Chapter 2

Electric Potential
19.1 Potential Energy

Work Done is the change in energy

 WAB  U
U  U final - U initial
 mghB  mghA
 PE B  PE A
WAB  (PE B  PE A )  U
19.1 Potential Energy

High Potential

Low Potential
19.1 Potential Energy

WAB  mghB  mghA  (PE B  PE A )

WAB  (PE B  PE A )
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

WAB  (PE B  PE A )  PE AB

WAB  PE B PE A 
   
qo  oq q o 

DEFINITION OF ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

The electric potential (V) at a given point is

the electric potential energy
of a small test charge divided by the
charge itself:
PE
V 
qo
so

WAB
 (VB  VA )  VAB
qo
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

WAB  (PE B  PE A )   PE AB

PE
V 
qo

SI Unit of Electric Potential: joule/coulomb = volt (V)

PE WAB
V  
qo qo
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

Example 1 Work, Potential Energy, and Higher

Electric Potential Potential

The work done by the electric force as the

test charge (2.0x10-6C) moves from A to
B is -5.0x10-5J.

(a) Find the difference in electric potential energy between

these points.
Final Initial
WAB  ( PEB  PE A )  PE AB Lower
Potential
PE AB  WAB  (5.0 10 5 J) Because PEA is higher then PEB

(b) Determine the potential difference between these points.

PE W
V    AB
qo qo

WAB  5.0 10 5 J

VAB   ( )  25 V
qo 2.0 10 C
-6
Example 2
Find the change in electric potential energy, ∆U, as a charge of 2.20 x 10-6 C
moves from a point A to a point B, given that the change in electric potential
between these point is ∆V = VB – VA = 24.0V

PE WAB
V  
qo qo
final Initial

Given VB  VA  24.0 V
WAB  Vqo  24 x 2.2 x 10-6
 WAB  5.28 x 10-5 J
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

Conceptual Example 3 The Accelerations of Positive and Negative Charges

A positive test charge is released from A and accelerates towards B. Upon

reaching B, the test charge continues to accelerate toward C. Assuming that
only motion along the line is possible, what will a negative test charge do when
released from rest at B?
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

A positive charge accelerates from a region of higher electric potential

toward a region of lower electric potential.

A negative charge accelerates from a region of lower potential toward

a region of higher potential.

-
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

We now include electric potential energy PE as part of the total

energy that an object can have:

E  12 mv2  12 I 2  mgh  12 kx2  PEelectric

One electron volt is the magnitude of the amount by

which the potential energy of an electron changes
when the electron moves through a potential
difference of one volt.

1 eV  1.60 10 19 CV  1.60 1019 J

19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

Example 4 The Conservation of Energy

A particle has a mass of 1.8 x10-5kg and a charge of +3.0x10-5C. It is released from
point A and accelerates horizontally until it reaches point B. The only force acting
on the particle is the electric force, and the electric potential at A is 25 V greater than
at B. (a) What is the speed of the particle at point B? (b) If the same particle had a
negative charge and were released from point B, what would be its speed at A?
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

E A  EB
1
2 mv A2  PE A  1
2 mvB2  PE B

KE

1
2 mvB2  12 mvA2  PE A  PEB

1
2 mvB2  12 mvA2  PEAB From PE A  PEB  PE  25V

PE
1
2 mv  mv  (qo VAB )
2
B
1
2
2
A From  V
qo
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

(a) vA  0 1
2 mvB2  qo VAB
m= 1.8x10-5kg qo = +3.0x10-5C

vB  2qo VAB m

   
 2 3.0 10 5 C 25 V  1.8 10 5 kg  9.1 m s

(b) vB = 0 m/s m= 1.8x10-5kg qo = -3.0x10-5C

v A  2qo VAB m

  
 2  3.0 10 5 C  25 V  1.8 10 5 kg  9.1 m s
19.3 The Electric Potential Difference Created by Point Charges
WA  FA x rA WB  FB x rB
kqq o kqq o
But FA  2 But FB  2
rA rB
kqqo kqqo
So WA  2 x rA So WB  2 x rB
rA rB
kqqo kqqo
 
rA rB

kqqo kqqo
WAB  
rA rB

 WAB kq kq
VAB   
qo rA rB

Potential
kq
V
of a
point
charge r
 Example 5
Calculate the electrical potential at point A at a distance of 5cm from a point
charge Q1 of +9µC

