CHAPTER 25

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
Potential Difference and Electric Potential
Consider a charged particle of charge q in a region of an electric field
E. This filed exerts an electric force on the particle given by F= qE. When
the particle moves from initial point i to final point f this force does work on
it according to
f

W = qE dl
i

Since the electric force is conservative, we can associate a potential energy

with this force according to
U = W

or
f

U f U i = q E dl
i

Let us now define the electric potential V as the electric potential energy per
unit charge, i.e.,
V=

U
q

The electric potential difference between the points i and f is then

f

Vf Vi = E dl
i

The potential difference Vf - Vi is defined as the work required to move

a positive unit charge from point i to point f.
Since it is only the change in potential between two points that has physical
sense, it is often convenient to choose a reference point for zero potential.
This reference point is usually chosen to be at infinity, i.e., V = 0 . Letting
the point i to be and designate point f as point p, the electric potential at
any point p becomes
p

Vp = E dl

That is, the electric potential at any point p which can be defined as the work
required to bring a positive unit charge from infinity to that point. In this
sense the potential at a point is the potential difference between that point and
a point at infinity.
The electric potential is a scalar quantity.
The SI unit of V is joules per coulomb (J/C), usually represented by a special
unit called volt (V), i.e.,
1 V = 1 J/C
It follows that the electric field has a unit of volt per meter (V/m) with
1 N/C = 1 V/m
Example 25.2
A proton is released from rest in a uniform e.f. that has a
magnitude of 8.0 104 V/m. The proton undergoes a displacement of 0.5 m
in the direction of E.
a) Find VB - VA
b) Find UB - UA
c) Find the speed of the proton at point B.

Solution:
B

V = VB VA = E dl = Edl

This follows from the fact that E and dl are parallel.

Since E is uniform it can be taken out from the
integral sign, giving
B

V = E dl = Ed

= 8.0 10 4 (0.5) = 4.0 10 4 V

From the minus sign we conclude that VA > VB.

b)

c)

)(

U = qV = 1.6 10 19 4.0 10 4

= 6.4 10 15 J
K + U = 0

( mv 0)+ ( 6.4 10 )= 0
1
2

v=

15

2 6.4 10 15
1.67 10

27

) = 2.8 106 m/s

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ A
+
+
+

B -

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO POINT CHARGES

B

dl
rA
r

A
rB

Consider an isolated point charge q. To find the electric potential due to this
charge at a point, we have
B

VB VA = E dl
A

The electric field due to the charge q at a distance r is

E=k

q
r2

r ,

where r is a unit vector directed radially outward from q. Therefore

B

VB VA = kqA

r dl

But

r dl = dr

r2

q
q
1 B
VB VA = kq = k k
rB
rA
r rA

The first term of the right hand side represents the potential at point B (VB)
and the second term represents the potential at point A (VA). The electric
potential at a point a distance r from a point charge q is then obtained if r A
, that is,
V=k

q
r

As it is clear from the above equation, V is positive for positive q and

negative for negative q.
The electric potential due to a group of point charges at a point is the
algebraic sum of the electric potentials due to each charge individually. That
is, for a group of N point charges we have
N

V = k
i

qi
ri

where r i is the distance from the ith charge qi to the point in question.
Do not forget that the sum is algebraic sum and not vector sum like that used
to calculate the electric filed due to a group of point charges. This fact gives
an important advantage of potential over electric field.
Example 25.3
Two
point
charges of q1= 2.0 C, q2= -6.0 C, q2= - 6.0 C
are arranged as shown. Find
a) the electric potential at the point p.
b) the change in potential energy of
3.0 m
the system plus a charge
q3= 3.0 C that moves from to
point P.
q1=2.0 C

Solution:

0.5 m

4.0 m

q q
V = k 1 + 2
r1 r2
2 6
= 9 109 10 6 = 6.29 103 V
4 5

a)

b) The change in P.E is equal to the work required, by an external agent, to

bring q3 from to point P, i.e.,
U = W = q3 VP

)(

= 3.0 10 6 6.29 103 = 1.89 10 2 J

POTENTIAL ENERGY OF A SYSTEM OF POINT CHARGES

q3
r 23
q2
r 13
r 12
q1

Let us calculate the work required to assemble a system of three point

charges. To do so we have to calculate the work required to bring, from
infinity, each charge one by one.
As the potential at a point is equal to the work required to bring a
positive unit charge from infinity to that point. Therefore, the work required
to bring a charge q from infinity to a point must equal to the potential at that
point multiplied by q, i.e.,
W p = qVp

