17/02/2012

Chapter 24
Finding the Electric Potential
In this chapter we will define the electric potential ( symbol V )
associated with the electric force and accomplish the following
tasks:
Calculate V if we know the corresponding electric field
Calculate the electric field if we know the corresponding potential V
Determine the potential V generated by a point charge
Determine the potential V generated by a discreet charge distribution
Determine the potential V generated by a continuous charge
distribution Determine the electric potential energy U of a system of
charges
Define the notion of an equipotential
surface
Explore the geometric relationship
between equipotential surfaces and electric field lines
Explore the potential of a charged isolated conductor
(24 - 1)

xf

U F ( x)dx

Electric Potential Energy :

In chapter 8 we defined the change in potential
energy U associated with a conservative force as the
negative value of the work W that the force

xi

F(x)

.
O

xi

.
x

must do on a particle to take it from an initial

position xi to a final position x f .
xf

U U f U i W F ( x)dx

U qo E ds
f

xi

Consider an electric charge qo moving

from an initial position at point A to a final
position at ppoint B under the influence of a
p

known electric field E. The force exerted

on the charge is: F qo E

f
f


U F ds qo E ds
i

(24 - 2)

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P

VP E ds

(24 - 3)

The electric potential V

The change in potential energy of a charge qo

moving under the influence of E from point A

f

to point B is: U U f U i W qo E ds
i

Please note that U depends on the value of qo

We define the electric potential V in such a manner so that is is independent

of qo : V

U
W

qo
qo

Here V V f Vi V f Vi E ds
f

In all physical problems only changes in V are involved. Thus we can define
arbitrarily the value of V at a reference point which we choose to be at infinity.
V f V 0

We take the initial position as the generic point P with potential VP

VP E ds The potential VP depends only on the coordinates of P and on E

VP

q
4 o R

Definition of voltage : V

SI Units of V :

W
qo

Units of V : J/C known as the "Volt"

Potential due to a point charge
Consider a pont charge q placed at the origin. We will use
the definition given in the previous page to determine the
potential VP at point P a distnce R from O.
R

VP E ds Edr cos 0 Edr

The electric field generated by q is:

E

VP

q
4 o r 2
q
4 o

dr

dr

1
x

VP

q 1
1 q

4 o r R 4 o R

(24 - 4)

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Potential due to a group of point charges

Consider the group of three point charges shown in the

q1
r1

q2

r2

q3

P
r3

figure. The potential V generated by this group at any

point P is calculated using the principle of superposition
1. We determine the potentials V1 ,V2 , and V 3 generated
by each charge at point P.
P

V V1 V2 V3

V1

1 q2
1 q3
q1
, V2
, V3
4 o r1
4 o r2
4 o r3

2. We add the three terms:

V V1 V2 V3
V

1 q2
1 q3
q1

4 o r1 4 o r2 4 o r3

The previous equation can be generalized for n charges as follows:

V

1 q1
1 q2
1 qn
1

...

4 o r1 4 o r2
4 o rn 4 o

qi

(24 - 5)

Example : Potential due to an electric dipole

Consider the electric dipole shown in the figure
We will determine the electric potential V created at point P
by the two charges of the dipole using superposition.
Point P is at a distance r from the center O of the dipole.

Line OP makes an angle

g with the dipole
p axis
q
q r( ) r( )
1 q

4 o r( ) r( ) 4 o r( ) r( )
We assume that r d where d is the charge separation

V V( ) V( )

From triangle ABC we have: r( ) r( ) d cos

Also: r( ) r( ) r 2 V

where p qd the electric dipole moment

A
C
B

1 p cos
d cos

2
4 o r
4 o r 2
q

p cos
4 o r 2
1

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r
dq

1
dq
4 o r

Potential due to a continuous charge distribution :

Consider the charge distribution shown in the figure
In order to determine the electric potential V created
by the distribution at point P we use the principle of
superposition as follows:
1. We divide the distribution into elements of charge
g dq
q
For a volume charge distribution dq dV
For a surface charge distribution dq dA
For a linear charge distribution dq d

dV

2. We determine the potential dV created by dq at P

1 dq
4 o r

3. We sum all the contributions in the form of the integral: V

1
dq
4 o r

Note 1 : The integral is taken over the whole charge distribution

Note 2 : The integral involves only scalar quantities

(24 - 7)

Example : Potential created by a line of charge of

length L and uniform linear charge density at point P.
Consider the charge element dq dx at point A, a
From triangle OAP we have:

distance x from O.

r d 2 x 2 Here d is the distance OP

Th potential
The
t ti l dV created
t d by
b dq
d att P is:
i
dV

dq

dq
1

4 o r
4 o

4 o

dx
d x
2

4 o

V
4 o
V

dx
d 2 x2

dx
d x2
2

ln x d 2 x 2

ln L

L x ln d

ln x d 2 x 2

0
2

(24 - 8)

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Induced dipole moment

(24 - 9)

Many molecules such as H 2 O have a permanent electric

dipole moment. These are known as "polar" molecules.
Others, such as O 2 , N 2 , etc the electric dipole moment
is zero. These are known as "nonpolar" molecules
One such molecule is shown in fig.a. The electric dipole

moment p is zero because the center of the positive

charge coincides with the center of the negative charge.

