  Q1  Q2  Q3

 Q   C1  C2  C3  V

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 Now if the three capacitors are replaced by a capacitor of capacitance C, then Q = C V.

 C V   C1  C2  C3  V

or C  C1  C2  C3

Here, C is the effective or equivalent capacitance of the combination.

Energy of a Capacitor

The energy of a charged capacitor is the amount of work done in charging it. This work done will be
stored in the capacitor as potential energy.

Consider a capacitor of capacitance C, charged to a potential difference V by giving a charge Q to it

from a battery. Let q be the charge at any instant and V be the potential.

q
Then V 
C

Let an additional charge dq be supplied to the capacitor by the battery.

Then work done, dW= V dq.

Q Q
q 1
 The total work done in charging the capacitor from 0 to Q, W   dw  0 C dq  C  q dq
0

Q2
ie., W  This work done is stored as potential energy in the capacitor..
2C

Q2
 Energy of a capacitor, U         1
2C

C2 V 2 1
But Q = Q/V. Therefore, U   CV 2        2 
2C 2
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 1
QV 2
Also, C=Q/V. Therefore, U  2 1
 QV        3 
V 2

Q2 1 1
Thus energy of a capacitor, U   CV 2  QV
2C 2 2

Energy density of a capacitor

Energy stored per unit volume of the medium between the plates of a capacitor is called energy
density of the capacitor.

Consider a parallel plate capacitor of charge of charge density  capacitance C. Then charge, q   A
0 A
and capacitance C  .
d

2
E E 1 CV 2 1 0 A V 2 1  V  1
    0   0E 2
V A d 2 A d 2 d A d 2  d 
Therefore, energy density =
2

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Descriptive Questions

1. Derive the expression for electrostatic potential due to on electric dipole at a point P.

2. What is work done in moving 0.2 C point charge from corner A to corner B of a square when a
10 C charge exist at the centre of square.

3. What happens to the capacitance of a capacitor when a dielectric slab is placed between its plates

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4. Prove that the energy stored in a parallel plate capacitor is CV 2
2

5. Consider a regular hexagon of side ‘a’ having equal charges ‘q’ at each corners then find the total
potential at the centre of hexagon.

6. Consider 3 capacitors each of capacitance 3F

i) Find net capacitance if they are connected in parallel

ii) Find the charge of each capacitor in the series connection

7. Three charges Q, (+q1 and +q2) are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side ‘O’. If net
potential energy of the system is zero, then find value of Q in terms of q.

8. Define equipotential surfaces and draw the equipotential surface for an electric dipole

9. If the electric potential is given by the equation V = 6x – 8xy2 – 8y + 6yz – 4z2. Then find electric force
acting on 2C point charge placed on the origin.

10. Consider two conducting spheres of radii R1 & R2 with R1 > R2. If the two are of same potential, the
larger sphere will have more charge than the smaller sphere, then comment on the charge density of
two spheres.

Objective Questions

1. In a region of constant potential


1) E is uniform

2) E = 0

dE
3) varies continuously
dt

4) E is non uniform

2. 2 points P and Q are maintained at potentials of 10V and –14V respectively. The work done in moving
100 electrons from P to Q is

1) 9.60 × 10–17 J 2) –2.24 × 10–16 J 3) 2.34 × 10–16 J 4) –9.96 × 10–17 J

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 
3. A charge q is projected into a uniform electric field E , work done when it moves a distance y is

qy qE y
1) qEy 2) 3) y 4) qE
E

4. Find the effecive capacitance of the circuit shown below, with each one 2F

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1) 4 F 2) 2 F 3) 1 F 4) F
5

5. To obtain 3 F capacitance from three capacitors of 2 F each, then

1) all are put in series

2) all are put in parallel

3) two in series and next one in parallel to the combination

4) two in parallel and third in series with the combination


6. The electric potential V is given by V = (5x2 + 10x – 4) V. Value of E at x = 1m

1) 20 N/m 2) 15 N/m 3) 25 N/m 4) 5 N/m

7. In the given figure charge of 3F capacitor is

1) 9 C 2) 6 C 3) 12 C 4) 15 C

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8. Three capacitors each of capacitance C and breakdown voltage V are joined in series. The capacitance
B breakdown voltage of combination

C C V V
1) , 3V 2) , 3) 3C, 3V 4) 3C,
3 3 3 3

9. Find the energy stored in the given combination

1) 36 × 10–6 J 2) 6 × 10–6 J 3) 32 × 10–6 J 4) 9 × 10–6 J

10. Six equal charges (but different potentials) are placed at corners of regular hexagon of side 8m. Find
the total potential at the centre.

1) 5V 2) 3V 3) 0V 4) None of these

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