Chapter 24 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
Electric Potential Energy :
U  F ( x)dx
xi In chapter 8 we defined the change in potential
F(x)
energy U associated with a conservative force as the
.O . x
.
x
x
negative value of the work W that the force
xi f

must do on a particle to take it from an initial

position xi to a final position x f .
xf
  f

U  qo E ds
U U f  U i  W  F ( x)dx
xi
i
Consider an electric charge qo moving
from an initial position at point A to a final
A
position at point B under the influence of a

known electric field E. The force exerted

on the charge is: F qo E
B  
f f

U  F ds  qo E ds
i i
(24 - 2)
 P
  (24 - 3)
VP  E ds The electric potential V
 The change in potential energy of a charge qo
A 
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

B

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

U W  
f

of qo : V   Here V V f  Vi  V f  Vi  E ds
qo qo i

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
P
  
VP  E ds The potential VP depends only on the coordinates of P and on E

 1 q W
VP  SI Units of V : Definition of voltage : V 
4 o R 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
 R R

The electric field generated by q is:

q
E
4 o r 2

q dr dr 1
4 o  x 2  x
VP  2
O R
r

q  1 1 q
 VP   
4 o  r  R 4 o R
(24 - 4)
 q1 Potential due to a group of point charges
r1 Consider the group of three point charges shown in the
q2 r2
P figure. The potential V generated by this group at any
point P is calculated using the principle of superposition
r3
q3 1. We determine the potentials V1 ,V2 , and V 3 generated
by each charge at point P.
1 q1 1 q2 1 q3
V V1  V2  V3 V1  , V2  , V3 
4 o r1 4 o r2 4 o r3
2. We add the three terms:
V V1  V2  V3
1 q1 1 q2 1 q3
V  
4 o r1 4 o r2 4 o r3

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

n
1q1 1 q2 1 qn 1 qi
V 
4 o r1 4 o r2
 ...  
4 o rn 4 o
1 r
i

(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.
p Line OP makes an angle  with the dipole axis
1  q q  q r(  )  r( )
V V( )  V(  )     
4 o  r( ) r(  )  4 o r(  ) r( )
We assume that r d where d is the charge separation
From triangle ABC we have: r(  )  r( ) d cos 
2 q d cos  1 p cos 
Also: r(  ) r( ) r  V  
4 o r 2 4 o r 2
A where p qd  the electric dipole moment

C
1 p cos 
V
B 4 o r 2
(24 - 6)
 Potential due to a continuous charge distribution :

r
.P 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
dq superposition as follows:
1. We divide the distribution into elements of charge dq
For a volume charge distribution dq  dV
1 dq For a surface charge distribution dq  dA
4 o  r
V
For a linear charge distribution dq  d 

1 dq
2. We determine the potential dV created by dq at P dV 
4 o r
1 dq
4 o  r
3. We sum all the contributions in the form of the integral: V 

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 λ at point P.
Consider the charge element dq  dx at point A, a
distance x from O. From triangle OAP we have:
r  d 2  x 2 Here d is the distance OP
The potential dV created by dq at P is:
1 dq 1  dx
dV  
4 o r 4 o d 2  x2
L
 dx
O A
V
4 o  d 2  x2
dq 0


dx
d 2  x2

ln x  d 2  x 2 

 
L
V  ln x  d  x 2 2

4 o   0

L  x   ln d 
 
  ln L  2 2
V
4 o 
(24 - 8)
(24 - 9) Induced dipole moment
Many molecules such as H 2O 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
is applied on a nonpolar molecule. The electric forces
  on the positive and nagative charges are equal in magnitude
F(  ) F( ) 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  qV 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 q between two points that have a
potential difference V is given by:
W  qV

For path I : WI 0 because V 0

For path II: WII 0 because V 0
For path III: WIII qV q V2  V1 
For path IV: WIV qV 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)
  
The electric field E is perpendicular
E
 to the equipotential surfaces
F V Consider the equipotential surface at
 potential V . A charge q is moved
A r B 
q by an electric field E from point A
S 
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, E 0, r 0 Thus: cos  0   90
The correct picture is shown in the figure below

E
S
V (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
V Assume that V is constant  r   constant
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)
 
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:
W  qo dV (eqs.1)
A
also W Fds cos  Eqo ds cos  (eqs.2)
If we compare these two equations we have:
B dV
Eqo ds cos   qo dV  E cos  
ds
V+dV
V From triangle PAB we see that E cos  is the

component Es of E along the direction s.
V
Thus: Es 
s V
Es 
s
 V V (24 - 14)
Es  We have proved that: Es 
s s

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 we get:

V
Ex 
x
A
V
E y 
y
B V
Ez 
z
V+dV If we know the function V ( x, y, z)
V 
we can determine the components of E

and thus the vector E itself

 V ˆ V ˆ V ˆ
E  i j k
x y z
(24 - 15)
Potential energy U of a system of point charges
q2
y We define U as the work required to assemble the
r12 system of charges one by one, bringing each charge
r23 from infinity to its final position
q1 Using the above definition we will prove that for
a system of three point charges U is given by:
r13
q3
x q1q2 q2 q3 q1q3
O U  
4 o r12 4 o r23 4 o r13

Note : each pair of charges is counted only once

For a system of n point charges  qi  the potential energy U is given by:
1 n qi q j
U
4 o

i , j 1 rij
Here rij is the separation between qi and q j
i 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
 y
Step 1 (24 - 16)
 Step 1 : Bring in q1
q1 W1 0
(no other charges around)
x
Step2 : Bring in q2
O 
Step 2 W2 q2V (2)
y q2
r12 q1 q1q2
V (2)   W2 
q1 4 o r12 4 o r12
Step3 : Bring in q3
W3 q3V (3)
x
O 1  q1 q2 
V (3)    
Step 3 4 o  r13 r23 
q2 
y r12 1  q1q3 q2 q3 
W3    
q1 4 o  r13 r23 
r23 W W1  W2  W3
r13
q1q2 qq qq
q3 W  2 3  1 3
4 o r12 4 o r23 4 o r13
O x
(24 - 17)
conductor Potential of an isolated conductor
We shall prove that all the points on a conductor
path (either on the surface or inside) have the same
potential
B
 A conductor is an equipotential surface
A E 0

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)
o
 
(24 - 19) E n̂   Electric field and potential
Eout  nˆ
o in and around a charged
 conductor. A summary
 E
Ein 0
n̂

1. All the charges reside on the conductor surface.

2. The electric field inside the conductor is zero Ein 0

3. The electric field just outside the conductor is: Eout 
o
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 (24 - 20)
for a spherical conductor of radius R
and charge q
1 q
For r  R , V 
4 o R
1q
For r  R , V 
4 o r

1q
For r  R , E 
4 o R 2
1 q
For r  R , E 
4 o r 2
Note : Outside the spherical conductor the electric field
R
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