Electrostatic Potential

Electric Potential difference: Potential difference between two points in an electric field may be defined
in
as the amount of work done moving a unit positive charge from one point to the other against
the electrostatics forces
if Up and I be the electric potential at point 4 and R respectively
then Al =
Up-4&
external
MpR: work done
OU Al MPR MPRF HEOF
<p-4R=Ctpa
=
and -

of Potential difference JC=1V0lt-

32 unit
=
Test is so small that it does not disturb the distribution of the source charge
Note:- ·
charge
· we
just apply so much external force on the test
charge that itrepulsive electric force
just balances the
on it and hence does not produce
any acceleration in it. Die
Sunil J
Potential difference is path independent).

Electric Potential a

ng
Electric Potential at electric field is the in moving
any point in an amount of work done a unit
electrostatic forces

ra P ysics
positive charge from infinity to that point against the
if the point R lies infinity, that x (p= 1
at then v=
4p=0 (
=
so or

· Electric Potential always decrease in the direction of electric field.

h
·
Electric Potential is a scalar
quantity.
Potential
due to a point
du -90
charge
a
E · ⑧ F. consider a the point charge a placed at the origin
O p B A [Link] have to
Gu to the potential at point P.
y
K > Let a test ch
ruji placed at point A
K 3)

Acc to Collumb Law, Force

acting on charge a. is
F 1
=
990 Work done in moving the test charge 9. from A to B through small displacement de
4
I80 12
against the electrostatic force is
4 = E'.dY= d)= Fducos180 = -

Fole
The total work done in moving the charges a from infinity to that point p will be

Tado FET
y z
R
W = /dH
-J Fale
-cGeode -9190 Slice
= =
I= re W =

I
&ao ff-o) tshoo Hence Electric Potential =
(=920xd
==
for
=

potential due to dipole

elral
-
Potential due to dipole at a point on axial line.
Potential due to +98-9 charge at point p is To P
@
Elta)
O
x
= 1 1.= - -

<
-
4(72. (r-a)
K D
(Uta)
Total potential at point p. is
x=x + V-
+

pitral pitzoltas #V=fso(cas Cal] tsoa-htal =92ay v=RSs

v= #y= =
->
 Here p=q2a
For short dipole
[Link]
Ma

•
Potential due to dipole at a point on equatorial line
P
Potential due to positive charge &
Negative charge at point P is

Xp = 9- & K =
-
g-
112
4112g (rYqykz 41T£ ( [Link]) (
2¥
,

So Total Potential at Point P is u 93g

Veg .
= O

q + q
-

a a
'
otential due to dipole at any point .

Potential due to +9 and -9 at point P are

respectively .

v+== 9- & 4- -9g

Sunil J
=

41T Eor
,
Potential
Ttt Eorz

is
a
Net at point P

ng
11=1
III. [ ¥-1m]
✗ =\/+ + v. -

1- "

411-89

ra P ysics
41T Eora

"
¥÷ir÷ ] .

h
if the point P lies far away from the dipole , then
"
r
, -4 = ZACOSO and r
, ra e r

:O y= 9- ✗ 2acos_O
' v=Kp¥sO
°o° 10=9×2 a
Gu 81%-1
411-6
¥ ,
411-80 r
ruji
Potential due to a system of charges
Let there be n number of charges 9 , 9293 - - - - -9N
at distances from
r
,
r, r
, ra - -
rn respectively
the point P .

Potential due to 9, & 92 charge at point P is given

by 14=1 v2 =
9-
41TEorlp 41TGBP
similarly
Yn=9n_
411-8 rmp The total Potential at point P due individual charges is
given by .

11=4,1-42-1113-1 + Vn - - - -

11=1 + 9s + + 91 -

- - - - -

41TEotfp 41T Eorzp 41T Eottnp

so 11=1 É ai
411-80 < Tip
E- I
 Equipotential surfaces "
•
Any surface that has same electric potential at every point on it is Called Equipotential
Equipotential surface is an imaginary
"
surface .
surface .

Properties of Equipotential surface

• No work is done in
moving a test charge oven an equipotential surface .

