PHYS 221

Electromagnetism (1)
2nd semester 1446

Prof. Omar Abd-Elkader

Lecture 4
 Electric potential

25-1 Potential Difference and Electric Potential.

25-2 Potential Difference and Electric Field.
25-3 Electric Potential and Potential Energy due to Point Charges.
 Electric Potential
• Electromagnetism has been connected to the study of
forces in previous chapters.
• In this chapter, electromagnetism will be linked to
energy.
• By using an energy approach, problems could be
solved that were insoluble using forces.
• The concept of potential energy is of great value in the
study of electricity.
• Because the electrostatic force is conservative,
electrostatic phenomena can be conveniently described
in terms of an electric potential energy.
• This will enable the definition of electric potential.
 Electrical Potential Energy

When a test charge is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force.

The force is conservative.

F q E
e o
If the test charge is moved in the field by some external agent, the
work done by the field is the negative of the work done by the
external agent.

is an infinitesimal displacement vector that is oriented tangent to a

path through space.
ds
The path may be straight or curved and the integral performed along
this path is called either a path integral or a line integral.
25-1 Potential Difference and Electric Potential

dW  dU
 Work and Potential Energy

F
E  lim  F  qE
q0 q
Electric Field Definition:

Work Energy Theorem

a E
b
 Electric Potential Difference

Definition:
 Conventions for the potential “zero point”
Ub  Ua Wba
Vba  Vb  Va  
q q
“Potential”
0 0
Ub  Ua Ub
Vb  Va  Vb 
Choice 1: Va=0 q q
0
0

Choice 2: V  0
25-2 Potential Difference and electric field
When a force is “conservative” ie
gravitational and the electrostatic force a
potential energy can be defined
Change in electric potential energy is negative of
work done by electric force:

∆ V = -∫ E ds = -Ed
•The change in potential energy is directly related to the change in voltage.
DU = q DV
DV = DU/q
• DU: change in electrical potential energy (J)
• q: charge moved (C)
• DV: potential difference (V)
•All charges will spontaneously go to lower potential energies if they are allowed
to move.
Units of Potential Difference
Ub  Ua Wba
Vba  Vb  Va   
q q
 Joules  J 
 Coulomb    C   Volt  V
   

Because of this, potential difference is often referred to as “voltage”

In addition, 1 N/C = 1 V/m - we can interpret the electric field as a
measure of the rate of change with position of the electric potential.
So what is an electron Volt (eV)?
 Electron-Volts
• Another unit of energy that is commonly used in atomic and
nuclear physics is the electron-volt
• One electron-volt is defined as the energy a charge-field
system gains or loses when a charge of magnitude e (an
electron or a proton) is moved through a potential difference of
1 volt
1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J
• Since all charges try to decrease UE, and DUE = qDV, this means that
spontaneous movement of charges result in negative DU.
• DV = DU / q
• Positive charges like to DECREASE their potential (DV < 0)
• Negative charges like to INCREASE their potential. (DV > 0)
 B
B
V  V B V A    E .ds   E .  ds   E .d  E s cos 
A
A

VB – VA = VC - VA

VB = VC
A uniform electric field directed along the
positive x axis. Point B is at a lower electric
potential than point A. Points B and C are at the
same electric potential.
 Example
If a 9 V battery has a charge of 46 C how much
chemical energy does the battery have?

E = V x Q = 9 V x 46C = 414 Joules

 Example
A pair of oppositely charged, parallel plates are separated by 5.33 mm.
A potential difference of 600 V exists between the plates. (a) What is
the magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates? (b)
What is the magnitude of the force on an electron between the
plates?
d  0 .00533 m  V  Ed
 V  600 V 600  E ( 0 .0053 )
E ? E  113 , 207 .55 N / C
q e   1 .6 x10 19 C
Fe Fe
E 
q 1 .6 x10 19 C
Fe  1 .81  10 14 N
 Example
Calculate the speed of a proton that is accelerated from rest
through a potential difference of 120 V

q p   1.6 x10 19 C

m p   1.67 x10  27 kg
V  120V
v?
1
W K 2 mv 2
V   
q q q
2 qV 2(1.6 x10 19 )(120 )
v   1.52  10 5 m/s
m 1.67 x10  27
25-3 Electric Potential and Potential energy due to point charges

kq
E 2
rˆ
+Q r

ds for a point charge

Recall the convention for the potential “zero
point”

1 1
Vba  Vb  Va  kq   
 rb ra 

1 1
V  0 Vb  Vb  V  kq   
 rb  
kq
V r 
r

Equipotential surfaces are concentric spheres

Superposition of potentials
V0  V1  V2  V3  ...
+Q1
r10
r20
+Q2
0
+Q3 r30
kQ1 kQ 2 kQ 3
V0     ...
r10 r20 r30
N
kQ i
V0  
i 1 ri 0
 Electric Potential of a Point Charge
•The electric potential in the plane
around a single point charge is shown.
•The red line shows the 1/r nature of the
potential.

