F33.

107: Physics 2, Class 008 (English Course)

Distribution of notes outside of this course is forbidden.

Chapter 24: Electric Potential

Yong Siah Teo
Building 56, Room 333
[email protected]
 Work, Potential and Potential Energy
o Since Coulomb’s force drops to zero with
increasing distance 𝑟 from a source, we
may set 𝑈 ∞ = 0 at 𝑟 = ∞ (recall
Newton’s gravitational force).

Electric/electrostatic
potential energy James Prescott
Joule (1818–1889)
Electric/electrostatic
potential

Unit for
potential

Figure 24-2 (a) A test charge has been brought in

from infinity to point P in the electric field of the
Potential is a scalar, hence easier Alessandro Volta rod. (b) We define an electric potential V at P based
to analyze than the electric field. (1745–1827) on the potential energy of the configuration in (a).
 Dynamics in an Electric Field
o Change in potential (energies) in moving a
charge from point i to point f in an electric field.

o Work by and potential energy of the conservative

electrostatic force

o Conservation of the total mechanical energy or

work-kinetic-energy theorem

o Work by an additional external applied force

➢ Unit for work (electron-volt, eV): ❖ Work in moving one

electron through a potential
difference of one volt.
Dynamics in an Electric Field
 Work and Potential Energy of Electrons
from Ionized Atmosphere
Sample Problem 24.01
Figure 24-3 An electron
Electrons are continually being knocked out of air molecules in the atmosphere
in the atmosphere is
by cosmic-ray particles coming in from space. Once released, each electron
moved upward through
experiences an electric force F due to the electric field E that is produced in the
displacement d by an
atmosphere by charged particles already on Earth. Near Earth’s surface the
electric force F due to an
electric field has the magnitude E = 150 N/C and is directed downward. What is
electric field E.
the change ΔU in the electric potential energy of a released electron when the
electric force causes it to move vertically upward through a distance d = 520 m
(Fig. 24-3)? Through what potential change does the electron move?
Definition of Potential change
work done
Relation between
F and E
 Equipotential Surfaces and Work Integral
❑ Equipotential surface: surface of equal potential.

❑ Work done W along any equipotential surface is zero.

❑ This means that E cannot have components along the

equipotential surfaces.

Figure 24-5 Electric field lines (purple)

and cross sections of equipotential
surfaces (gold) for (a) a uniform
electric field, (b) the field due to a
charged particle, and (c) the field due
to an electric dipole.
 Equipotential Surfaces and Work Integral
▪ Differential work

▪ Work integral

▪ Potential difference

▪ Assume positions i and f d𝑉 = −𝑬 ∙ d𝒔 = d𝑥 𝑉 + d𝑦 𝑉 + d𝑧 𝑉 ,

are very close
መ, Figure 24-6 A test charge 𝑞0 moves from point i to point f
𝑬 = 𝐸𝑥 𝐢Ƹ + 𝐸𝑦 𝐣Ƹ + 𝐸𝑘 𝐤 along the path shown in a nonuniform electric field.
During a displacement ds, an electric force 𝑞0 E acts on
መ,
d𝒔 = d𝑥 𝐢Ƹ + d𝑦 𝐣Ƹ + d𝑧 𝐤 the test charge. This force points in the direction of the
field line at the location of the test charge.
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = − 𝜕𝑥 , 𝐸𝑦 = − 𝜕𝑦 , 𝐸𝑧 = − 𝜕𝑧 or 𝑬 = −𝜵𝑉.

The component of in any direction is the negative of the rate at

which the electric potential changes with distance in that direction.
The electric field vector points from higher potential toward lower potential.
Work Integral in a Uniform Field
▪ Uniform E
parallel to ds
▪ Work integral

▪ Potential difference

Figure 24-6 A test charge 𝑞0 moves from point i to point f

along the path shown in a nonuniform electric field.
During a displacement ds, an electric force 𝑞0 E acts on
the test charge. This force points in the direction of the
field line at the location of the test charge.

Figure 24-7 We move between points i and f, between

adjacent equipotential lines in a uniform electric field E
parallel to a field line.
 Work Integral in a Uniform Field
Sample Problem 24.02
(a) Figure 24-8a shows two points i and f in a uniform electric
field E. The points lie on the same electric field line (not
shown) and are separated by a distance d. Find the potential
difference Vf – Vi by moving a positive test charge 𝑞0 from
i to f along the path shown, which is parallel to the field
direction.
(b) Now find the potential difference Vf – Vi by moving the
positive test charge 𝑞0 from i to f along the path icf shown
in Fig. 24-8b.
(a)

(b) Figure 24-8 (a) A test charge 𝑞0 moves in a straight line from point i
to point f, along the direction of a uniform external electric field.
(b) Charge 𝑞0 moves along path icf in the same electric field.
Vi = Vc
 Electric Potential from a Monopole
Figure 24-9 The particle with positive charge q
produces an electric field E and an electric
potential V at point P. We find the potential by
moving a test charge 𝑞0 from P to infinity. The test
charge is shown at distance r from the particle,
during differential displacement ds.

