Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.10:Eng’g7-2nd SEM-2021-2022

College: Engineering
Campus: Bambang

DEGREE Bachelor of Science in Electrical COURSE NO. Eng’g 7

PROGRAM Engineering
SPECIALIZATION COURSE Electromagnetics
TITLE
YEAR LEVEL 2 TIME FRAME 3 WK NO. 14 IM NO. 10

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

ELECTROSTATIC FIELD

II. LESSON TITLE

ELECTROSTATIC FIELD

1. Energy Density in the Electrostatic Field

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

We have introduced the potential concept by considering the work done, or energy expended, in
moving a point charge around in an electric field, and now we must tie up the loose ends of that discussion
by tracing the energy flow one step further.

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students must be able to:

1. Calculate a potential field of a given object with a given point charge.

V. LESSON CONTENT

ENERGY DENSITY IN THE ELECTROSTATIC FIELD

Bringing a positive charge from infinity into the field of another positive charge requires work, the
work being done by the external source moving the charge. Let us imagine that the external source
carries the charge up to a point near the fixed charge and then holds it there. Energy must be conserved,
and the energy expended in bringing this charge into position now represents potential energy, for if the
external source released its hold on the charge, it would accelerate away from the fixed charge, acquiring
kinetic energy of its own and the capability of doing work.
In order to find the potential energy present in a system of charges, we must find the work done
by an external source in positioning the charges.
We may start by visualizing an empty universe. Bringing a charge Q 1 from infinity to any position
requires no work, for there is no field present. The positioning of Q 2 at a point in the field of Q1 requires
an amount of work given by the product of the charge Q2 and the potential at that point due to Q1. We
represent this potential as V2,1, where the first subscript indicates the location and the second subscript
the source. That is, V2,1 is the potential at the location of Q2 due to Q1. Then

Work to position Q2 = Q2V2,1

Similarly, we may express the work required to position each additional charge in the field of all
those already present:
Work to position Q3 = Q3V3,1 + Q3V3,2
Work to position Q4 = Q4V4,1 + Q4V4,2 + Q4V4,3

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.10:Eng’g7-2nd SEM-2021-2022
and so forth. The total work is obtained by adding each contribution:

Noting the form of a representative term in the preceding equation,

where R13 and R31 each represent the scalar distance between Q1 and Q3, we see that it might equally
well have been written as Q1V1,3. If each term of the total energy expression is replaced by its equal, we
have

Adding the two energy expressions (39) and (40) gives us a chance to simplify the result a little:

Each sum of potentials in parentheses is the combined potential due to all the charges except for the
charge at the point where this combined potential is being found. In other words,

V1 is the potential at the location of Q1 due to the presence of Q2, Q3, .... We therefore have

In order to obtain an expression for the energy stored in a region of continuous charge distribution,
each charge is replaced by ρvdv, and the summation becomes an integral,

Equations (41) and (42) allow us to find the total potential energy present in a system of point
charges or distributed volume charge density. Similar expressions may be easily written in terms of line
or surface charge density. Usually we prefer to use Eq. (42) and let it represent all the various types of
charge which may have to be considered. This may always be done by considering point charges, line
charge density, or surface charge density to be continuous distributions of volume charge density over
very small regions. We will illustrate such a procedure with an example shortly.
Before we undertake any interpretation of this result, we should consider a few lines of more
difficult vector analysis and obtain an expression equivalent to Eq. (42) but written in terms of E and D.
We begin by making the expression a little bit longer. Using Maxwell’s first equation, replace ρv
by its equal ∇·D and make use of a vector identity which is true for any scalar function V and any vector
function D,

This may be proved readily by expansion in rectangular coordinates. We then have, successively,

Using the divergence theorem from Chapter 3, the first volume integral of the last equation is
changed into a closed surface integral, where the closed surface surrounds the volume considered. This

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for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.10:Eng’g7-2nd SEM-2021-2022
volume, first appearing in Eq. (42), must contain every charge, and there can then be no charges outside
of the volume. We may therefore consider the volume as infinite in extent if we wish. We have

The surface integral is equal to zero, for over this closed surface surrounding the universe we see
that V is approaching zero at least as rapidly as 1/r (the charges look like point charges from there), and
D is approaching zero at least as rapidly as 1/r 2. The integrand therefore approaches zero at least as
rapidly as 1/r3, while the differential area of the surface, looking more and more like a portion of a sphere,
is increasing only as r2. Consequently, in the limit as r → ∞, the integrand and the integral both approach
zero. Substituting E = −∇V in the remaining volume integral, we have our answer,

We may now use this last expression to calculate the energy stored in the electrostatic field of a
section of a coaxial cable or capacitor of length L.

where ρS is the surface charge density on the inner conductor, whose radius is a. Thus,

This same result may be obtained from Eq. (42). We choose the outer conductor as our zero potential
reference, and the potential of the inner cylinder is then

The surface charge density ρS at ρ=a can be interpreted as a volume charge density ρ v = ρS/t,
extending from ρ = a – 1/2 t to ρ = a + 1/2 t, where t << a. The integrand in Eq. (42) is therefore zero
everywhere between the cylinders (where the volume charge density is zero), as well as at the outer
cylinder (where the potential is zero). The integration is therefore performed only within the thin cylindrical
shell at ρ = a,

from which

once again.

