Potential Energy, Energy Density Capacitance, Polarization Boundary Conditions

Potential Energy
The electric field and potential energy are directly related: As a test charge +q moves in the direction that the field opposed it, its potential energy increases. The electrostatic potential energy is the energy of an

electrically charged particle (at rest) in an electric field.

The energy difference between two potentials is given by

U = q(V2 Vref )

Joules (VAs)

Example
Potential Energy U = +qV

Charge Q

R V(R) =Vref = 0 Test Charge +q Potential V = kQ R

Observations
The potential at infinity is zero
A positive test charge +q gains potential as it gets

closer to the charge +Q A negative test charge q loses potential as it gets closer to the charge +Q.

Cathode Ray Tube

The CRT is a vacuum tube

containing an electron gun (a source of electrons) and a fluorescent screen used to create images in the form of light emitted from the fluorescent screen. The image may represent electrical waveforms (oscilloscope), pictures (television, computer monitor), radar targets and others.

CRT Simplified Set Up

Once the electrons leave the cathode, they accelerate

toward the grid. Electrons entering the deflecting plate region and change directions depending on the voltage between the plates.

Exercise
An electron moves at a constant velocity v = vo ax.

Assume that the electron enters in a field E = - 1 a z (V/m) at x =0. Compute the potential energy U the electron loses as it moves from A (at z = 0 cm) to B (at z = 0.5 cm). Recall e = 1.602 x 10 19 As.

Energy Stored in an E Field

Using Gauss Law in differential form and the Divergence

theorem and it can be shown that the energy density or energy per unit volume (J/m3) of the electric field is:
u = |E|2 (Joules/m3)

The total energy stored in the electrostatic field is

U = u dV (Joules)

where dV is the volume differential.

Example
Let E = 9 V/mm in between the plates. Suppose that

the area A = 1 cm2 and the dielectric thickness is d = 1 mm. Find the energy stored by the capacitor for a relative permittivity of 2.8. Neglect (field) fringing effects.
Notice that the field is constant Calculate the energy density Calculate the volume between the

capacitor plates

Exercise
Calculate the energy stored in the field produced by a

metal sphere of radius a holding a charge Q.

Determine the electric field E Find the energy density u Set up the integral for U Integrate over space a<R<

Capacitance
As shown above a capacitor consists of two conductors

separated by a non-conductive region.

The non-conductive substance is called the dielectric

medium. The conductors contain equal and opposite charges on their facing surfaces, and the dielectric contains an electric field.

A capacitor is assumed to be self-contained and

isolated, with no net electric charge and no influence from an external electric field.

Capacitance
An ideal capacitor is wholly

characterized by its capacitance C (in Farads), defined as the ratio of charge Q on each conductor to the voltage V between them C = Q/V

More generally, the capacitance is

defined in terms of incremental changes

C = dq/dv

Parallel Plate Capacitor

From Gauss Law the charge and the electric field

between the plates is related by

Likewise, the line integral relating the potential and

the electric field simplifies to

Thus the capacitance is given by

Exercise
Consider a parallel plate capacitor. Derive an

expression for the stored energy U in terms of the capacitance C and the potential V.

Polarization
Suppose that a capacitor is charged up by connecting

it to a voltage source V which is then removed. A fixed charge Q is placed on its upper plate and Q on the lower plate. Suppose the capacitor is air filled. In this case,

The capacitance is

Polarization
Next assume that the capacitor is

filled with dielectric material as illustrated here. Since the charge does not change, the electric flux D is the same as before. However, the electric field E changes to

Polarization
The decrease of E is said to be due to the polarization

P of the dielectric molecules which opposes E:

But the capacitance increases to

Exercise
The relative permittivity of air is 1.0 and that of quartz

is about 4.5. Calculate the difference in capacitance for two capacitors with identical geometry using these two dielectric materials.

Electric Boundary Conditions

On a perfect conductor The component of E parallel to the conducting surface is zero The component of D normal to the conducting surface is numerically equal to the charge density
On a perfect dielectric material
The component of E parallel to the interface is

continuous The component of D normal to the interface is continuous

Perfect Dielectric Medium

Tangential components of E are continuous E1t = E2t
Medium 1 (air)

Medium 2

WATER DROPPLET

Perfect Dielectric Medium

Normal components of E are discontinuous 1E1n = 2E2n
Medium 1 (air)

no free charges Medium 2

WATER DROPPLET

Perfect Conductor Medium

Tangential components of E are zero E1t = E2t = 0
Medium 1 (air)

X
Short circuit

Medium 2

WATER DROPPLET

Perfect Conductor Medium

Normal components of E are discontinuous E1n 0 Medium 1 (air) E2n= 0

Medium 2

WATER DROPPLET

Examples of Field Lines

Exercise
Consider a dielectric interface at z = constant.
Let r1 = 2, r2 = 5, and E1 = 2ax + 3ay + 5az Find E2

r1 = 2 r2 = 5

Homework
Read textbook sections 4-8, 4-9, 4-10, 4-11
Solve problems 4.43, 4.45, 4.50, 4.51, 4.52, 4.54