Chapter 25

Electric Potential
Electrical Potential Energy

When a test charge is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force.

▪ Fe = qoE
▪ The force is conservative.
If the test charge is moved in the field by some external agent, the work done by
the field is the negative of the work done by the external agent.
ds is an infinitesimal displacement vector that is oriented tangent to a path
through space.
▪ The path may be straight or curved and the integral performed along this
path is called either a path integral or a line integral.

Section 25.1
Electric Potential Energy, cont

The work done within the charge-field system by the electric field on the charge is
F  d s = qo E  d s
As this work is done by the field, the potential energy of the charge-field system
is changed by ΔU =
For a finite displacement of the charge from A to B, the change in potential
energy of the system is −qoE  ds

B
U = UB − U A = −qo  E  ds
A

Because the force is conservative, the line integral does not depend on the path
taken by the charge.

Section 25.1
Electric Potential

The potential energy per unit charge, U/qo, is the electric potential.
▪ The potential is characteristic of the field only.
▪ The potential energy is characteristic of the charge-field system.
▪ The potential is independent of the value of qo.
▪ The potential has a value at every point in an electric field.
The electric potential is
U
V=
qo

Section 25.1
Electric Potential, cont.

The potential is a scalar quantity.

▪ Since energy is a scalar
As a charged particle moves in an electric field, it will experience a change in
potential.
U B
V = = −  E  ds
qo A

The infinitesimal displacement is interpreted as the displacement between two

points in space rather than the displacement of a point charge.

Section 25.1
Work and Electric Potential

Assume a charge moves in an electric field without any change in its kinetic
energy.
The work performed on the charge is
W = ΔU = q ΔV
Units:1 V ≡ 1 J/C
▪ V is a volt.
▪ It takes one joule of work to move a 1-coulomb charge through a potential
difference of 1 volt.
In addition, 1 N/C = 1 V/m
▪ This indicates we can interpret the electric field as a measure of the rate of
change of the electric potential with respect to position.

Section 25.1
Voltage
Electric potential is described by many terms.
The most common term is voltage.
A voltage applied to a device or across a device is the same as the potential
difference across the device.
▪ The voltage is not something that moves through a device.

Section 25.1
Electron-Volts

Another unit of energy that is commonly used in atomic and nuclear physics is
the electron-volt.
One electron-volt is defined as the energy a charge-field system gains or loses
when a charge of magnitude e (an electron or a proton) is moved through a
potential difference of 1 volt.
▪ 1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J

Section 25.1
Potential Difference in a Uniform Field

The equations for electric potential between two points A and B can be simplified
if the electric field is uniform:
B B
VB − VA = V = −  E  ds = −E  ds = −Ed
A A

The displacement points from A to B and is parallel to the field lines.

The negative sign indicates that the electric potential at point B is lower than at
point A.
▪ Electric field lines always point in the direction of decreasing electric
potential.

Section 25.2
Energy and the Direction of Electric Field

When the electric field is directed

downward, point B is at a lower
potential than point A.
When a positive test charge moves
from A to B, the charge-field system
loses potential energy.
Electric field lines always point in the
direction of decreasing electric
potential.

Section 25.2
More About Directions
A system consisting of a positive charge and an electric field loses electric
potential energy when the charge moves in the direction of the field.
▪ An electric field does work on a positive charge when the charge moves in
the direction of the electric field.
The charged particle gains kinetic energy and the potential energy of the charge-
field system decreases by an equal amount.
▪ Another example of Conservation of Energy

Section 25.2
Equipotentials

Point B is at a lower potential than point

A.
Points A and C are at the same
potential.
▪ All points in a plane perpendicular
to a uniform electric field are at the
same electric potential.
The name equipotential surface is
given to any surface consisting of a
continuous distribution of points having
the same electric potential.

Section 25.2
Charged Particle in a Uniform Field, Example
A positive charge is released from rest
and moves in the direction of the
electric field.
The change in potential is negative.
The change in potential energy is
negative.
The force and acceleration are in the
direction of the field.
Conservation of Energy can be used to
find its speed.