5 cm

Q1= 9µC A
 Solution
5 cm

Q1= +9µC A

kQ
Using Formula V 
r
8.99 x 109 x  9 x 10-6
V
5 x 10-2
 161.82 V
 Exercise 1
Calculate the distance between point A and a point charge if the electric
potential between point A and the point charge of 3 nC is 200 V. (Ans:
0.14m)
 Exercise 2
Calculate the magnitude of a charge if the electric potential at point A 20
cm from the charge is 100 V. (Ans: 2.23nC)
19.3 The Electric Potential Difference Created by Point Charges

Example 6 The Potential of a Point Charge

Using a zero reference potential at infinity,

determine the amount by which a point charge
of 4.0x10-8C alters the electric potential at a
spot 1.2m away when the charge is
(a) positive and (b) negative.
19.3 The Electric Potential Difference Created by Point Charges

(a)
kq
V
r


 
8.99 109 N  m 2 C 2  4.0 108 C 
1.2 m
 300 V

kq
(b) V 
r


 
8.99 109 N  m 2 C 2  4.0 10 8 C 
1.2 m
 300 V
19.3 The Electric Potential Difference Created by Point Charges

Example 7 The Total Electric Potential

a) At locations A and B, find the total electric potential.

b) If an electron from infinity is brought to point A, determine the work

done on the electron where qe = 1.6 x 10-19C
19.3 The Electric Potential Difference Created by Point Charges

kq1 kq2
VA  
r1 r2

VA 
8.99 10 
N  m 2 C 2  8.0 10 9 C
9

  
8.99 109 N  m 2 C 2  8.0 10 9 C 
0.20 m 0.60 m
 359.6  119.9  239.7V  239.7 V

kq1 kq2
VB  
r1 r2

VB 
8.99 10 9
    
N  m 2 C 2  8.0 109 C 8.99 109 N  m 2 C2  8.0 109 C
 0V
0.40 m 0.40 m
b) The charge for an electron qe= 1.6 x 10-19 C

Work done = W = -ΔVA x qe

= -[(Vfinal – Vinitial) x qe]
= - [(239.7 – 0) x -1.6 x 10-19]
= -[239.7 x -1.6 x 10-19]
= 3.84 x 10 -17J
Example 8:
Three point charges Q1, Q2 and Q3 are arranged
as shown in figure. If the electric potential at
point R is +25 000 V, find the value of charge Q1.

4 cm Q2 = +20μC
Q1

3 cm

R
Q3 = -30μC
Solution:
VR = VQ1R + VQ2R + VQ3R = 25000V rQ1R = 5cm

VQ1R = kq1/rQ1R
= 8.99 x 109 x Q1/(5 x10-2)
= 1.8 x 1011 Q1V
VQ2R = kq2/rQ2R
= 8.99 x 109 x 20 x 10 -6/(3 x10-2)
= 6.0 x 106 V
VQ3R = kq2/rQ3R
= 8.99 x 109 x -30 x 10 -6/(4 x10-2)
= -6.7 x 106 V

But V total at R = VQ1R + VQ2R + VQ3R = 25 000 V

1.8 x 1011 Q1 + 6.0 x 106 -6.7 x 106 = 25 000

Therefore Q1 = (25000 + 0.7 x 106 ) / 1.8 x 1011

= 4.03 x 10-6 C
Example 9:
Consider two charges Q1 = +10μC and Q2 = -10μC are
placed as shown in figure below. Determine:
(a) the electric potential at point A and B respectively.
(b) the potential difference between point A and B
(c) the electric field at point A due to charges Q1 and Q2.

Q1 Q2 B
A

2 cm 2 cm 5 cm
Solution:
a) VAB = VA – VB r1A = =r2A = 2cm = 2 x10-2 m

V1A = kq1/r1A
= 8.99 x 109 x 10 x 10 -6 /(2 x10-2) = 4.5 x 106 V
V2A = kq2/r2A
= 8.99 x 109 x -10 x 10 -6/(2 x10-2) = - 4.5 x 106 V
Therefore VA = V1A + V2A
= 4.5 x 106 - 4.5 x 106 = 0 V

r2A =9 cm = 2 x10-2 m r2B = 5cm = 5 x10-2 m

V1B = kq1/r1B
= 8.99 x 109 x 10 x 10 -6 /(9 x10-2) = 0.9 x 106 V
V2B = kq2/r2B
= 8.99 x 109 x -10 x 10 -6/(5 x10-2) = - 1.8 x 106 V
Therefore VB = V1B + V2B
= .9x 106 - 1.8 x 106
= -0.9 x 106 V