In fig.b we show what happens when an electric field E

F( )

F( )

is applied on a nonpolar molecule. The electric forces

on the positive and nagative charges are equal in magnitude
but opposite in direction

As a result the centers of the positve and negative charges move in opposite

directions and do not coincide. Thus a non-zero electric dipole moment p

appears. This is known as "induced" electric dipole moment and the molecule

is said to be "polarized". When the electric field is removed p disappears

W qV

Equipotential surfaces
A collection of points that have the same

potential is known as an equipotential

surface. Four such surfaces are shown in

the figure. The work done by E as it moves

a charge
h
q bbetween two points
i that
h have
h
a
potential difference V is given by:
W qV
For path I : WI 0 because V 0
For path II: WII 0 because V 0

path III: WIII qV q V2 V1

For p
For path IV: WIV qV q V2 V1
Note : When a charge is moved on an equipotential surface V 0
The work done by the electric field is zero: W 0

(24 - 10)

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The electric field E is perpendicular

to the equipotential surfaces

Consider the equipotential surface at

B
S

potential V . A charge q is moved

by an electric field E from point A

to point B along a path r .

Points A and B and the path lie on S

Lets assume that the electric field E forms an angle with the path r .

The work done by the electric field is: W F r F r cos qE r cos
We also know that W 0. Thus: qE r cos 0
q 0,
0 E 00,

r 0 Thus: cos 0 9
90
0

The correct picture is shown in the figure below

S
(24 - 11)

Examples of equipotential surfaces and the corresponding electric field lines

Uniform electric field

Isolated point charge

Electric dipole

Equipotential surfaces for a point charge q :

q
q
Assume that V is constant r
constant
V
4 o r
4 oV
Thus the equiptential surfaces are spheres with their center at the point charge
q
and radius r
4 oV

(24 - 12)

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Calculating the electric field E from the potential V

(24 - 13)

Now we will tackle the reverse problem i.e. determine E if we know V .

Consider two equipotential surfaces that corrspond to the values V and V dV

separated by a distance ds as shown in the figure. Consider an arbitrary direction

represented by the vector ds . We will allow the electric field

to move a charge qo from the equipotenbtial surface V to the surface V dV
The work done by the electric field is given by:
A

W qo dV (eqs.1)
also W Fds cos Eqo ds cos (eqs.2)
If we compare these two equations we have:

V+dV

dV
ds
From triangle PAB we see that E cos is the

component Es of E along the direction s.

Eqqo ds cos qo dV E cos

Thus: Es

Es

V
s

V
s

We have proved that: Es

Es

V
s

V
s

(24 - 14)

The component of E in any direction is the negative of the rate

at which the electric potential changes with distance in this direction
If we take s ro be the x- , y -,, and z -axes
axes we get:
V
x
V
Ey
y
V
Ez
z
If we know the function V ( x, y, z )
Ex

V+dV

we can determine the components of E

and thus the vector E itself

V V V
E
i
j
k
x
y
z

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(24 - 15)

Potential energy U of a system of point charges

q2

We define U as the work required to assemble the

system of charges one by one, bringing each charge
from infinity to its final position

r12
r23

Using the above definition we will prove that for

a system of three point charges U is given by:

q1

r13
q3

qq
qq
q1q2
2 3 1 3
4 o r12 4 o r23 4 o r13

Note : each pair of charges is counted only once

qi the potential energy

For a system of n point charges

U

1
4 o

qi q j

i , j 1
i j

rij

U is given by:

Here rij is the separation between qi and q j

The summation condition i j is imposed so that, as in the

case of three point charges, each pair of charges is counted only once

Step 1

q1

O
Step
p2
q1

r12

W1 0
(no other charges around)

(24 - 16)

Step 1 : Bring in q1

q2

Step2 : Bring in q2
W2 q2V (2)
V (2)

q1

4 o r12

W2

q1q2
4 o r12

Step3 : Bring in q3
W3 q3V (3)

V (3)

Step
p3

q2

r12

1 q1q3 q2 q3

4 o r13
r23
W W1 W2 W3

W3

q1
r23

r13

q3
O

1 q1 q2

4 o r13 r23

q1q2
qq
qq
2 3 1 3
4 o r12 4 o r23 4 o r13

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(24 - 17)

conductor
path
B

E 0

Potential of an isolated conductor

We shall prove that all the points on a conductor
(either on the surface or inside) have the same
potential

A conductor is an equipotential surface

Consider two points A and B on or inside an conductor. The potential difference

VB VA between these two points is give by the equation:
B

VB VA E d S
A

We already know that the electrostatic field E inside a conductor is zero

Thus the integral above vanishes and VB VA for any two points
on or inside the conductor.

Isolated conductor in an external electric field

We already know that the surface of a conductor
is an equipotential surface. We also know that
the electric field lines are perpendicular to the
equipotential surfaces.

From these two statements it follows that the electric field vector E is
perpendicular to the conductor surface, as shown in the figure.
All the charges of the conductor reside on the surface and arrange
themselves in such as way so that the net electric field inside the
conductor Ein 0.
The electric field just out side the conductor is: Eout

(24 - 18)

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(24 - 19)

Eout n

Ein 0

Electric field and potential

in and around a charged
conductor. A summary

1. All the charges reside on the conductor surface.

2. The electric field inside the conductor is zero Ein 0
3. The electric field jjust outside the conductor is: Eout

4. The electric field just outside the conductor is perpendicular

to the conductor surface
5. All the points on the surface and inside the conductor have the same potential
The conductor is an eequipotential surface

Electric field and electric potential

for a spherical conductor of radius R
and charge q

For r R , V
For r R , V

For r R ,

For r R ,

(24 - 20)

q
4 o R
1

q
4 o r
1

q
4 o R 2
1

q
4 o r 2

Note : Outside the spherical conductor the electric field

and the electric potential are identical to that of a point
charge equal to the net conductor charge and placed
at the center of the sphere

10