ELECTRIC

2 POTENTIAL

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this unit, the learner will be able to:

∙ Illustrate electric field, electric potential and energy, parameters, units and electrical
quantities relative to electrical charges and fields.
∙ Analyze and calculate electric energy, electric potential between charges, and strengths of
electric fields.

A. Energy in an Electric field

- If the charge is move between two points in an electric field work is usually done.
- It is one of the most important properties of the static electric field that this work is independent of the path taken.

Electric Field
- The property of the two points in the field is the electrical
potential difference between the points.
Q B. Potential Difference energy applies to the movement
of charged bodies.

B
- Since the work done in raising an
object to a higher altitude can be
recovered when it descends, the
A work is considered to be stored as
potential energy at the higher
a altitude. Similarly, when work is
b done by an outside agency to
move a test charge between two
points in an electric field,
potential energy is stored up. For
this reason the static electric field
is called a CONSERVATIVE FIELD
and the law of conservation of

-The potential difference between two points in an electric field:

()
Work w Charge q
V==
;
w
()q
In mks system, Volt (V) - - - Joules per Coulombs ( J/C )
 One-Volt – one Joule of work must be done to move a charge of one Coulomb between points
considered.
In cgs system, statVolt (statV) - - - ( erg/statC )
One-statVolt – one erg of work must be done to move a charge of one statC between points considered.
9
statC
1 3 10 1 x
erg J
Conversion:
V17

stat V 300
==
1 x x ergs
statC C 10
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_ Illustrative Problem 2.1
Two points in an electric field have potential difference of 3.0V. What work is required to move a charge of
5.0C between these points?
Solution:

The force of the electric field on a proton in this field

From V= wq

Transforming , thus work is

w = V ⋅q = (3 V)⋅(5C) = 15 Joules (J )

C. Reference Point for Potential Difference

- In electricity the zero of potential is arbitrarily selected as reference. This zero potential is frequently taken as the
potential of earth.

- When a conducting body is connected to the earth (grounded), there is a flow of charge until the potential
difference between the body and the earth is zero.
- For other purposes, the zero potential is considered as the potential of a point greatly distant from all charges
(@infinity).

D. Potential at a Point
- The potential at a point is the difference between the potential of the point and an arbitrarily selected zero
potential.
- The work done per unit charge when a charge is moved from a point @ zero potential to the point in question. The
potential at a point is the ratio of the potential energy of a test charge placed at that point to the magnitude of the
test charge:
Potential Energy
Potential = = = w

Ch e arg V
q

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_ Illustrative Problem 2.2
A 120-Volt potential difference is maintained between the ends of a long high resistance wire. The center
of the wire is grounded. What is the potential at the center and each end of the wire?

Ans.: 0V ; +60V; -60V

Figure (Solution:)
 120V
-60V
+60V P

S
R
-60V
+ - + - 0V +60VGROUND
--
E. Electric Potential Near an Isolated Point charge

sB
BA

sA
Work done in moving a test charge from A to B:

⎜
⎜ ⎝⎛ ss
BA

w k Qq1 1 ⎟ ⎞
=⋅− ⎟⎠

Potential Difference Between A and B:

⎟
⎜ ⎟ ⎠⎞
⎜ ⎝⎛
11
V k Q wAB = ΔV ⋅ q
Δ=⋅−
ss
BA

For any point in the field of Q @ a distant s:

Qs
V=k
Note: If the charge Q is negative, the force between Q and the test charge is one of attraction.

