Electric potential and capacitance
1. Electrostatic potential:
(i) Electrostatic force is a conservative force. Work done by an external force in
bringing a charge qq from a point RR to a point PP is UP−URUP-UR which is the
difference in potential energy of charge qq between the final and initial points.
(ii) Potential at a point is the work done per unit charge (by an external agency) in
bringing a charge from infinity to that point. If potential at infinity is chosen to be
zero, potential at a point with position vector rr due to a point charge QQ placed at
the origin is given is given by, V(r)= 14πεoQrVr= 14πεoQr
(iii) The electrostatic potential at a point with position vector rr due to a point dipole
of dipole moment PP placed at the origin is, V(r)= 14πεoP⋅rˆr2Vr= 14πεoP·r^r2
(iv) For a charge configuration q1,q2,…,qnq1,q2,…,qn with position
vectors r1, r2,…rnr1, r2,…rn the potential at a point PP is given by the
superposition principle, V= 14πε0(q1r1p+q2r2P+…+qnrnP)V= 14πε0q1r1p+q2r2P+…
+qnrnP where r1Pr1P is the distance between q1q1 and PP, as and so on.
(v) An equipotential surface is a surface over which potential has a constant value.
The electric field EE at a point is perpendicular to the equipotential surface through
the point.
2. Electrostatic potential energy:
(i) Potential energy stored in a system of charges is the work done (by an external
agency) in assembling the charges at their locations. Potential energy of two
charges q1,q2q1,q2 at r1, r2r1, r2 given
by, U= 14πε0q1q2r12U= 14πε0q1q2r12 where r12r12 is distance
between q1q1 and q2q2.
(ii) The potential energy of a charge qq in an external
potential V(r)V(r) is qV(r)qV(r). The potential energy of a dipole moment pp in a
uniform electric field EE is −p⋅E-p⋅E
3. Conductor in electrostatic field:
Electrostatics field EE is zero in the interior of a conductor, just outside the surface
of a charged conductor, EE is normal to the surface given
by E= σε0nˆE= σε0n^ where nˆn^ is the unit vector along the outward normal to
the surface and σσ is the surface charge density.
4. Capacitor:
(i) A capacitor is a system of two conductors separated by an insulator. Its
capacitance is defined by C=Q/VC=Q/V where QQ and –Q–Q are the charges on
the two conductors and VV is the potential difference between them.
(ii) For a parallel plate capacitor (with vacuum between the
plates), C=ε0AdC=ε0Ad where AA is the area of each plate and dd the separation
between them.
(iii) If the medium between the plates of a capacitor is filled with an insulating
substance (dielectric), the net electric field inside the dielectric and hence the
potential difference between the plates is reduced. Consequently, the
capacitance CC increases from its value C0.C0. When there is no medium
(vacuum), C=KC0C=KC0 where KK is the dielectric constant of the insulating
substance.
5. Combination of capacitors:
(i) For capacitors in the series combination, the total capacitance CC is given
where C1,C2,C3⋯C1,C2,C3⋯ are individual capacitances.
by: 1C= 1C1+1C2+1C3+…1C= 1C1+1C2+1C3+…
(ii) In the parallel combination, the total capacitance CC is: C= C1+C2+C3+…
where C1,C2,C3⋯C1,C2,C3⋯ are individual capacitances.
C= C1+C2+C3+…
6. Energy stored in capacitor:
(i) The energy UU stored in a capacitor of capacitance CC, with charge QQ and
voltage VV is U= 12QV= 12CV2= 12Q2CU= 12QV= 12CV2= 12Q2C
(ii) The electric energy density (energy per unit volume) in a region with electric
field is (1/2)ε0E2(1/2)ε0E2.