Only component of ds
parallel to E contributes
Electric-field magnitude
from a monopole
Figure 24-10 A computer-generated plot of the electric
potential V(r) due to a positively charged particle
located at the origin of an xy plane. The potentials at
points in the xy plane are plotted vertically. (Curved
lines have been added to help you visualize the plot.)

A positively charged particle produces a positive

electric potential. A negatively charged particle
produces a negative electric potential.
 Electric Potential from Many Charges

Sample Problem 24.03

What is the electric potential at point P, located at the center of the
square of charged particles shown in Fig. 24-11a? The distance d
is 1.3 m, and the charges are

Figure 24-11 (a) Four charged particles. (b) The closed curve
is a (roughly drawn) cross section of the equipotential
surface that contains point P.
Electric Potential from an Electric Dipole
Potential superposition from two opposite charges:

Far-field approximation:

Figure 24-13 (a) Point P is a distance r from the midpoint O of

a dipole. The line OP makes an angle θ with the dipole axis.
(b) If P is far from the dipole, the lines of lengths r(+) and r(-)
are approximately parallel to the line of length r, and the
dashed black line is approximately perpendicular to the line of
length r(-).
 Induced Dipole Moment

http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/dielec.html
Figure 24-14 (a) An atom, showing the positively charged nucleus
(green) and the negatively charged electrons (gold shading) but
nonpolar: the centers of positive and negative charge coincide. Some dielectric material (insulator) contain atoms or molecules
(b) If the atom is placed in an external electric field E, the electron that are electrically polarized. These polarized atoms or
orbits are distorted so that the centers of positive and negative molecules are naturally randomly oriented in space. In an
charge no longer coincide. An induced dipole moment p appears. external electrical field, these dipoles align with the field,
The distortion is greatly exaggerated here. resulting in macroscopic polarization of the material.
 Electric Potential from a Continuous
Charge Distribution (Charged Rod)
Charge density

Differential
potential

Figure 24-15 (a) A thin, uniformly charged rod produces an

electric potential V at point P. (b) An element can be treated as a
particle. (c) The potential at P due to the element depends on the
distance r. We need to sum the potentials due to all the elements,
from the left side (d) to the right side (e).
 Electric Potential from a Continuous
Charge Distribution (Charged Disk)

Charge density

Differential
potential

Figure 24-16 A plastic disk of radius R, charged on its top surface

to a uniform surface charge density σ. We wish to find the
potential V at point P on the central axis of the disk.
 Potential Energy of a System of Three
Charged Particles
Sample Problem 24.06
Figure 24-19 shows three charged particles held in fixed positions
by forces that are not shown. What is the electric potential energy U
of this system of charges? Assume that d = 12 cm and that 𝑞1 = +q,
𝑞2 = –4q, and 𝑞3 = +2q, in which q = 150 nC.

Fix the first charge at

zero work. Next, bring
the second charge near it.
Then calculate work to
bring in the third charge. Figure 24-19 Three charges are fixed at the
vertices of an equilateral triangle. What is the
electric potential energy of the system?

Add all work up.

 Elastic Scattering of 24.6 MeV Alpha
Particles by Au
Sample Problem 24.07
An alpha particle (two protons, two neutrons) moves into a stationary gold atom
(79 protons, 118 neutrons), passing through the electron region that surrounds the
gold nucleus like a shell and headed directly toward the nucleus (Fig. 24-20). The
alpha particle slows until it momentarily stops when its center is at radial distance
r = 9.23 fm from the nuclear center. Then it moves back along its incoming path.
(Because the gold nucleus is much more massive than the alpha particle, we can
assume the gold nucleus does not move.) What was the kinetic energy Ki of the Figure 24-20 An alpha particle, traveling head-on toward
alpha particle when it was initially far away (hence external to the gold atom)? the center of a gold nucleus, comes to a momentary stop
Assume that the only force acting between the alpha particle and the gold nucleus (at which time all its kinetic energy has been transferred
is the (electrostatic) Coulomb force and treat each as a single charged particle. to electric potential energy) and then reverses its path.

Conservation of
mechanical energy
 Electric Potential from an Isolated
Charged Conductor
An excess charge placed on an isolated conductor
will distribute itself on the surface of that conductor
so that all points of the conductor—whether on the
surface or inside—come to the same potential. This is
true even if the conductor has an internal cavity and
even if that cavity contains a net charge.

Figure 24-21 (a) A plot of V(r) both inside and outside a charged
spherical shell of radius 1.0 m. (b) A plot of E(r) for the same shell.
Conductors in External Electric Fields

Michael Faraday
Figure 24-22 A large spark jumps to a car’s body Figure 24-23 An uncharged conductor is suspended
(1791–1867)
and then exits by moving across the insulating in an external electric field. The free electrons in the
left front tire (note the flash there), leaving the conductor distribute themselves on the surface as
person inside unharmed. (Approximate shown, so as to reduce the net electric field inside
Faraday cage) the conductor to zero and make the net field at the
surface perpendicular to the surface.