But ∆VAB = VA – VB Therefore ∆VAB = 0 – (-0.9 x 106 ) = 0.9 x 106

c) Electric field at point A

EA2 EA1

𝑘𝑞1 8.99 𝑥 109 𝑁

EA1 = = = + 224.75 x 106
𝑟𝐴1 2 42𝑥 10−2 𝐶

𝑘𝑞2 8.99 𝑥 109 𝑁

EA2 = = = = − 224.75 x 106 𝐶
𝑟𝐴2 2 42𝑥 10−2

𝑁
EA = 0 𝐶
19.3 The Electric Potential Difference Created by Point Charges

Conceptual Example 10 Where is the Potential Zero?

Two point charges are fixed in place. The positive charge is +2q and the
negative charge is –q. On the line that passes through the charges, how
many places are there at which the total potential is zero?
19.4 Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to the Electric Field

An equipotential surface is a surface on

which the electric potential is the same everywhere.

kq
V
r

The net electric force does no work on a charge as

it moves on an equipotential surface.
19.4 Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to the Electric Field

The electric field created by

any charge
or group of charges is
everywhere
perpendicular to the
associated
equipotential surfaces and
points in
the direction of decreasing
potential.(the further the point
from the charge the lower the
potential)
Properties of equipotential surface:

1) An equipotential is a line or
surface over which the potential is
constant.
2) Electric field lines are
perpendicular to equipotentials.
(The surface of a conductor is an
equipotential).
3) Work Done = 0
19.4 Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to the Electric Field
19.2 The Electric Potential Difference

WAB  (PE A  PE B )  PE AB

PE
V 
qo

SI Unit of Electric Potential: joule/coulomb = volt (V)

PE WAB
V  
qo qo
19.4 Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to the Electric Field

PE WAB
V  
qo qo
F  qE

WAB  qo VBA
using WAB  Fd cos   qo E d
qo (VBA )  qo E d

(VB  VA )  Ed d

V  Ed
 V  V final  Vinitial 
E   
Electric Field  d   d 
The unit for E = volt/m
Example 11:
Electric field obtained from a voltage. Two parallel
plates are charged to produce a potential
difference of 50 V. If the separation between the
plates is 0.050 m, calculate the magnitude of the
electric field in the space between the plates.
Solution

Given ∆VBA = VB - VA = 50 V and

d = 5.0 cm = 5 x 10-2m

VBA  50  V
Therefore E   -2 
 1000
d  5 x 10  m
19.4 Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to the Electric Field

Example 12 The Electric Field and

Potential Are Related

The plates of the capacitor are

separated by a distance of 0.032 m,
and the potential difference between
them is VB-VA=-64V. Between the
two equipotential surfaces shown in
color, there is a potential difference of
3.0V. Find the spacing between the
two colored surfaces.
19.4 Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to the Electric Field

Electric fied between the plate A and B

V BA   64 V 
E    2.0  10 3
V m
d  0.032 m 

The distance between the coloured plates

V plate  3.0 V  3
d    1.5  10 m
 2.0 10 V m 
3
E
Example 13:
Suppose an electron in a cathode ray tube is accelerated
from rest through a potential difference Vb – Va = Vba =
+5000 V. What is the change in electric potential energy
of the electron?
* 1eV = 1.6 x 10-19J
1e = 1.6 x 10-19C = q

ΔVba=-W/q = (Vb –Va)

Therefore W = -ΔVba x q
=-5000 x -1.6 x 10-19
= 8.0 x 10 -16 J
A charged conducting sphere
A solid conducting sphere of radius R has a total
charge q. The potential everywhere, both outside
and inside the sphere.
An infinite line charge or charged conducting
cylinder
The potential at a distance r from a very long line
charge with linear charge density λ.

by setting Vb = 0 at point b at an
arbitrary radial distance r0
A ring of charge
Electric charge is distributed uniformly around a thin
ring of radius a, with total charge Q. The potential at
a point P on the ring axis at a distance x from the
centre of the ring.
A line of charge
Electric charge Q is distributed uniformly along a
line or thin rod of length 2a. The potential at a point
P along the perpendicular bisector of the rod at a
distance x from its centre.
Infinite plane and point charge