PHYSICS-II/Chapter 25

Electric Potential

Lecturer: Dr. Emine YILDIRIM

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 Electric Potential and Potential Difference

➔
Two new quantities
➔
Electric potential energy U
➔
Electric potential V

electric potential energy (U )≠electric potential(V )

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 Electric Potential and Potential Difference (Continued)
➔ If a q0 charge is being moved from one point (A) to another point (B), the
work ( WE) done by the electric field on that charge is given by:
B F E =q 0 E=conservative force
W E =∫ F⃗E .d ⃗s
A Displacement vector
➔
The change in potential energy Δ U is given as follows
B

Δ U =U B−U A =−W E =−∫ F⃗E .d ⃗s (25.1)

A
➔
When an external force moves the charge from point A to B in the field, the
external force does work (W) on the charge as follows:
W =−W E =Δ U
➔
The relation between electric potential and electric potential energy is defined
by B
U ΔU
V= , Δ V = =−∫ E⃗ .d ⃗s (25.2)
q0 q0 A Units of V: V(volts); V=J/C
Electric potential
V is a scalar quantity
Potential energy
The electric
potential 3 / 32

difference between
two points
 Potential Diferences in a
Uniform Electric Field
●
If a charge +q moves from point A to B in the uniform
electric field, the potential difference between A and B
is defined as follows
B B

Δ V =V B −V A =−∫ ⃗
E . d ⃗s =−∫ E ds cos(0)
A A
B

Δ V =−E ∫ ds=−Ed
A

Potential difference in a uniform electric field

The negative sign means that the electric potential at point B is lower than at point A.

●
A positive charge moves from a high potential to a
low potential, as a result its potential energy will
decrease and its kinetic energy will increase. A
negative charge does the reverse. 4 / 32
 Potential Diferences in a
Uniform Electric Field
(Continued)
●
Ask yourself what happens if the path from A to B is not parallel to E?
B
⃗ . d ⃗s =E s cos( θ )=−Ed
Δ V =−∫ E
A
●
What would the change in potential be if the path were A →C →B ?

Δ V =Δ V CA +Δ V BC =−Ed
Δ V CA =−Ed ,
Δ V BC =V B −V C =0 , thus V B =V C

Line BC is called equipotential line

●
Notice that the Δ V is the same along two different paths, the fact that
electric force is conservative!
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 Problem 3
(a) Calculate the speed of a proton that is accelerated from rest
through a potential difference of 120 V.

Solution: vf=?
Remember : W E =Δ K =−Δ U
Δ V q=Δ U ⇒ Δ K =−q Δ V
NOTE : Positive charge moves from high to low potential
so here Δ V =−120 V .
1 2 2
Definition of Δ K = m p (v f −v i )
2
the proton is initially at rest so v i =0
−19
|e|=|q|=charge on electron or proton=1.6×10 C
1 2 2 −27
Δ K = m p (v f −v i )=−q Δ V m p = proton mass=1.67×10 kg
2
Solving for v f gives ,
v f = √ 2 q Δ V / m p subtituting known values into this eq .
−19 −27
v f = √ 2(1.6×10 )(120)/(1.67×10 ) v f =152 km/ s .
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Problem 3 part b)
(b)Calculate the speed of an electron that is
accelerated through the same potential difference

Solution: Here we will follow the same procedure as

part a)
1 2 2
v f =? Δ K = me (v f −v i )=−q Δ V v f = √ 2q Δ V /me
2
−19 −31
here Δ V =120 V , q=−1.6×10 C , me =9.11×10 kg
6
v f = √ 2(1.6×10 )(120)/(9.11×10 ) v f =6.49×10 m/s .
−19 −31

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 Problem 11
An insulating rod having linear charge density λ=40 µ C/m and linear
mass density u=0.100 kg/m is released from rest in a uniform
electric field E =100 V/m directed perpendicular to the rod (a) Determine
the speed of the rod after it has traveled 2 m.
Solution:
a)In previous problem we found that Δ K=−q Δ V

We know that Δ V =−Ed in a uniform E

Knowns: Unknowns: vf=?

v i=0 , d=2m , E=100V /m Δ K =−q Δ V
1 2 2
q m(v f −v i )=q Ed
λ = =40 μ C /m , q= λ l 2
l 1
m μ l(v 2f −v 2i )= λ l Ed
μ = =0.1kg/m m= μ l 2
l solving for v f gives
−6
2 λ E d 2(40×10 )(100)2
vf = √ μ = √ 0.1
=0.4 m/s

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Problem 11, part b)

(b) How does your answer to part (a) change if the electric field is not
perpendicular to the rod? Explain.
Solution:

The same. The rod feels a electric field of the same

magnitude as before.