Now, no work is required to place the first charge q1 at a given position

because there is no electric potential at that position. Next we place a second
charge q2 at a position r 12 from q1. This requires a work q2V1 where V1 is the
potential at the location of q2 due to q1. If we denote this work by W2 with
W1= 0 denotes the work required to place q1, then we have
W2 = k

q1q2
r12

Next we place q3 at a position r 31 from q1 and r 32 from q2. We now must do

work given as q3V12, where V12 is the potential at the location of q3 due both
q1 and q2, i.e.,
q
q
W3 = kq3 1 + 2
r31 r32

The total work required to assemble a system of three charges is then

W = W1 + W2 + W3

This work is stored as an electrostatic energy in the system, so we write

q q
qq
q q
U = W = k 1 2 + 1 3 + 2 3
r13
r23
r12

The potential energy of a system of N charges can be calculated in a similar

fashion. For 4-charges, for example we have
q q
qq
q q
q q
qq
q q
U = W = k 1 2 + 1 3 + 1 4 + 2 3 + 2 4 + 3 4
r13
r14
r23
r24
r34
r12

For a simple system of only two point charges the potential energy is given
by
q1q2
U =k

r12

Note that if the charges are of the same sign U is positive which means that
the force is repulsive, as expected.
If the charges are of the opposite sign U is negative which means that the
force is attractive, which is the case.
Example Find the potential energy of the system given in the previous
example.
Solution:
q q
qq
q q
U = k 1 2 + 1 3 + 2 3
r13
r23
r12
(2.0)(6.0) 10 12

3.0

12
(2.0)(3.0) 10

= 9 109 +

4.0

12
+ (3.0)(6.0) 10

= 5.48 10 2 J

E. POTENTIAL DUE TO CONTINUOUS CHARGE

DISTRIBUTION
If a charge is continuously distributed in a given region, two methods will be
followed:
1- If the charge distribution is well known we can proceed as we do
calculating the electric field discussed: choosing an element of charge
finding the potential dV due to this element, and then integrating over
entire charge distribution. This method is well illustrated in finding
potential du to a line of charge, charged ring, and charged disk.

for
dq,
the
the

2- If the electric field of the charge distribution can be calculated easily

(Using Gauss law for instant), we can use the Equation
p

Vp = E dl

This method is useful for cases where Gauss law can be applied, i.e., for
charge distribution with high degree of symmetry.
Example 25.7
A wire of length L has a
charge Q uniformly distributed. Find the electric
potential at a point along its axis and a distance
d from one end.
Solution: We divide the wire into small
elements each of length dx and charge dq. Since
each element can be considered as a point
charge, the electric potential dV due to one of
these elements a distance x from p is
dV = k

dq
dq
=k
r
x2 + a 2

r
a
L

dq

x
dx

Since we are dealing with a scalar quantity we can integrate the above
expression directly to get the potential due to the whole wire. The result is
L

dq

V = k

x2 + a 2

= k

dx
x2 + a 2

where we have substituted for dq as dx. Performing the integral we get

L+
V = k ln

kQ L +
ln
=
L

L2 + a 2

L2 + a 2

Example 25.5
A ring of
radius R has a uniform charge
distribution of magnitude Q.
Calculate the electric potential
along the axis of the ring at a
point P lying a distance D from
the center of the ring.

dq

r
R

Solution: The ring is divided

into small elements each of length
ds and charge dq. The electric
potential due to one element
which can be considered as a
point charge is
dV=k

dq
r

=k
2

dq

(R2 + D 2 )

Integrating we get
V=

k
R2 + D 2

dq =

Qk
R2 + D 2

At the center of the ring D= 0 and the electric potential is then

V=k

Q
R

Example 25.6
A disk of radius R has a
uniform charge density . Calculate the
electric potential along the axis of the disk at a
point p lying a distance D from the center of
the disk.

r
D

Solution: We divide the disk into thin rings

each of thickness dr. From the result of the
previous example, the potential due to one
element with radius r is
dV=k

dr

dq

(r 2 + D 2 )

Integrating the last result and noting that

dq=dA = (2 rdr )

we get
R

E=k

(r

2rdr
2

+ D2

= 2k R 2 + D 2 D

= 2k r 2 + D 2

Example 25.8
An insulating solid sphere of
radius R has a charge Q uniformly distributed
within its volume. Find the electric potential at a
point
a) outside the sphere r > R,
b) inside the sphere r < R.