: Go LVA YB) equipotential surface H=o

•

IA = -
on VA -115-0 So

• Electric field is always perpendicular ( Normal) to the equipotential surface at every point .

If the field were not Normal to the equipotential surface , it would have a non zero component along
the surface .
so to move a test
charge against this component a , work would have to be done .

•
Equipotential surfaces are closer
together in the region of strong field and farther apart in the
regions of weak fields .

Because E= -

DI or dr -= -

d¥ on equipotential surface dv= Constant then or ✗ 1-

d, E

• No two equipotential surfaces can intersect each other because .

point of intersection
at the
there will be two values of electric potential at the point of intersection , which is impossible .

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surface

sph¥otenia
yer
7

ng
< ?

ra P ysics
L -

-8--83-630
✓

h
Relation between field and Potential
let P point on the surface
be a B. 81 is theperpendicular
distance of the surface A from P .
Imagine that a unit positive
is moved perpendicular from the surface B
this
charge along Gu
to surface A against the electric field The work done in this process •
ruji
is
SH =
[Link] here Fei .
= -

FIT .
( external force is
against
i. e Slit = -

[Link] electrostatic field force) .

SH = -

% [Link]
SKI = - É fi .

%
Sv = -
É fi -

for uniform electric field .

-
ve
showing that potential always decreases in the direction of electric field .

FOR Non -
Uniform E. F
A

11=-1 E. di or E =

-0¥ ,
13

Potential Energy of a system of charges

There is external field which work
Note : → no
against needs to
be done .

Work done in bringing a

change from infinity to the point I .

Hy=0 % External field is zero .

and work in bringing a

charge from infinity to the point I.
Ha =
Y 92 Y= Potential due to 9 , charge at 9 , change is

Wai 9- ✗ 92 % 4=1 This work done

gets stored in i. e U=9i9→
411-872 411-842 .

the form of Potential energy . 411-442 .

 Potential energy of a
system of three charges is given
by w
f (aqa +99s 9sand
=

When there is no external electric field.

Potential energy in an External Electric Field

·For a System of two changes 9, and da
·
a (a, , 92)
· The work done in
F. is
bringing a charge 9, from infinity to the point ve, "...
->

& &
->

Vz

I
=
potential due to external field
V (F)
9, x (v) = Electric 9, 92
at position vector F
work done in bringing the charge 92 from infinity to the point F2 Note - 1(viz) is potentiat
the al
a
#z=x (E2)9c + X,(52) 92 due charge
to
external Eor).
[V(V) potential at 2 due to
=

Su
i
a=x(re192+Elee Hence W= HtW2 +W =
nil JV(El92+theri
v()9, +

ng
Potential Energy for (ie for n-charges)

ra P ysics
a collection of More than Two Charges

v =

99; here K=
iE
h
I, j
iFj

Question:(i). Calculate the potential at a point Pdue to a charge

- Gu of 4x18FC located am away
Solution: Potential at a point is given by v=1 ruji =
4**409 so 1=4x104X.
4172.5
(ii). Hence obtain the work done in bringing a charge of 2x189C" from infinity to that point.
solution: we know work done ( =
90X
W = 2x10*x4x10*=8N10Y Joule

nestion:
& Three point A, B and c lie in
- a uniform electric field 3

xkemo; en
A
CE) of 3x10NC as shown in the figure. Find the potential -
S
s
difference between A and Co
>E
S
Solutione Potential at pt. B and C are same

xB Vc =

And Potential difference between A and c Potential diff between =

A and B
ie P.D=- Edn 5N0'x4x5F=-200 volt = -

9. is the angle between electric field and equipotential surface?

What
a). 90" always (b) 0 always 100 to 900 (d)0" to 1800 Answer -> (a)

Question: Find Pay in an electric field E= (94 + 35+44) NIC

where F=(4-25+K)m and is (2i+-24) m

solution: using (y= -[Link] Here 5 =

Pa-Bb Edi=(-25+K) -(94+9-24)
Va+Nb = -
E.d =
-i-3% +3K
#a-4y =-(24 + 35+4K.)-4-35+34)
=-c-2-9+12)=-1 Volt answer.