This expression takes on a more familiar form if we recognize the total charge on the inner
conductor as Q = 2𝜋aLρS. Combining this with the potential difference between the cylinders, Va, we see
that

which should be familiar as the energy stored in a capacitor.

The question of where the energy is stored in an electric field has not yet been answered. Potential
energy can never be pinned down precisely in terms of physical location. Someone lifts a pencil, and the
pencil acquires potential energy. Is the energy stored in the molecules of the pencil, in the gravitational
field between the pencil and the earth, or in some obscure place? Is the energy in a capacitor stored in

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.10:Eng’g7-2nd SEM-2021-2022
the charges themselves, in the field, or where? No one can offer any proof for his or her own private
opinion, and the matter of deciding may be left to the philosophers.
Electromagnetic field theory makes it easy to believe that the energy of an electric field or a charge
distribution is stored in the field itself, for if we take Eq. (44), an exact and rigorously correct expression,

and write it on a differential basis,

or

we obtain a quantity 1/2 D· E, which has the dimensions of an energy density, or joules per cubic meter.
We know that if we integrate this energy density over the entire field containing volume, the result is truly
the total energy present, but we have no more justification for saying that the energy stored in each
differential volume element dv is 1/2 D· E dv than we have for looking at Eq. (42) and saying that the
stored energy is 1/2 ρvVdv. The interpretation afforded by Eq. (45), however, is a convenient one, and
we will use it until proved wrong.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODALITY

*** Classroom Assessment ***Google Classroom *** On-line Assessment

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1. A copper sphere of radius 4 cm carries a uniformly distributed total charge of 5 µC in free space.
(a) Use Gauss’s law to find D external to the sphere. (b) Calculate the total energy stored in the
electrostatic field. (c) Use WE = Q2/(2C) to calculate the capacitance of the isolated sphere.
2. A sphere of radius a contains volume charge of uniform density ρ0 C/m3. Find the total stored
energy by applying (a) Eq. (42); (b) Eq. (44).

VII. EVALUATION (Note: Not to be included in the student’s copy of the IM)

VIII. ASSIGNMENT

1. Four 0.8 nC point charges are located in free space at the corners of a square 4 cm on a side. (a)
Find the total potential energy stored. (b) A fifth 0.8 nC charge is installed at the center of the
square. Again, find the total stored energy.
2. Surface charge of uniform density ρs lies on a spherical shell of radius b, centered at the origin in
free space. (a) Find the absolute potential everywhere, with zero reference at infinity. (b) Find the
stored energy in the sphere by considering the charge density and the potential in a two-
dimensional version of Eq. (42). (c) Find the stored energy in the electric field and show that the
results of parts (b) and (c) are identical.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODALITY

*** Classroom Assessment ***Google Classroom *** On-line Assessment

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the copy righted works included in this material may be reproduced
for educational purposes only and not for commercial distribution.
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.10:Eng’g7-2nd SEM-2021-2022

IX. REFERENCES

A. Book/Printed Resources

▪ Morrison, R., 2002, ‘The Field of Electronics: Understanding Electronics Using Basic
Physics’, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York

▪ Plonsey, R., and R. E. Collin. Principles and Applications of Electromagnetic Fields. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 1961. The level of this text is somewhat higher than the one we are
reading now, but it is an excellent text to read next. Gauss’s law appears in the second
chapter.

▪ Plonus, M. A. Applied Electromagnetics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978. This book contains
rather detailed descriptions of many practical devices that illustrate electromagnetic
applications. For example, see the discussion of xerography on pp. 95–98 as an
electrostatics application.

▪ Skilling, H. H. Fundamentals of Electric Waves. 2d ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1948.
The operations of vector calculus are well illustrated. Divergence is discussed on pp. 22
and 38. Chapter 1 is interesting reading.

▪ Hayt, W. J., & Buck, J. A. (2001). Engineering Electromagnetics Sixth Edition. McGraw-Hill

▪ Thomas, G. B., Jr., and R. L. Finney. (see Suggested References for Chapter 1). The
divergence theorem is developed and illustrated from several different points of view on pp.
976–980

Prepared by:

ERICA JANE B. AGUSTIN

EE Faculty

Recommending Approval:

ENGR. CHERRY D. QUIDIT

Chair, EE Department

Approved by:

ENGR. MARY B. PASION

Dean, College of Engineering

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the copy righted works included in this material may be reproduced
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