BSH-131 Electricity & Magnetism

Instructor: Hamza Iqbal

Lecture 4
 Summery

• Preceding Lecture
o Calculating the electric field of charge distributions
o Electric Flux, Gauss’s law and its derivation
• Current Lecture
o Applications of Gauss’s law
o Electrical Potential Energy, Electric Potential, and
electrical potential difference
• Applications of Gauss’s Law

o Gauss’s law provides a convenient method to find electric

field due to different types charge distributions

o To apply Gauss's law, we draw Gaussian surface with

following attributes

▪ The surface must be closed, enclosing at least some

part of the net charge distribution

▪ Should be regular and symmetric about the charge

enclosed

▪ The point where field is to be determined must lie on

the surface
a. Field due to a point charge
o Let we have a point charge +q and we want to find out
electric field intensity at point P distant R.
o We draw Gaussian surface in the form of a closed sphere
with the charge at its center and radius R to have P at its
surface, as shown.
o Electric flux through the sphere is 𝜙 =
𝐴 𝐴
Ԧ
‫׬‬0 𝐸 • 𝑑 𝐴 = ‫׬‬0 𝐸𝑑𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠0° Gaussian
Surface
𝐴
o= 𝐸 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸𝐴 = 𝐸 4𝜋𝑅2
R P
𝑞
o By Gauss’s law 𝜙=𝐸 4𝜋𝑅2 =
𝜀𝑜
𝟏 𝒒
Or 𝑬= which is the required expression
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝑹𝟐
b. Field of a linear charge distribution
o Consider electric charge is distributed uniformly over a
long line with λ as linear charge density.
o To find the electric field at P distant r from the line, we
draw Gaussian surface in the form of closed cylinder of
length L and radius r to have P on its surface, as shown.
da1

da2 da3

L
 𝐴
o The net flux through the cylinder is 𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ‫׬‬0 𝐸 • 𝑑 𝑎Ԧ
o we can see the cylindrical surface comprises three uniform
sections; the curved surface S1 and the two cross sections S2
and S3.
o Hence, the net flux could be
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3
𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ‫׬‬0 𝐸1
• 𝑑 𝑎Ԧ1 + ‫׬‬0 𝐸2 • 𝑑 𝑎Ԧ 2 + ‫׬‬0 𝐸3 • 𝑑 𝑎Ԧ 3
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3
= ‫׬‬0 𝐸1 𝑑𝑎1 𝑐𝑜𝑠0° + ‫׬‬0 𝐸2 𝑑𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠90° ‫׬‬0 𝐸3 𝑑𝑎3 𝑐𝑜𝑠90°
𝐴1
𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑎1 + 0 + 0 = 𝐸𝐴1 = 𝐸 2𝜋𝑟 𝐿 . . . . . . .(1)
o By Gauss’s law, flux through the cylinder is
𝑄 𝜆𝐿 𝝀
𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝐴1 = 𝐸 2𝜋𝑟 𝐿 = = or 𝑬=
𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑜 𝟐𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓
c. Field of a surface charge

dA3

E S3 E
dA1 dA2
S1 S2

o Consider a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet having σ

as surface charge density.
o To find electric field at point P near the sheet a cylindrical
Gaussian surface such as the sheet passes through the
middle of the cylinder and P lies at one of its cross sectional
face, as shown.
 𝐴
o Electric flux through the cylinder is 𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ‫׬‬0 𝐸 • 𝑑 𝑎Ԧ