2λ Ed
√
vf = μ

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 Electric Potential and Potential Energy Due to
Point Charges

Electric Potential Due to Point Charges

➔
The electric potential due to a point charge q at a distance r is
ke q
V= One may choose r=∞ as a reference point
r
so that , at r=∞ , V =0.
➔
The potential difference between two points A and B due to charge q is
1 1
Δ V =V B −V A =k e q ( − )
rB r A
r A (B)=distance between q and point A ( B)
➔
When more than one point charge exist, the total electric potential at a
point P due to the charges is given by
qi=the value of the ith charge
qi
V =k e ∑ (25.1)
i ri
Radial distance between qi 10 / 32

and point P
 Electric Potential and Potential Energy Due to
Point Charges (Continued)

Electric Potential Energy Due to Point Charges

●
The electric potential energy due to two
point charges is: r = infinity, U 12 12
=0

k e q1 q 2
U 12 = Distance between q1 and q2
r 12
●
Let’s defne the potential energy for a system
of three point charges:
q1 q2 q1 q 3 q 2 q3
U =k e ( + + )
r 12 r 13 r 23
●
The total potential energy for a system of N
point charges:
N N
qi q j Note: Set j>i to avoid double counting each pair
U =k e ∑ ∑
i j r ij 11 / 32
Problem : The three charges in Figure below are at the vertices
of an isosceles triangle. Calculate the electric potential at the
midpoint of the base, taking q =7 µC.

V=?

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 Problem : Calculate the energy required to assemble the array of
charges shown in Figure below, where a = 0.2 m, b =0.4 m, and
q=6 µ C.

where, j>i
●
The total potential energy of four charges is:
q1= q2=
q1 q2 q2 q3 q 3 q 4 q1 q 4 q1 q3 q2 q 4
U =k e ( + + + + 2 2+ 2 2)
b a b a √ a +b √ a +b

q4= q3=

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 Problem :Two point charges each of magnitude 2 µC are located on the x
axis. One is at x= 1 m, and the other is at x= -1 m. (a) Determine the electric
potential on the y axis at y=0.5 m.
●
Solution:
a)

q1=q2=2 µC
2 2
r 1=r 2=r= √ (1) +(0.5)

The total electric potential due q1 and q2 at P(0m,0.5m) r1 r2

b) When a q3=-3µ C is placed at P, what is U of q3 ?

−6 4 −2
U =q3 V =(−3×10 )(3.22×10 )=−9.65×10 J 14 / 32
 Problem 23: A charge q is at the origin. A charge -2q is at x =2 m on the x
axis. For what finite value(s) of x is (b) the electric potential zero?
2m
Solution:
0 x 2-x
V=?0
Case 1: Would V be zero for 0<x<2?
k e q k e (−2 q)
V= + =0
x 2−x
ke q ke 2 q
= ⇒ 2−x=2 x , 3 x=2 , x=0.667 m , V =0 at x=0.667 m
x 2−x
Case 2: Would V be zero to the left of +q?
x 0
V?0

k e q k e (−2 q)
V= + =0
|x| |x|+2
k e q k e (2 q)
= ⇒ 2+|x|=2|x|, x=−2 , V =0 at x=−2 m .
|x| |x|+2
Case 3: Would V be zero to the right of -2q?
No . V ≠0 at x >2

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k e q k e (−2 q) X does not have a positive value.
V= + ≠0
2+ x x
 Problem: Let’s imagine a rectangle with sides a = 15 cm and b = 5 cm.
There are two charges Q1 = -5 µC and Q2 = +2 µC placed in vertices. How
much work have to be done by an electric force to move a charge Q3 =
+2 µC diagonally from the vertex A to the vertex B?
Solution:
W E =−Δ U =Δ K =−q Δ V =−q (V f −V i )
=q (V i −V f )
Here V f =V B =total potential at B
V i =V A =total potential at A

To answer this question , let ' s find total potential at A and B .