Section 25.2
Potential and Point Charges

An isolated positive point charge

produces a field directed radially
outward.
The potential difference between points
A and B will be

 1 1
VB − VA = keq  − 
 rB rA 
Section 25.3
Potential and Point Charges, cont.

The electric potential is independent of the path between points A and B.

It is customary to choose a reference potential of V = 0 at rA = ∞.
Then the potential due to a point charge at some point r is
q
V = ke
r

Section 25.3
Electric Potential of a Point Charge

The electric potential in the plane

around a single point charge is shown.
The red line shows the 1/r nature of the
potential.

Section 25.3
Electric Potential with Multiple Charges
The electric potential due to several point charges is the sum of the potentials
due to each individual charge.
▪ This is another example of the superposition principle.
▪ The sum is the algebraic sum
q
V = ke  i
i ri

▪ V = 0 at r = ∞

Section 25.3
Potential Energy of Multiple Charges

q1q2
The potential energy of the system is U = ke .
r12

If the two charges are the same sign, U is positive and work must be done to
bring the charges together.
If the two charges have opposite signs, U is negative and work is done to keep
the charges apart.

Section 25.3
U with Multiple Charges, final

If there are more than two charges,

then find U for each pair of charges and
add them.
For three charges:
qq qq qq 
U = ke  1 2 + 1 3 + 2 3 
 r12 r13 r23 

▪ The result is independent of the

order of the charges.

Section 25.3
Section 25.6
Finding E From V
Assume, to start, that the field has only an x component.
dV
Ex = −
dx
Similar statements would apply to the y and z components.
Equipotential surfaces must always be perpendicular to the electric field lines
passing through them.

Section 25.4
E and V for an Infinite Sheet of Charge

The equipotential lines are the dashed

blue lines.
The electric field lines are the brown
lines.
The equipotential lines are everywhere
perpendicular to the field lines.

Section 25.4
E and V for a Point Charge

The equipotential lines are the dashed

blue lines.
The electric field lines are the brown
lines.
The electric field is radial.
Er = - dV / dr
The equipotential lines are everywhere
perpendicular to the field lines.

Section 25.4
E and V for a Dipole

The equipotential lines are the dashed

blue lines.
The electric field lines are the brown
lines.
The equipotential lines are everywhere
perpendicular to the field lines.

Section 25.4
Electric Field from Potential, General

In general, the electric potential is a function of all three dimensions.

Given V (x, y, z) you can find Ex, Ey and Ez as partial derivatives:

V V V
Ex = − Ey = − Ez = −
x y z

Section 25.4
Section 25.6
Electric Potential for a Continuous Charge Distribution

Method 1: The charge distribution is

known.
Consider a small charge element dq
▪ Treat it as a point charge.
The potential at some point due to this
charge element is
dq
dV = ke
r

Section 25.5
V for a Continuous Charge Distribution, cont.

To find the total potential, you need to integrate to include the contributions from
all the elements.
dq
V = ke 
r
▪ This value for V uses the reference of V = 0 when P is infinitely far away
from the charge distributions.
V for a Continuous Charge Distribution, final

If the electric field is already known from other considerations, the potential can
be calculated using the original approach:
B
V = −  E  ds
A

▪ If the charge distribution has sufficient symmetry, first find the field from
Gauss’ Law and then find the potential difference between any two points,
▪ Choose V = 0 at some convenient point

Section 25.5
Section 25.6
Section 25.5
Section 25.6
Q.1

E
When a positive charge moves in the direction
of the electric field, +q Motion

A. the field does positive work on it and the E

potential energy increases.
B. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
A.1

When a positive charge moves in the direction

of the electric field,
E
+q Motion
A. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy increases.
B. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
E
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
Q.2

When a positive charge moves opposite to the

direction of the electric field,
E
Motion +q

A. the field does positive work on it and the

potential energy increases.
E
B. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
A.2

