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Electric Potential Energy: Text Section 28.1-2

1) Electric potential energy arises from work done against an electric field. The change in potential energy between two points is equal to the negative of the test charge multiplied by the integral of the electric field over the path between the points. 2) For two point charges, the potential energy of one charge in the electric field of the other is calculated by integrating the field over all space and equals kQ1Q2/r, where r is the distance between the charges. 3) In an electron gun, electrons are accelerated from rest between charged plates, gaining kinetic energy equal to the loss of their electric potential energy in the uniform electric field between the plates.

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33 views

Electric Potential Energy: Text Section 28.1-2

1) Electric potential energy arises from work done against an electric field. The change in potential energy between two points is equal to the negative of the test charge multiplied by the integral of the electric field over the path between the points. 2) For two point charges, the potential energy of one charge in the electric field of the other is calculated by integrating the field over all space and equals kQ1Q2/r, where r is the distance between the charges. 3) In an electron gun, electrons are accelerated from rest between charged plates, gaining kinetic energy equal to the loss of their electric potential energy in the uniform electric field between the plates.

Uploaded by

PoOya Khb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electric Potential Energy

Text section 28.1-2


PHYC 1290
Department of Physics
and Atmospheric Science

Mechanical Energy
Recall that the mechanical energy of a particle is the
sum of the kinetic energy K and potential energy U:
Emech = K + U
1
2
The kinetic energy is: K = mv
2
Potential energy can arise from a variety of sources.

For example, a particle of mass m in a gravitational


field !g has gravitational potential energy Ugrav = mgh,
where h is the particles height above ground.
If we do work against gravity to lift the particle without
changing its speed, then only the potential energy is changed.

Work against an Electric Field


What work must be done to move a charge q at constant speed
!?
between points a and b in an electric field E
F!a

q
a

+
!
E

d!l

The applied force F!a must oppose


the electric force F!e .
b

Consider an infinitesimal displacement d!l along the path.


! b
W =
F!e d!l
Work = || Force Distance
dW = (Fa cos )dl
= F"a d"l
= F"e d"l

!!
!
But Fe = q E
! b
!
! d!l
E
W = q
a

Electric Potential Energy


The change in electric potential energy is equivalent to
the work done against the electric field.
!
U
=
U
(b)

U
(a)
=
q

Potential energy of the


charge q when at point b.

! d!l
E

Potential energy of the


charge q when at point a.

For electrostatics problems we usually choose U () = 0

Example: Point Charges


Consider the electric field from a charge q1. What is the potential
energy of charge q2 at radius a as shown?

!
E

q1

a
q2

U(a) = ?

U() = 0

!
U
=
U
(b)

U
(a)
=
q
We know

! d!l
E

Start by calculating U as we move the charge from a to b =.


The path is composed of a series of infinitesimal steps d!l = rdr

Set q = q2 .
U () U (a) = q2

U (a) = q2

! d!l
E

! d!l
E

1
q
1
!
The electric field for q1 is: E =
r

4#0 r2
!
"
1
q
1
!
!
E dl =
r

(
r
dr)
4#0 r2
1 q1
=
dr
( r r = 1)
2
4#0 r

1 q1
U (a) = q2
2 dr
4"0 r
a
!
1
dr
=
q1 q2
2
4"0
r
a
1
1
=
q1 q2 [r ]a
4"0
1 q1 q2
=
4"0 a

If we replace a with some arbitrary radius r, this yields


1 q1 q2
U (r) =
4"0 r

as the potential energy of charge q2 due to the field from charge q1.

U(r)

The potential energy for charged particles


that are close together is high (owing to the
strong Coulomb force between them).

The potential energy for


charged particles that are
far apart approaches zero
they dont interact.

Example: The Electron Gun


An electron gun takes electrons emitted from a heated filament
and accelerates them to high speed v in an electric field.
e.g.: A rudimentary electron gun accelerates electrons
between two charged plates.
!
E

e+

qe = -1.610-19 C
me = 9.110-31 kg

Recall that for two oppositely charged infinite


parallel plates with charge density :
! in
E

! out = 0
= i and E
#0

The electron is only accelerated while it is between the plates.


Suppose the electric field between the plates is
Ein = /0 = 1 N/C.
How fast is the electron moving if it is
accelerated over a distance of 1 cm?

First, calculate the change in potential energy as the electron


moves from the negative plate to the positive plate.
Let d!l = idx
U = q

= (qe )
= qe Ein

! d!l
E
b

a
! b

"

#
Eini (idx)

dx

= qe Ein x
U = (1.6 10

19

C) 1 N/C 0.01 m = 1.6 10

21

The potential energy is all converted to kinetic energy, so


1
2
K me v = U
2
v=
=

!
!

2U/me

2 (1.6 1021 )/(9.1 1031 )

= 5.9 10 m/s !!!


4

The electrons emerge at high speed.

The Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)


Cathode ray tubes were used to produce images in
old-style TVs, computer monitors and oscilloscopes
before the advent of flat-screen LCD and LED displays.
They are still used in many current applications.

A cathode ray tube uses an electron gun


with beam focussing and steering elements.
heater

acceleration plates

e-

focus

steering

Beam steering is performed by varying an


electric field between charged plates.

-
e-

screen

!
E

The electron beam hits the phosphorescent


screen and makes a bright spot.
When performed rapidly, a line diagram (on an
oscilloscope) or a picture (on a TV) may be drawn.

Media Credits
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oscilloscope_college.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viewsonic-crt.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kathodestraalbuis2.jpg

Extra Material

REVIEW

Point Charge Equations


Kq1 q2
!
Coulombs Law for two point charges q1 and q2: F12 =
r12
2
r12
1
q
! =
r

Electric field from a single source charge q: E


4#0 r2
!!
!
Force on a test charge q: F = q E
!
1
qq
F! =
r

(Coulombs Law again)


2
4#0 r

! qi
1
! =
The electric field for multiple charges is: E
ri
2
4#0 i ri

REVIEW

E-field for Continuous Charges

L
!
Line of charge of length L: Ex =
4#0 x x2 + (L/2)2

Infinite line: Ex =
2#0 x

Plate of length L and width W:


!
#

L/W
1
"
Ez =
tan
#0
2(z/W ) 4(z/W )2 + (L/W )2 + 1

Infinite plate: Ez =
2"0

1
Q
!
Sphere with charge Q: E(r)
=
r

4#0 r2

Path Independence
We can demonstrate that the work is path independent.
Move charge q2 from a to b in an electric field owing to charge q1.
b
Path 1

rb

!
E

arc i

q1
Path 1: W1 = q2

ra
!

arc ii

a
q2

! d!l q2
E

arc i

arc ii
Path 2

ii

! d!l = q2
E

rb

Edl

ra

! d!l
! along ii
0:E
d!l ! E
!
!
! rb
! d!l q2 E
! d!l = q2
Path 2: W2 = q2
E
Edl
ii

ra

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