Physics 102:

Electric Potential
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün

EMU Physics Department

www.aovgun.com
 Work Done by a Constant Force
1. The right figure shows four situations in which a force is applied
to an object. In all four cases, the force has the same magnitude,
and the displacement of the object is to the right and of the
same magnitude. Rank the situations in order of the work done
by the force on the object, from most positive to most negative.
!
F
A. I, IV, III, II !
F
B. II, I, IV, III
C. III, II, IV, I
I II
D. I, IV, II, III !
F !
E. III, IV, I, II F

III IV
October 3, 2007
Work Done by a Constant Force
q The work W done a system by !
an agent exerting a constant F
! !
force on the system is the F Δr
product of the magnitude F of !
the force, the magnitude Δr of Δr
the displacement of the point I II
of application of the force, and
cosθ, where θ is the angle
between the force and
displacement vectors: !
! F
F
! !
Δr Δr
III IV

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 Potential Energy, Work and
Conservative Force
q Start
! !
mg Δr
yf
yi
q Then
q The work done by a conservative force
on a particle moving between any two
q So points is independent of the path
taken by the particle.

q The work done by a conservative force

on a particle moving through any
closed path is zero.

October 3, 2007
 Electric Potential Energy
q The potential energy of the system Uf

Ui
q The work done by the electrostatic
force is path independent.
q Work done by a electric force or “field”

Uf
q Work done by an Applied force

Ui

October 3, 2007
 Work: positive or negative?
2. In the right figure, we move the proton from point i to
point f in a uniform electric field directed as shown.
Which statement of the following is true?

A. Electric field does positive work on the proton; And

Electric potential energy of the proton increases.
B. Electric field does negative work on the proton; And
f i E
Electric potential energy of the proton decreases.
C. Our force does positive work on the proton; And
Electric potential energy of the proton increases.
D. Electric field does negative work on the proton; And
Electric potential energy of the proton decreases.
E. It changes in a way that cannot be determined.

October 3, 2007
 Electric Potential
q The electric potential energy
n Start
n Then
n So

q Potential difference depends only

q The electric potential on the source charge distribution
(Consider points i and f without
the presence of the test charge;

q The difference in potential energy

exists only if a test charge is
moved between the points.

October 3, 2007
 Electric Potential
q Just as with potential energy, only differences in electric potential are
meaningful.
n Relative reference: choose arbitrary zero reference level for ΔU or ΔV.
n Absolute reference: start with all charge infinitely far away and set Ui = 0,
then we have and at any point in an electric field,
where W∞ is the work done by the electric field on a charged particle as that
particle moves in from infinity to point f.

q SI Unit of electric potential: Volt (V)

1 volt = 1 joule per coulomb
1 J = 1 VC and 1 J = 1 N m
q Electric field: 1 N/C = (1 N/C)(1 VC/J)(1 J/Nm) = 1 V/m
q Electric energy: 1 eV = e(1 V)
= (1.60×10-19 C)(1 J/C) = 1.60×10-19 J

October 3, 2007
 Potential Difference
in a Uniform Electric Field downhill
uphill for
for
+−q
q Electric field lines always point in the
direction of decreasing electric
potential.
q A system consisting of a positive
charge and an electric field loses
electric potential energy when the
charge moves in the direction of the
field (downhill).
q A system consisting of a negative
charge and an electric field gains
electric potential energy when the
charge moves in the direction of the
field (uphill).
q Potential difference does not depend
on the path connecting them

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Equipotential Surface
q The name equipotential surface is given to any
surface consisting of a continuous distribution
of points having the same electric potential.

q Equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular

to electric field lines.

q No work is done by the electric field on a

charged particle while moving the particle along
an equipotential surface.

Analogy to Gravity
q The equipotential surface is like the “height”
lines on a topographic map.

q Following such a line means that you remain at

the same height, neither going up nor going
down—again, no work is done.
October 3, 2007
 Work: positive or negative?
3. The right figure shows a family of equipotential surfaces
associated with the electric field due to some distribution of
charges. V1=100 V, V2=80 V, V3=60 V, V4=40 V. WI, WII, WIII
and WIV are the works done by the electric field on a charged
particle q as the particle moves from one end to the other. Which
statement of the following is not true?