Q1 Q2
V A =k e ( + )
a b
Q1 Q2
V B=k e ( + )
b a

W E =Q3 (V A −V B )
Q1 Q 2 Q1 Q 2
W E =k e Q3 [( + )−( + )]
a b b a
1 1
W E =k e Q 3 (Q 1−Q 2 )( − )
a b
−9 −6 −61 1 −6
W E =(8.99×10 )(3×10 )(−5×10 −2×10 )( − )
0.15 0.05 16 / 32

W E =2.5 J
 Obtaining the Value of the Electric
Field From the Electric Potential
●
We can derive electric field from the electric potential as follows

dV =− E
⃗ . d ⃗s
Displacement vector

●
In cartesian coordinates, ⃗ =E x ^i +E y ^j+ E z k^ , d ⃗s =dx ^i +dy ^j+dz k^ we
E
have
^
dV =−(E x ^i + E y ^j+E z k).(dx ^
^i +dy ^j+dz k)=−(E x dx+E y dy+ E z dz)
−dV −dV −dV
E x= , E y= , E z=
dx dy dz
●
If the charge distribution has spherical symmetry, electric field is
defined in term of the radial distance r:
dV ke q
E⃗r =−( ) r^ e . g . V = (electric potential of a point charge)
dr r 17 / 32
Problem 39: Over a certain region of space, the electric potential is
2 2
V =5 x−3 x y +2 yz .Find the expressions for the x, y, and z components
of the electric field over this region. What is the magnitude of the field
at the point P, which has coordinates (1, 0, 2) m?

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Magnitude of E field
Problem 41: The electric potential inside a charged spherical
conductor of radius R is given by V = k e q and outside the
ke q R
conductor is given by V = . Using E=−dV / dr ,derive the
r

electric field (a) inside and (b) outside this charge distribution.

ke Q
a ) For r < R (inside the conductor) V =
R
ke Q
d( )
dV R
E r =− =− =0
dr dr
ke Q
b ) For r > R (outside the conductor) V =
r
ke Q
d( )
dV r d (r ) k e Q
−1
E r =− =− =−k e Q = 2
dr dr dr r

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 Electric Potential Due to Continuous Charge Distributions
➔
If the charge distribution is continuous we cannot use the Eq. (25.1) to
obtain total electric potential at point P. To get total V at P, we follow
below steps:
I.Choose a small charge element dq on the charge distribution
The electric potential dV at point P due to the small charge element dq
is:
k e dq
dV = Here r is the distance between P and dq
r

Figure: Adopted from Serway 5th Edition

II.To obtain the total potential V at P, we integrate to sum the potentials
due to all the charge elements:
dq Electric potential due to
V =∫ dV =k e∫
r a continuous charge distribution

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➔
Note that since the electric potential is a scalar, it does not have vector
components.
 Problem 45: A rod of length L lies along the x axis with its left end
at the origin and has a nonuniform charge density λ =α x
(where α is a positive constant).(a) What are the units of α?

Solution:
a) The units of α are λ = charge /length = charge = C .
2 2
x length (length) m

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Problem 45:(b) Calculate the electric potential at A.

The potential at A due to dq is:

k e dq
dV = Here , x +d=distance between dq and A
x+d
To calculate the total potential at A, we integrate above expression
over the limits x=0 to x=L.
dq
length of element dq is dx , λ = , dq= λ dx= α x dx
dx
L L
k e dq α x dx
V =∫ =k e ∫
0 x +d 0 x+d
Try to substitude u=x +d . Then x=u−d , dx=du
L+d L+d L+d
(u−d )du du
V =k e α ∫ =k e α [ ∫ du−d ∫ ]
d u d d u
L+d
V =k e α (L−d ln( )) 22 / 32

d
 Problem 67: The thin, uniformly charged rod shown in Figure below has a
linear charge density λ. Find an expression for the electric potential at P.
Solution:

The potential at P due to dq is:

k e dq 2 2
dV = where r= √ x +b
r

dq
length of small cahrge element dq is dx , λ = , dq= λ dx
dx

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 Problem 47: A wire of finite length that has a uniform linear charge
density λ is bent into the shape shown in Figure below. Find the
electric potential at point O. dq
The total V at O is : V =V left +V right +V circular
dq dq
Vleft=Vright=Potential due to left/right part of the wire
Vcircular= Potential due to circular part of the wire -x x

dq dq left dqcircular dq right dq

V =k e ∫ =k e ( ∫ + ∫ +∫ ) λ = , dq left =dq right = λ dx
all charge r left −x semicircle R right x dx

dq circular
λ= , Here s=R θ =arc length then ds=Rd θ , thus dqcircular = λ ds= λ R d θ ,
ds
π π

