Electric Potential Electric Potential due to point charge

Electric Potential Energy

The electric potential energy of any given charge or
system of changes is defined as the total work done by
an external agent in bringing the charge or the system Work done to bring q 0 = 1C from infinity through
of charges from infinity to the present configuration small distance dx
without undergoing any acceleration. 𝑑W = 𝐹 ⋅ 𝑑𝑥cos 180∘
= −𝐹𝑑𝑥
1 𝑞
=− 𝑑𝑥 [𝑞0 = 1𝑐]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑥 2
Work done to bring q 0 from infinity through small
Work done to bring q 0 from infinity to r
distance dx 𝑟
1 𝑞
dW = F. dx cos 180∘ W=∫ − 𝑑𝑥
= −Fdx ∞ 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑥 2

h
𝑟
= −q 0 Edx 𝑞 1
=− ⋅ ∫ 2 𝑑𝑥
4𝜋𝜀 ∞ 𝑥

s
𝑟
Work done to bring q 0 from infinity to p 𝑞
=− ∫ 𝑥 −2 𝑑𝑥

e
p
4𝜋𝜀0 ∞
W = ∫ − q 0 Edx 𝑛
𝑞 𝑥 −1

k
∞
So Potential Energy =− [ ]
4𝜋𝜀0 −1 ∞
p
U = ∫ − q 0 Edx
∞

Electric Potential
=

R
= a𝜀 1𝑟

𝑞 1 1
[ ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑥 ∞
[ − ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 ∞
Electric potential (also called the electric field

r .
potential, potential drop, the electrostatic potential)
is defined as the amount of work energy needed per
W=
1 𝑞
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
1 𝑞

E
unit of electric charge to move the charge from infinity V=
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
to a specific point in an electric field. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO A GROUP OR

𝑝
B y SYSTEM OF POINT CHARGES (PRINCIPLE OF
SUPERPOSITION OF POTENTIALS)

U = ∫ − 𝑞0 𝐸𝑑𝑥
∞
𝑝
∫∞ − 𝑞0 𝐸𝑑𝑥
So, V =
𝑞0
𝑝
⇒V = ∫ − 𝐸𝑑𝑥
∞

Dimensional Formula of Electric Potential Consider n positive charges 𝑞1 , 𝑞2 , 𝑞3 … … … … 𝑞𝑛 at

𝑊 𝑊 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2 distances 𝑟1 , 𝑟2 , 𝑟3 … … … . . 𝑟𝑛 respectively from the
𝑉= = = = [𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −3 𝐿2 𝐴−1 ]
𝑞0 I. t AT point P.
SI Unit of Electric Potential (Volt) 1 𝑞
Potential at P due to charge 𝑞1 : 𝑉1 = 4𝜋𝜀 𝑟1
𝑈 1Joule (𝐽) 0 1
𝑉= , 1 Volt = = 1𝐽𝐶 −1 Potential at P due to charge 𝑞2 : 𝑉2 = 4𝜋𝜀
1 𝑞2
𝑞0 1Coulomb (𝐶) 0 𝑟2
• Electric potential at infinite is zero. Potential at P due to charge 𝑞𝑛 : 𝑉𝑛 = 4𝜋𝜀
1 𝑞𝑛
0 𝑟𝑛
• Electric potential IS a scalar quantity.

1
𝑉 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 … … . 𝑉𝑛 An isolated point charge
1 𝑞1 1 𝑞2 1 𝑞𝑛
⇒𝑉= + + ⋯….
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟1 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟𝑛
𝑛
1 𝑞𝑖
V= ∘ ∑
4𝜋 𝜖0 𝑟𝑖
𝑖=1
Relation between Electric field intensity and
Potential (i.e. Electric Field Intensity as
gradient of Electric Potential)

Pair of similar point charges

Electric field intensity at a point is equal to the

negative gradient of the electric potential at that
point.
Work done to move the test charge from point A to
point B through distance 𝑑𝑟 is given by,
s h
𝑑 W = ⃗F ⋅ ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑑𝑟 = 𝑞0 ⃗E ⋅ ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑑𝑟
∘
dW = 𝑞0 E𝑑𝑟 cos 180 = (−)𝑞0 E𝑑𝑟
𝑑W
k e
a
= −E𝑑𝑟
𝑞0
According to the definition of potential difference.
∴ eqn. becomes
𝑑 V = −E𝑑𝑟
or 𝐸 = − 𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝑉

. R
r
An electric dipole
The negative sign shows that electric field intensity is in

E
the direction of decreasing electric potential. In other
words, negative sign shows that the change of electric
potential with distance is always opposite to the

y
direction of the electric field intensity.
SI unit of potential gradient is volt/metre (𝑉/𝑚).

EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACE
B
A surface at every point of which, the electric potential
due to charge distribution is the same is called
equipotential surface.
Or
An equipotential surface is defined as the locus of all
the points in a medium at which electric potential due
Properties of Equipotential Surfaces
to a charge distribution is same.
No work is done in moving a test charge from one
point to another point on an equipotential surface.
Cases of equipotential surfaces
Consider two points 𝐴 and 𝐵 on an equipotential
A uniform electric field
surface. Potential difference between points 𝐴 and 𝐵 is
given by,
𝑊𝐴𝐵
𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 =
𝑞0
Since every point on the equipotential surface has the
same value of the potential.