A. WI = WII
B. WIII is not equal to zero
C. WII equals to zero
D. WIII = WIV
E. WIV is positive

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Potential Due to a Point Charge
q Start with (set Vf =0 at ∞ and Vi =V at R)

q We have

q Then

q So

q A positively charged particle produces a positive

electric potential.
q A negatively charged particle produces a
negative electric potential

October 3, 2007
 Potential due to
a group of point charges
q Use superposition

q For point charges

q The sum is an algebraic sum, not a vector sum.

q E may be zero where V does not equal to zero. q q
q V may be zero where E does not equal to zero.
q -q

October 3, 2007
 Electric Field and Electric Potential
4. Which of the following figures have V=0 and
E=0 at red point?
q q q -q
A B

q q q -q

q q -q q q -q
C D E

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Potential due to a Continuous
Charge Distribution
q Find an expression for dq:
n dq = λdl for a line distribution
n dq = σdA for a surface distribution
n dq = ρdV for a volume distribution

q Represent field contributions at P due to point

charges dq located in the distribution.

q Integrate the contributions over the whole

distribution, varying the displacement as needed,

October 3, 2007
 Example: Potential Due to
a Charged Rod
q A rod of length L located along the x axis has a uniform linear charge
density λ. Find the electric potential at a point P located on the y axis a
distance d from the origin.

q Start with

q then,

q So

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 Potential Due to
a Charged Isolated Conductor
q According to Gauss’ law, the charge resides on the
conductor’s outer surface.
q Furthermore, the electric field just outside the
conductor is perpendicular to the surface and field
inside is zero.
q Since

q Every point on the surface of a charged conductor

in equilibrium is at the same electric potential.
q Furthermore, the electric potential is constant
everywhere inside the conductor and equal to its
value to its value at the surface.

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 Calculating the Field from the Potential
q Suppose that a positive test charge q0 moves through a displacement ds
from on equipotential surface to the adjacent surface.
q The work done by the electric field on the test charge is W = −dU = -q0 dV.
q The work done by the electric field may also be written as
q Then, we have

q So, the component of E in any direction is the negative

of the rate at which the electric potential changes with
distance in that direction.

q If we know V(x, y, z),

October 3, 2007
 Electric Potential Energy
of a System of Point Charges
q2

q Start with (set Ui =0 at ∞ and Uf =U at r)

q1

q We have

q If the system consists of more than two charged

particles, calculate U for each pair of charges and
sum the terms algebraically.

October 3, 2007
 Summary
q Electric Potential Energy: a point charge moves from i to
f in an electric field, the change in electric potential
energy is
q Electric Potential Difference between two points i and f in
an electric field:
q Equipotential surface: the points on it all have the same
electric potential. No work is done while moving charge
on it. The electric field is always directed perpendicularly
to corresponding equipotential surfaces.
q Finding V from E:
q Potential due to point charges:
q Potential due to a collection of point charges:
q Potential due to a continuous charge distribution:
q Potential of a charged conductor is constant everywhere
inside the conductor and equal to its value to its value at
the surface.
q Calculatiing E from V:
q Electric potential energy of system of point charges:
October 3, 2007
q P1:The electric potential difference between the ground and a cloud
in a particular thunderstorm is 1.2 x 10^9 V. What is the magnitude
of the change in the electric potential energy of an electron that
moves between the ground and the cloud?

q P2: When an electron moves from A to B along an

electric field line in the figure, the electric field does 3.94
x 10^-19 J of work on it. What are the electric potential
differences a) VB - VA, (b) VC - VA, and (c) VC - VB?

October 3, 2007
q P3: Two large, parallel, conducting plates are 12 cm apart and have charges
of equal magnitude and opposite sign on their facing surfaces. An electrostatic
force of 3.9 x 10-15 N acts on an electron placed anywhere between the two
plates. (Neglect fringing.) (a) Find the electric field at the position of the
electron. (b) What is the potential difference between the plates?

q P4: Consider a point charge q = 1.0 μC, point A at distance d1 = 2.0 m from
q, and point B at distance d2 = 1.0 m. (a) If these points are diametrically
opposite each other, as in sketch (a) , what is the electric potential difference
VA - VB? (b) What is that electric potential difference if points A and B are
located as in sketch (b)

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q P6: The figure shows a plastic rod of length L and uniform positive charge Q
lying on an x axis. With V = 0 at infinity, find the electric potential at point
P1 on the axis, at distance d from one end of the rod.

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