∫ ds=R ∫ d θ =R π
0 0

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 Example 25.5: Electric Potential Due to a Uniformly Charged Ring
(a) Find an expression for the electric potential at a point P located on the
perpendicular central axis of a uniformly charged ring of radius a and total charge
Q
Solution:
Potential at P due to element dq is:
dq
dV =k e , here r=distance between dq and P
r

To find the total V at P due to all elements, we integrate the above Eq.
dq dq
V =k e∫ =k e∫ 2 2 Ask yourself what is the potential at the center of the ring ?
r √ x +a keQ keQ
Q V = 2 2 , at center x=0 , V =
ke keQ √ x +a a
V= 2 2 ∫ dq= 2 2
, here ∫ dq=Q .
√ x +a 0 √ x +a
(b) Find an expression for the magnitude of the electric field at point P.
Solution:
Along the x-axis, E field has only x component due to the symmetry (see chapter
example 23.8)
We can obtain E from V as follows:

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 Electric Potential Due To a Charged Conductor
➔
In chapter 24, we have seen that E
⃗ =0 for all points inside a conductor
in electrostatic equilibrium.
➔
Here, we prove that every point on the surface of a charged conductor
in equilibrium is at the same electric potential.
➔
When we chose point A and B on the surface, path ds between the
points is perpendicular to the E field, thus Δ V is:
B B
B
Δ V =V B −V A =−∫ E
⃗ . d ⃗s =−∫ E ds cos (90)=0 ,
A A .A
ke Q
V A =V B =V = (same as point charge)
R
Q is the charge of the sphere.

This tell us that a conductor is an equipotential surface

➔
To conclude, all points ( whether on the surface or inside) in the 26 / 32

conductor are at the same potential.

Problem 50: A spherical conductor has a radius of R=14 cm and charge
of 26 μ C . Calculate the electric field and the electric potential at (a) r
=10 cm, (b) r =20 cm, and (c) r =14 cm from the center.
Solution:
Inside conductor
r<R

Outside the Sphere

r>R

R=r

same as part a)

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 Problem : Calculate the work that must be done to charge a
spherical shell of radius R to a total charge Q.
Solution:

W =q Δ V =work done by an external(applied ) force . W =−W E

W E =work done by electric force .

dW =V dq( Here , we define work in differantial form)

We assume that the spherical shell produces an
electric potential equal to that of a point charge, so
Q
ke q
W =∫ Vdq V =electric potential=
0 R
Q 2
ke ke Q
W = ∫ qdq= =
R 0 2R

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Problem 59: The electric potential immediately outside a charged conducting sphere is 200
V, and 10 cm farther from the center of the sphere the potential is 150 V. Determine (a) the
radius of the sphere and (b) the charge on it. The electric potential immediately outside
another charged conducting sphere is 210 V, and 10.0 cm farther from the center the
magnitude of the electric field is 400 V/m. Determine (c) the radius of the sphere and (d) its
charge on it. (e) Are the answers to parts (c) and (d) unique?
Solution:
a) Potential at R cm=V =200V
1
Potential at (R+10) cm=V2=150 V

b) We get the charge from the definition of the V.

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Problem 59: The electric potential immediately outside a charged conducting sphere is 200
V, and 10 cm farther from the center of the sphere the potential is 150 V. The electric
potential immediately outside another charged conducting sphere is 210 V, and 10.0 cm
farther from the center the magnitude of the electric field is 400 V/m. Determine (c) the
radius of the sphere and (d) its charge on it. (e) Are the answers to parts (c) and (d) unique?
Solution:
d)
Notice that unit of the electric field is given in V/m.

ΔV=Ed
E=ΔV/d=V/m

e) No. Answers are different..

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 REFERENCES

1) Physics For Scientist and Engineers, SERWAY

and JEWETT, 9th Edition.

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 Recommended problems in Chapter 25:
Example 25.8, 2,5,7,9,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,27,31,37,44,61,

These problems are highly recommended. You make a good

practice by solving these problems.

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