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_ Illustrative Problem 2.3
Compute the work required to bring a charge of 5.0 statC from a point 24 cm from a charge of 60 statC to
a point 3.0 cm from it.
Solution:
Work done in moving a test charge from A to B:
⎜ =⋅−
⎜ ⎝⎛
w k Q q1 1 BA ss
 ⎟
⎟ ⎠⎞
⎜ 1 ⎞
⎝⎛ 1
( )( )( ) 87.5 ergs = ⋅ −
1 60 5 ⎟ =
24
3 ⎠

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_ Illustrative Problem 2.4
A spherical shell on the top of a small electrostatic generator in air has a charge of 2.0 µC. What is the
potential at a point 10 cm from the center of the sphere?
Solution:
Electric potential at a point 10 cm from the center of the sphere
⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎝⎛ ⎟ ⎠⎞
== 1
4π ε
From Thus; Q s ⎟ ⎥
Qs ⎟⎟⎟⎟ ⎠⎞ ⎥⎥⎥ ⎦⎤
⎢ ⎡⎟
⎢⎢⎢ ⎣ ⎠⎞
Vk
⎜⎛ −
⎜⎜⎜⎜ ⎝ ⋅ 6

o
1
=
2.0 10
xC
V5
=
1.8 10
13
−
π4 8.85 102 ⎜ 100
C ⎝⎛ x Volts
xx 2 10
m
Nm
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Note:
- If a point is situated near a number of charges, each charge contribute a share to the resultant potential of the point in
empty space. The potential of a point situated near a number of charges is the algebraic sum of all such potentials.

This may be stated as;=

∑ ⋅sQ
V o 4π ε
1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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_ Illustrative Problem 2.5
In the figure shown a charge A of 8.0 µC situated 1.0m from the charge B of – 2.0 µC. What is the potential @
pt. C located @ the midpoint between A and B? What is the potential at point D located 80 cm from A and 20
cm from B? How much work should be required to move a charge of 0.030 µC from D to C?

-2.0 uC
+8.0 uC CD
AB
 50 cm 30 cm 20 cm

Solution:
From=
∑ ⋅sQ
V
1

o 4π ε
⎢
Potential @ point C located at ⎣⎡ −
⎥
⎜⎛
midpoint: ⎜⎜⎜⎜ ⎝ ⋅ ⎦⎤
−−

⎟
⎟⎟⎟⎟ ⎠⎞
66
1 8.0 10
VC xC 2.0 10
12 +
= xC
()2

−
π 4 8.85 10 x x C 0.50 0.50
2 m m
x Volts
Nm
= 1.1 10
5

Potential @ point D located 80.0 cm from A and 20.0 cm from B:

⎟ ⎢
⎜⎛
⋅ ⎟⎟⎟⎟ ⎠⎞ ⎣⎡ − ⎤
⎜⎜⎜⎜ ⎝
16 6
8.0 10 2.0 10
−−
xC
xC
Volts
() VD 0

12⎥=
−
π4 8.85 10 x x 2
2
m 0.20 m
C 0.80 + ⎦
Nm

Work required to move a charge of 0.030 uC from D to

C: ( ) wDC= q VC − VD

x [ x V ] x J 6 5 3 0.030 10 1.1 10 0 3.3 10 − − = − =

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_ Illustrative Problem 2.6
If a force of 4.8 x 10 -2 N is required to move a 40 µC charge in an electric field between two points 20 cm apart,
what potential difference is there between the points?
Solution:
From
 Fq ⎜
⎝⎛
s
Also: Q ⎞
E= Q Q
V k ⎟ = ⋅ = ⋅ = = ⋅2
k s k sEs
s s ⎠ s

Thus, the potential difference between the two points

⎜ F ⋅= ⎟ ⎜ −
⎜⎛⎟
⎛ ⎟ ⎠⎞ ⎜ ⎝⎛ 2
⎝ ⎟ ⎠⎞
⎜⎝
4.8 10
⎟=
xN 20 ⎞
V E s2 = ⋅ = −
s 40 10 2.4 10
6
q m x Volts
xC 100 ⎠

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F. Equipotential Surface

- An equipotential surface is a surface on which all points have the same potential.
(The equipotential surface around a point charge are a series of concentric spheres that represent potential which
vary inversely w/ the distances from the charge).
(The surface is everywhere perpendicular to the lines of force. A charge may be move anywhere on an equipotential
surface without work being performed on or by the field).

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G. Potential gradient

Electrical Potential Gradient - is the rate of change of potential with distance along a line of force, Δ -

Units are the volt per meter (V/m) and the statVolt per centimeter (statV/cm).

V
Δ
s