Q
R

Solution: We define E1 and E2 to be the electric fields in the r > R, and r <
R regions, respectively. Using the result of the previous Example we have
E1 =

E2 =

Q
4 o r 2

r>R

Qr
4 o R3

r<R

a) For outside the sphere r > R, we have

r

V1 = E dr

Substituting for E by E1 and knowing that dr = dr r we get

r

1
=
kQ
r
2

r

V1 = kQ
=k

dr

Q
r

Note that this result is identical to that of a point charge. This means that the
problem can be treated as the entire charge was concentrated at the center of
the sphere.
b) For inside the sphere r < R, we have

V2 = E dr

But in this case the range from to the point in question enclose two regions
with different electric fields: The outside region (r > R) which extend from
to R, and the inside region (r < R) which extend from R to r. Therefore, we
have to divide the integration into two parts as
R

V2 = E 1 dr E 2 dr

Substituting for E1 and E2 we obtain

V2 =

r
Q R dr
Q

rdr
4 o r 2 4 o R3 R

Performing the integrals and rearrange we get

V2 =

Q
r2
3 2
8 o R
R

Note that the two expressions of V1 and V2 give the same result for r= R (at
the surface) which is
V=

Q
4 o R

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CONDUCTORS

In the previous chapter we have mentioned some properties of a
conductor in electrostatic equilibrium with the help of Gauss law. Some of
these properties are:
1- The electric field inside the conductor is zero.
2- The electric field on the surface of the conductor is perpendicular to the
surface.
Now we have
f

Vf Vi = E dl
i

If the initial and the final points lie inside a conductor and using the first
property we conclude that the electric potential is constant inside the
conductor. Furthermore, since E is always normal to dl on the surface, the
electric potential is also constant on the surface of the conductor. Another
important property of a conductor thus follow
The electric potential inside any conductor in equilibrium is
constant and equal to the potential on its surface.
To prove this property explicitly, let us
consider a conducting sphere of radius R and
charge Q. The electric potential at a point
inside the sphere is
r

V = E dr = E out dr E in dr

But Ein=0 and Eout =

Q
4 o r 2

V
kQ
R

r , so we get
r
R

V=

Q
4 o R

which is the value of the potential at the surface of the conductor. The figure
shows the variation of V as a function of the radial distance r for a
conducting sphere of radius R.
If two or more conducting objects are connected by a conducting wire, the
conductors are no longer separate but can be considered as a single
conductor. This means that the electric charges will transfer from the
conductor of higher potential to that of lower potential until the equilibrium
condition is achieved. Therefore, if two or more conductors are connected
and equilibrium is achieved, they must be at the same electric potential.
In analogue with the electric filed lines, the electric potential can be
represented by equipotential surfaces.
A surface with all its points are at the same electric potential is called
equipotential surface.
From this definition, it follows that no work is done by the electric field in
moving a charged particle between two points on the same equipotential
surface. This means that the electric filed lines must be perpendicular to the
equipotential surfaces. The surface of any conductor forms an equipotential
surface.
Example 25.9
Two conducting charged spheres with radii R1 and R2 are
separated by a distance much larger than the radius of either sphere. The two
spheres are connected by a conducting wire. The charges on the spheres in
equilibrium are q1 and q2.
a) Find the ratio of the magnitudes of the e. fields at the surfaces of the
spheres, and the ratio of the charge densities on the surfaces of the spheres.
Solution: Since the spheres are connected by a conducting wire, the
potential is the same for both spheres, i.e.,
V1 = V2

q1
q
=K 2
R1
R2

From which it follows that

q1 R1
=
q2 R2

The charges are distributed over the surface of the spheres, so we have
1 =

q1
4R12

and

2 =

q2
4R22

Therefore
1 q1r22
=
2 q 2 r12

Substituting for the ratio q1 q2 given above we get

1 r2
=
2 r1

It is clear from this result that the charge density is greatest on the small
sphere as expected.
Since the e. field on the surface of a conductor is equal to
E1 1 r2
=
=
E2 2 r1

That is, the field is more intense near the smaller sphere.

we get
o