When a positive charge moves opposite to the

direction of the electric field, E
Motion +q
A. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy increases.
B. the field does positive work on it and the E
potential energy decreases.
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
Q.3

When a negative charge moves in the direction

of the electric field, E
–q Motion
A. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy increases.
B. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
E
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
A.3

When a negative charge moves in the direction

of the electric field, E
–q Motion

A. the field does positive work on it and the

potential energy increases.
B. the field does positive work on it and the E
potential energy decreases.
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
Q.4

When a negative charge moves opposite to the

direction of the electric field, E
Motion –q

A. the field does positive work on it and the

potential energy increases.
E
B. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
A.4

When a negative charge moves opposite to the

direction of the electric field, E
Motion –q
A. the field does positive work on it and the
potential energy increases.
B. the field does positive work on it and the E
potential energy decreases.
C. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy increases.
D. the field does negative work on it and the
potential energy decreases.
Q.5
Charge #2
+q
The electric potential energy of two point
charges approaches zero as the two point Charge #1
charges move farther away from each other. +q
If the three point charges shown here lie at
the vertices of an equilateral triangle, the y
electric potential energy of the system of
three charges is –q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
A.5
Charge #2
+q
The electric potential energy of two point Charge #1
charges approaches zero as the two point
charges move farther away from each other. +q

If the three point charges shown here lie at

y
the vertices of an equilateral triangle, the
electric potential energy of the system of
three charges is –q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
Q.6
Charge #2
–q
The electric potential energy of two point
charges approaches zero as the two point Charge #1
charges move farther away from each other. +q
If the three point charges shown here lie at
the vertices of an equilateral triangle, the y
electric potential energy of the system of
three charges is –q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
A.6
Charge #2
–q
The electric potential energy of two point
charges approaches zero as the two point Charge #1
charges move farther away from each other. +q
If the three point charges shown here lie at
the vertices of an equilateral triangle, the y
electric potential energy of the system of
three charges is –q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
Q.7
Charge #2
+q
The electric potential due to a point charge
approaches zero as you move farther away Charge #1
from the charge. +q
If the three point charges shown here lie at the
vertices of an equilateral triangle, the electric y
potential at the center of the triangle is
–q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
A.7
Charge #2
The electric potential due to a point charge +q
approaches zero as you move farther away
from the charge. Charge #1
If the three point charges shown here lie at the +q
vertices of an equilateral triangle, the electric
potential at the center of the triangle is y

–q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
Q23.8
Charge #2
The electric potential due to a point charge –q
approaches zero as you move farther away
from the charge. Charge #1
If the three point charges shown here lie at the +q
vertices of an equilateral triangle, the electric
potential at the center of the triangle is y

–q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
A23.8
Charge #2
The electric potential due to a point charge –q
approaches zero as you move farther away
from the charge. Charge #1
If the three point charges shown here lie at the +q
vertices of an equilateral triangle, the electric
potential at the center of the triangle is y

–q
x Charge #3

A. positive. B. negative.
C. zero. D. not enough information given to decide
Q.9

Consider a point P in space where the electric potential is zero. Which

statement is correct?

A. A point charge placed at P would feel no electric force.

B. The electric field at points around P is directed toward P.
C. The electric field at points around P is directed away from P.
D. none of the above
E. not enough information given to decide
A.9

Consider a point P in space where the electric potential is zero. Which

statement is correct?

A. A point charge placed at P would feel no electric force.

B. The electric field at points around P is directed toward P.
C. The electric field at points around P is directed away from P.
D. none of the above
E. not enough information given to decide
Q.10

Where an electric field line crosses an equipotential surface, the angle

between the field line and the equipotential is

A. zero.
B. between zero and 90°.
C. 90°.
D. not enough information given to decide
A.10

Where an electric field line crosses an equipotential surface, the angle

between the field line and the equipotential is

A. zero.
B. between zero and 90°.
C. 90°.
D. not enough information given to decide