o Since the cylinder has three uniform faces S1, S2, and S3,
therefore, the above integral is split into three integrals i.e.
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3
𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ‫׬‬0 𝐸1 • 𝑑 𝐴1 + ‫׬‬0 𝐸2 • 𝑑 𝐴2 + ‫׬‬0 𝐸3 • 𝑑𝐴Ԧ3
Ԧ Ԧ
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3
= ‫׬‬0 𝐸1 𝑑𝑎1 𝑐𝑜𝑠0° + ‫׬‬0 𝐸2 𝑑𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠0° ‫׬‬0 𝐸3 𝑑𝑎3 𝑐𝑜𝑠90°
𝐴1 𝐴2
or 𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑎1 + 𝐸2 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑎2
because E1 and E2 are constant throughout their respective
surfaces S1 and S2.
o 𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 𝐴1 + 𝐸2 𝐴2 = 2𝐸𝐴 . . (1) because E1= E2 = E and
A1 = A2 = A
o By Gauss’s law, flux through the cylinder is
𝑄 𝜎𝐴
𝜙𝑛𝑒𝑡 = = . . . . . (2)
𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑜

𝝈
o Comparing equation (1) and (2) we get 𝑬=
𝟐𝜺𝒐
which is the field due to the sheet charge.
• Field of a volume charge
o Consider a charge is uniformly distributed in a non-
conducting sphere of radius R with ρ as surface volume
charge density.
o Let we find the electric field at point P for which we
consider the following two cases
• P lies outside the charged sphere S1

o We draw the Gaussian surface S1 + +

of spherical shape of radius r ˃ R. + + +
+ +
o Flux through S1, by Gauss’s law, is S2
+
𝐴1 𝑄
‫׬‬0 𝐸 • 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ =
𝜀𝑜
 𝐴1 𝑄
or ‫׬‬0 EdAcos0° =
𝜀𝑜
𝐴1 𝑄
or ‫׬‬0 EdA =
𝜀𝑜
𝑄
or 𝐸𝐴1 =
𝜀𝑜
𝑸
or 𝑬= 𝟐 𝒓ො
𝟒𝝅𝒓 𝜺𝒐

where Q is the total charge enclosed by the surface S1.

• In the case if P lies inside the charged sphere
o We draw the Gaussian spherical surface S2 of radius r ˂ R,
as shown.
o Flux through S2, by Gauss’s law is
𝐴2 𝑞 𝐴2 𝑞
‫׬‬0 𝐸 • 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = or ‫׬‬0 EdAcos0° =
𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑜

𝐴2 𝑞 𝑞
or ‫׬‬0 EdA =
𝜀𝑜
or 𝐸𝐴2 =
𝜀𝑜

𝒒
or 𝑬= 𝒓ො . . . . . . . . (1)
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝜺𝒐

Where q is the total charge enclosed by the surface S2.

o We have 𝑄 = 𝜌 4𝜋𝑅3 and 𝑞 = 𝜌 4𝜋𝑟 3 then

𝑞 𝜌 4𝜋𝑟 3 𝑟3 𝑟3
= = and 𝑞= 𝑄 3 . . . . . . . . . . (2)
𝑄 𝜌 4𝜋𝑅 3 𝑅3 𝑅
o Putting equation (2) in (1) we get
𝟏 𝑟3 𝑸 𝒓
𝑬= 𝑄 𝒓ො = 𝒓ො . . . . . . . . (3)
𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝜺𝒐 𝑅 3 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝑹𝟐 𝑹

o Equation (3) shows that the field is zero at the center (r =

0) and increases to its maxima at the surface of the
charged sphere (r = R) then it drops again at points outside
the charged sphere (r ˃ R). The variation is illustrated
graphically in the figure.

R
• Electrical Potential Energy
o Movement of a point charge within the electric field of
another charge, against the field, is associated with work
done. Work gets stored in the charge as its potential
energy called electrical potential energy.
o To derive expression for the electrical potential energy, let
the field is established by the point charge +q. let a test
charge +q’ is moved from point a to point b, as illustrated.

b 𝐹Ԧ 𝑑𝑟Ԧ a 𝐸
+q rb +q’
ra
o This movement is carried out by a force which varies from
point to point along the path. Hence, the path is divided
into elemental sections 𝑑𝑟Ԧ which are too small to assume
that force practically remains constant in it.
o The minute amount of work done in 𝑑 𝑟Ԧ causes change in
the potential energy of the test charge by dU. Hence,
1 𝑞𝑞′
𝑑𝑈 = 𝑑𝑊 = 𝐹Ԧ • 𝑑 𝑠Ԧ = −𝐹Ԧ𝑒 • 𝑑𝑠Ԧ = −𝐹𝑒 𝑑𝑠 = − 𝑑𝑟
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟 2

o The net work done in the movement from a to b is

𝑈𝑏
𝑞𝑞′ 𝑟𝑏 −2
න 𝑑𝑈 = − න 𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝑈𝑎 4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑎
 𝑞𝑞 ′ 1 1
or 𝑈𝑏 − 𝑈𝑎 = −
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑏 𝑟𝑎

Where 𝑈𝑎 and 𝑈𝑏 are the potential energies of the test

charge q’ at positions a and b, respectively.
o Taking the reference potential 𝑈𝑎 = 0 which corresponds
1
𝑟𝑎 = ∞ and = 0.
𝑟𝑎
1 𝑞𝑞′
o This leads to the conclusion, 𝑈𝑏 =
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑏

o Generally, for any two point charges q and q’ with distance

r apart, the potential energy of any of the charges or
𝟏 𝒒𝒒′
system of the two charges is given by 𝑼=
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓
• Electric Potential
o By definition, the electric potential of a point within an
electric field is the amount of work done in moving unit
positive charge from infinity to the point.
o Referring to the figure, the mentioned work done has been
𝟏 𝒒𝒒′
found to be 𝑼=
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓 ∞
o Hence, the electric potential of the q’
𝟏 𝒒 P
𝑈
field point P is 𝑉 = Τ𝑞′ =
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓 𝐸

o This is the point charge formula for rp

the electric potential due to +q
charge q at a distance r from the
charge.
o Being the work done, Electric potential is a scalar quantity.
However, it is negative for negative charge.
o Electric potential is measured in volts (V) where one volt is
the potential of a point when one joule of work is done in
moving one Coulomb charge from infinity to the point.
o Electric potential is a point function as it varies point to
point in the field.
o The expression shows that electric potential is the same at
all points having the same distance from the field charge.
Such points form a spherical surface centered at the field
charges. This surface is referred to as equipotential
surface.
o No work is done moving a charge over the equipotential
surface. Rather work is associated with movement of
charge b/w different equipotential surfaces.
o Knowing the potential of a point as V, the electrical
potential energy U of a point charge q is given by
U = qV.
o Electric potential difference is the difference in the
potentials of two points inside an electric field. It by
definition equals the work done in moving unit positive
charge between the points against the electric field
i.e. PD = W/Q
o It is measured in volts (V).
• Relationship between the electric field (𝐸) and electric
potential (V)
o Referring to the figure, the electric field intensity and the
electric potential at point are, respectively, given by
𝟏 𝒒
𝐸= 𝟐 𝒓ො . . . . . . . . . . . (1)
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓
𝟏 𝒒
And 𝑉= . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓
o Differentiating =n(2) w.r.t. r i.e. P
𝐸 V
𝜕𝑉 𝜕 𝟏 𝒒 𝒒 𝜕
= = 𝑟 −1 r
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝜕𝑟
+q
𝒒 −1
= ( )
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝑟 2
o multiplying both sides by 𝑟,Ƹ
𝜕𝑉 𝟏 𝒒
𝑟Ƹ = − 𝑟Ƹ . . . . . . . . . (3)
𝜕𝑟 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒓𝟐

o Comparing equations (1) and (3) we have

𝝏𝑽
𝑬= − = −𝛁𝑽 = −𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅(𝑽)
𝝏𝒓

o Showing that negative of the gradient of electric potential

gives the electric field intensity at a point.
o At a point with known electric field intensity, the electric
potential is given by
𝑟 𝑟
𝑉= − ‫𝐸 ∞׬‬ • 𝑑 𝑟Ԧ = − ‫𝑟𝑑𝐸 ∞׬‬
Thank You
&
Good Luck