Section 25.3
 Electric Potential with Multiple
Charges
•The electric potential due to several point
charges is the sum of the potentials due to each
individual charge.
– This qis another example of the superposition
V  ke  i

r
principle.
i i

– The sum is the algebraic sum

• V = 0 at r = ∞

Section 25.3
 Electric Potential of a Dipole
•The graph shows the
potential (y-axis) of an
electric dipole.
•The steep slope
between the charges
represents the strong
electric field in this
region.

Section 25.3
 Potential Energy of Multiple
Charges

qq
•The potential energy of the system is U  k e 1. 2
r12

•If the two charges are the same sign, U is positive and work must be done to bring
the charges together.
•If the two charges have opposite signs, U is negative and work is done to keep the
charges apart.

Section 25.3
 U with Multiple Charges, final
•If there are more than
two charges, then find
U for each pair of
charges and add them.
•For three charges:
 q1q 2 q1q3 q 2q3 
U  ke    
 r12 r13 r23 
– The result is
independent of the
order of the charges.
Section 25.3
 E and V for a Point Charge
• The equipotential lines are the
dashed blue lines
• The electric field lines are the brown
lines
• The equipotential lines are
everywhere perpendicular to the field
lines
An equipotential surface is a
surface on which the electric
potential is the same
everywhere.
Figure 25.4 (Quick Quiz 25.3) Four equipotential
surfaces

Equipotential surfaces (the dashed blue lines are

intersections of these surfaces with the page)
and electric field lines (red- rown lines) for (a) a
uniform electric field produced by an infinite
sheet of charge, (b) a point charge, In all cases,
the equipotential surfaces are perpendicular to
the electric field lines at every point
Example (25.1)
A 12-V battery connected to two parallel plates. The electric field between the
plates has a magnitude given by the potential difference V divided by the plate
separation d =0.3 cm

Example (25.2)
Example: (a) In figure a, 12 electrons are equally spaced and fixed
around a circle of radius R. Relative to V=0 at infinity, what are the
electric potential and electric field at the center C of the circle due to
these electrons? (b) If the electrons are moved along the circle until
they are nonuniformly spaced over a 120 are (figure b), what then is
the potential at C?
Solution:
12 e
(a) : V   K E0
R

12 e
(b ) : V  K
R
 Potential due to a group of point charges
n n
1 qi
V   Vi  r
i 1 4 0 i i
Example (25.3)
(a) The electric potential at P due to the two
charges q1 and q2 is the algebraic sum of the
potentials due to the individual charges. (b) A third
charge q3 = 3.00 C is brought from infinity to a
position near the other charges.
 Example
An electric dipole consists of two charges q1 = +12nC and q2 = -12nC,
placed 10 cm apart as shown in the figure. Compute the potential at
points a,b, and c. q1 q 2
Va  k  (  )
ra ra
12 x10  9  12 x10  9
Va  8.99 x10 ( 9
 )
0.06 0.04
Va  899 V
q1 q 2
Vb  k  (  )
rb rb
12 x10  9  12 x10  9
Vb  8 .99 x10 9 (  )
0 .04 0.14
Vb  1926 .4 V
Vc  0 V

31
 Example The Total Electric Potential

At locations A and B, find the total electric potential.

VA 
8.99  10 9

N  m 2 C 2  8.0  10 8 C   8.99  10 9

N  m 2 C 2  8.0  10 8 C   240 V
0.20 m 0.60 m

VB 
8.99  10 9

N  m 2 C 2  8.0  10 8 C   8.99  10 9

N  m 2 C 2  8.0  10 8 C 0V
0.40 m 0.40 m
(a) If two point charges are separated by a distance r12,
the potential energy of the pair of charges is given by
keq1q2/r 12 . (b) If charge q1 is removed, a potential
keq2/r 12 exists at point P due to charge q 2 .

U  V q1
q1 q 2
U  ke
r12
Potential energy due to multiple point
charges
kq kq 1
+Q2 +Q1 V r  V
r r12
r21 kq1q 2
U  q 2V 
r12

r21 kq1 kq 2
+Q2 +Q1 V 
r13 r23
r23 r13
kq1q 2 kq1q 3 kq 2 q 3
+Q3 U  
r12 r13 r23
 Example 1. What is the potential energy if a +2
nC charge moves from  to point A, 8 cm away
from a +6 mC charge?
The P.E. will be positive at point A

A, because the field can do + +2 nC
work if q is released. 8 cm
+Q
Potential Energy:
kQq
U  +6 mC
r
(9 x 10 9 Nm 2
)( 6 x 10 C)(+2 x 10 C)
-6 -9

U  C2

(0.08 m)
U = 1.35 mJ
Positive potential
energy
 Signs for Potential Energy
Consider Points A, B, and C. A B
 
For +2 nC at A: U = +1.35 mJ
8 cm 12 cm
Questions: +Q C

If +2 nC moves from A to B, does field E do +

4 cm
+6
or – work? Does P.E. increase or decrease?
mC
Moving
positive q +2
nC
The field E does positive work, the P.E. decreases.