2
 𝑉𝐵 = 𝑉𝐴 1 −𝑞
𝑊𝐴𝐵 𝑉1 =
4𝜋𝜀0 r1
= 0, 𝑊𝐴𝐵 = 0
𝑞0 Electric Potential due to +𝑞 at P
The electric field is perpendicular to the equipotential 1 +𝑞
𝑉2 =
surface. 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2
As no work is done in moving a test charge on the V = V1 + V2
equipotential surface i.e. 𝑞 1 1
𝑑W 𝑉= [ − ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2 𝑟1
𝑑𝑊 = 0 (∵ ⃗E ⋅ 𝑑𝑙 = )
𝑞0
or But 𝑟1 ≈ 𝑟1 + 𝑙cos 𝜃
E𝑑𝑙cos 𝜃 = 0 or cos 𝜃 = 0 or 𝜃 = 90∘ And 𝑟2 ≈ 𝑟 − 𝑙cos 𝜃
⃗ is perpendicular to 𝑑𝑙 .
Thus, E 𝑞 1 1
Now V = 4𝜋𝜀 [𝑟−𝑙cos 𝜃 − 𝑟+𝑙cos 𝜃]
0
Equipotential surfaces indicate regions of strong or 𝑞 (𝑟 + 𝑙cos 𝜃) − (𝑟 − 𝑙cos 𝜃
weak electric fields. ⇒V= [ ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 − 𝑙 2 cos 2 𝜃
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑉 𝑞 𝑟 + 𝑙cos 𝜃 − 𝑟 + 𝑙cos 𝜃

h
𝐸=− or 𝑑𝑟 = − ⇒𝑉= [ ]
𝑑𝑟 𝐸 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 − 𝑙 2 cos2 𝜃
Since 𝑑𝑉 (i.e. potential difference) is constant on the

s
𝑞 2𝑙cos 𝜃
equipotential surface, so ⇒𝑉= [ 2 ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 − 𝑙 2 cos 2 𝜃

e
1
𝑑𝑟 ∝ 𝑝cos 𝜃
𝐸 ⇒𝑉=
4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑟 2 − 𝑙 2 cos 2 𝜃)
If E is strong (i.e. large), 𝑑𝑟 will be small i.e. the
separation of equipotential surfaces will be smaller.
Thus, equipotential surfaces are closer in the region of
strong electric field.
a
Special case
k
(1) At axial point 𝜃 = 0∘

R
𝑝cos 0∘
𝑉=
4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑟 2 − 𝑙 2 cos2 𝜃)

.
On the other hand, equipotential surfaces are farther
apart in the region of weak electric field. (2) At Eq. point 𝜃 = 90∘

Two equipotential surfaces cannot intersect

E r
If two equipotential surfaces intersect, then at the
points of intersection, there will be two values of the
𝑣=
𝑝cos 90∘
4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑟 2 − 𝑙 2 cos2 𝜃)

Electric Potential Energy due to 2 charge

=0

y
electric potential due to a point charge. This is not
possible. Hence. two equipotential surfaces cannot
intersect.

B
Electric Potential due to Electric dipole at any
system

point

Work done to bring Charge 𝑞1 from infinity

W1 = 0
Work done to bring Charge 𝑞2 from infinity against 𝑞1
1 𝑞1 𝑞2
W2 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12
W = W1 + W2
1 𝑞1 𝑞2
U=
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12
Electric Potential due to −𝑞 at P

3
Work done due to 3 charge System = −𝑝Ecos 𝜃
This work done is stored as the electric potential energy
(U) of a dipole in an electric field.
𝑈 = −𝑝𝐸cos 𝜃
U = −𝑝 ⋅ E ⃗
Special Cases
(i) When 𝜃 = 0∘ (i.e. dipole is parallel to direction of
electric field), 𝑈 = −𝑝Ecos 0 = −𝑝E
(ii) When 0 = 90∘ (i.e. dipole is at 90∘ to the direction
of clectric field), U = −𝑝Ecos 90 = 0
(iii) When 𝜃 = 180∘ (i.e. dipole is anti parallel to
electric field), U = −𝑝Ecos 180 i.e. U = 𝑝E
W1 = 0
or Units of Potential Energy
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 In M.K.S., electrical potential energy is measured in
W2 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12 joule (J).
W3 = W13 + W23
1 𝑞 𝑞 1
= 4𝜋𝜀 𝑛1 3 + 4𝜋𝜀
W = W1 + W2 + W3
0 13 0
𝑞2 𝑞3
𝑟23
We know 𝑈 = 𝑞𝑉
So, 1𝐽 = 1𝐶𝑉

s h
Thus, one joule is the energy required to move a charge

e
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞1 𝑞3 𝑞2 𝑞3 of one coulomb through a potential difference of one
𝑈= [ + + ] volt.

k
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23

Electric potential energy of an electric dipole

in an electric field

R a
r .
E
B y
Let an electric dipole of dipole moment 𝑃⃗ be placed in
an electric field 𝐸⃗ making an angle 𝜃 with the direction
of electric field intensity 𝐸⃗ (Fig). The torque acting on
the dipole is given by
𝜏 = 𝑝𝐸sin 𝜃
Work done to rotate the dipole through an angle 𝜃 is
given by,
𝜃
W=∫ 𝑑𝑊
90∘
𝜃
=∫ 𝑝Esin 0𝑑𝜃
90∘
0
= 𝑝E ∫ sin 𝜃𝑑𝜃
90∘
= 𝑝E[−cos 𝜃]𝜃90∘ = 𝑝E[−cos 𝜃 − (−cos 90∘ )]