If +2 nC moves from A to C (closer to +Q), the field E does negative

work and P.E. increases.
 Example. What is the change in potential energy if
a +2 nC charge moves from A to B?
A B
 
Potential Energy: kQq
U  12 cm
r 8 cm
+Q
From Ex-1: UA = + 1.35 mJ
+6
mC
(9 x 19 9 Nm 2
)( 6 x 10 -6C)(+2 x 10 -9C)
UB  C2
 0.900 mJ
(0.12 m)
U = UB – UA = 0.9 mJ – 1.35 mJ
U = -0.450 mJ

Note that P.E. has decreased as work is done by E.

 Example What is the change in potential energy if a
-2 nC charge moves from A to B?
kQq A B
U 
Potential Energy:
 

r 8 cm 12 cm
From Ex-1: UA = -1.35 mJ +Q

(Negative due to – charge) +6

mC
9 Nm 2
(9 x 19 )(6 x 10 -6C)(-2 x 10 -9C)
UB  C2
 0.900 mJ
(0.12 m)
UB – UA = -0.9 mJ – (-1.35 mJ) U = +0.450 mJ

A – charge moved away from a + charge gains P.E.

 Example :Find the potential at a distance of 6 cm
from a –5 nC charge.

P. q = –4 mC V 
kQ

 9 x 10 9 Nm 2
C 2  ( 5 x 10 -9 C)

r
r (0.06 m)
6 cm
Negative V at Point
- - P: VP = -750 V
- -
-Q -
- -
What would be the P.E. of a –4 mC charge placed
Q = -5 nC at this point P?

U = 3.00 mJ
U = qV = (-4 x 10-6 mC)(-750 V);

Since P.E. is positive, E will do + work if q is released.

 Example : Two charges Q1= +3 nC and Q2 = -5 nC
are separated by 8 cm. Calculate the electric
potential at point A.
kQ1 kQ2 B 
VA  
r1 r2 2 cm
Q1
  (3 x 10
+
9 x 10 9 Nm 2 -9
C) +3 nC
kQ1 2

  450 V
C

r1 (0.06 m) 6 cm

kQ2

 9 x 10 9 Nm 2
C 2  ( 5 x 10 -9 C)
 2250 V
A 
2 cm
r2 (0.02 m)
-
VA = 450 V – 2250 V; VA = -1800 V Q2 = -5 nC
 Example Calculate the electric potential at point B for
same charges.
kQ1 kQ2 B 
VB  
r1 r2 2 cm

kQ1

 9 x 10 9 Nm
2

C2  ( 3 x 10 -9 C)
 1350 V
Q1 +
+3 nC
r1 (0.02 m)
6 cm

kQ2

 9 x 10 9 Nm 2
C 2  ( 5 x 10 -9 C)
 450 V
A 
2 cm
r2 (0.10 m)
-
VB = 1350 V – 450 V; VB = +900 V Q2 = -5 nC
 Example : What is the potential difference between
points A and B. What work is done by the E-field if a +2 mC
charge is moved from A to B?

VA = -1800 V VB = +900 V
B 
2 cm
VAB= VA – VB = -1800 V – 900 V Q1 + +3 nC
Note point B is at higher 6 cm
VAB = -2700 V potential. A 
2 cm
WorkAB = q(VA – VB) = (2 x 10-6 C )(-2700 V) Q2 - -5 nC

Work = -5.40 mJ E-field does negative work.

Thus, an external force was required to move the charge.

Example 6 (Cont.): Now suppose the +2 mC charge is
moved from back from B to A?
VA = -1800 V VB = +900 V B 
2 cm
VBA= VB – VA = 900 V – (-1800 V)
Q1 + +3 nC
6 cm
This path is from high A 
VBA = +2700 V
to low potential. 2 cm

WorkBA = q(VB – VA) = (2 x 10-6 C )(+2700 V)

Q2 - -5 nC

Work = +5.40 mJ E-field does positive work.

The work is done BY the E-field this time !

Example
An electron is accelerated in a TV tube through a
potential difference of 5000 V.
a) What is the change in PE of the electron?
V = PE/q
PE = qV = (-1.60 X 10-19 C)(+5000 V)= -8.0 X 10-16 J
What is the final speed of the electron (m = 9.1 X 10-31 kg)
PE + KE = 0 (Law of conservation of energy)
PE = -KE
PE = - ½ mv2
v2 = (-2)(PE) = (-2)(-8.0 X 10-16 J)
m 9.1 X 10-31 kg
v = 4.2 X 107 m/s
 Summary
• Electric potential energy:

• Electric potential difference: work done to move

charge from one point to another
• Relationship between potential difference and field:

• Equipotential: line or surface along which potential is

the same
• Electric potential of a point charge: