ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Electric potential gives the electric condition of a body which determines the flow of charge.
When free to move a positive charge moves from higher potential point to lower potential point; A negative
charge moves from lower potential point to higher potential point. (Electrons flow from a body at lower
potential to a body at a higher potential).
Definition: The potential at a point inside the electric field is the work done to bring a unit positive charge from
infinity to that point in the electric field.
1 q
V This is a scalar quantity.
4 0 r
The work done in bringing a charge q from infinity to a point in the electric field or Work done in
moving a charge q through a potential difference is given by W = qV. Joule.
The potential difference V B  V A between two points does not depend on the path followed from A to

B. This is because the electrostatic field is a conservative field.  E.d   0

Addition of any amount of charge to the earth or removal of any amount of charge from the earth does not
change the electrical status of the earth. So potential of earth is taken as zero.
If a negatively charged conductor is grounded, electrons flow from it to the earth and if a positively
charged conductor is grounded, electrons flow from the earth to the conductor. In both cases potential of the
conductor is finally same as that of earth.i.e.it becomes zero.

+ + + ++
ele ctro n s + + + ++ electrons
cu rren t current

Relatively potential of positively charged body is higher than that of the earth. Hence, it is taken as
positive potential.Similarly potential of negatively charged body is lower than that of the earth. Hence it is taken
as negative potential.
Electric potential due to a point charge:
The potential at a point inside the electric field is the work done to bring a unit positive charge from infinity to
that point in the electric field.
r dx
O E

P B A
+q
x

Consider a positive point charge q placed at O. The charge produces an electric field. Let P be a point at
a distance r from O in the electric field of the charge. Let us consider a point A at a distance x from O.
Let q0 be the test positive charge. Electric field
1 q 1 qq
strength at point A is given by E  4   . x 2 and hence F  q0 E  . 20
0 4  0 x
Workdone in moving the test charge q0 from A to B through a distance dx against the field is given by
1 qq0
 dw   F .dx  dw   dx
4 0 x 2
 Total work done to move the test charge from infinity to point P is given by
x r r r
1 qq0 qq0  r 2  qq0  1
W  dW   . 2   x dx  
x  
4 0 x 4 0    4 0
  x 


qq0 1  W 1 1
Or W  4   r  V   V .
0 q0 4 0 r

If q is positive, then potential at P is positive and if q is negative, then potential at P is negative.

Relation between V and E:
Consider two points A and B separated by a distance d in a uniform electric field of intensity
E. Let V be the potential difference between A and B. The work done in moving a charge Q
between these points is given by
W  VQ …(1)
But the force acting on the charge is F  EQ .
 Work done in moving the charge through a distance d is given by W  F  d
Or W  EQd …(2)
V
From equations (1) and (2), VQ = EQd (or) E
d
Also the electric intensity is defined as the negative rate of charge potential with distance.
dV
E 
dr
The spacing between equipotenital surfaces enables us to identify regions of strong and weak field.
dV 1
E E
dr dr

R E P < E Q < E R
Ex: P Q

3 0 V 2 0 V 1 0 V
4 0 V

Zero potential point : (Only for unlike charges)

r
r q1 q x
q1    q2  2 q2
x rx and 1
x rx q1
r
r q1 q x
 2 q2

x
  q1  q2 and 1
x rx q1
Ex. A conducting spherical bubble of radius a and thickness t  t  a  is charged to a potential V. Now it
collapses to form a spherical droplet. Find the potential of the droplet.
Sol. As mass and charge of the bubble remain conserved, and if r be the radius of the resulting drop, so
4 3 1/ 3
 r     4a 2 t   or r   3a 2t 
3 
1 q
The potential of the bubble V   4 0 aV
4 0 a , which gives q
 1 q  1 4 0 aV  a 
1/ 3

Now potential of the resulting drop V'  2 1/ 3   V .

40 r 4 0  3a t   3t 
Ex. A charge +q is fixed at each of the points x  xo , x  3xo , x  5 xo  on the x-axis and a charge –q if
fixed at each of the points x  2xo , x  4 xo , x  6 xo  , here xo is a positive constant. Take the electric
potential at a point due to a charge Q at a distance r from it to be Q / 4 o r . Then find the potential at the
origin due to the above system of charges.
Sol : Potential at origin will be given by
q 1 1 1 1  q 1  1 1 1  q
V     x o     1  2  3  4    ln 2
4 o  x o 2x o 3xo 4  4  o x o   4 o x o
Ex. Two electric charge q and  2q are placed at a distance 6 m apart on a horizontal plane. Find the locus
of point on the plane where the potential has a value zero.
Sol. If the point P is at a distance r1 from point charge +q and r2 from charge  2q .
1  q 2q 
VP  V1  V2    
4  0  r1 r2 
y
P

r1 y r2

+q –2q
x
x (6 – x)
6m

q 2q
Here , VP = 0, i.e., r  r 0 or r2 = 2r1
1 2
But if the charge q is assumed to be situated at the origin,
r12  x 2  y 2 and r22  (6  x) 2  y 2
Hence from equation (i), (x + 2)2 + y2 = 16
So, the locus of the point P is a circle with radius 4m and center (  2, 0).
EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES :
Equipotential surface in an electric field is a surface on which the potential is same at every point. The locus of
all points which have the same electric potential is called equipotential surface.
An equipotential surface may be the surface of a material body or a surface drawn in an electric field.
a) As the potential difference between any two points on the equipotential surface is zero, no work is done
in taking a charge from one point to another.
b) The electric field is always perpendicular to an equipotential surface. That is the electric field or lines of
force are perpendicular to the equipotential surface.
c) No two equipotential surfaces intersect. If they intersect , at the point of intersection field will have two
different directions or at the same point there will be two different potentials which is impossible.
dV
d) The spacing between equipotential surfaces enables to identify regions of strong and weak fields E   .
dr
1
So E  (if dV is constant).
dr
e) The electric field always is at right angles to the equipotential surface. If not,it would have a non zero
component along the surface. Hence work has to be done to move a test charge against this component. This
is against to the definition and hence the electric field always at right angles to the equipotential surface.
 For a uniformly charged sphere or for a point charg, the equipotential surfaces are in the form of
concentric spheres.

equipotential
surface

Equipotential surfaces in electrostatics are similar to wave fronts in optics.

In non-uniform electric field, the field lines are not straight, and the equipotential surfaces are curved but
still perpendicular to the field.
Potential due to an electric dipole :
P cos  1 P.r
V OR V (r  a )
4 0 r 2 4 0 r 2
Hence potential varies inversely as the square of the distance from the dipole.
1) On the axial line
P
For a point on the axial line   0 Vaxial  volts
4 0 r 2
2) Point on the equitorial line
For a point on the equitorial line   900 , Vequitorial  0 Volts
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO A CHARGED RING
A charge Q is uniformly distributed over the circumference of a ring of radius R. Consider a point P on the
axis of the ring at a distance r from the centre of the ring.
+ +
+

z  R 2  r2
+

1 Q
+ +

V  4
+ + + +

R
0 (R 2  r 2 )
+ + + +

O r P
R
+ +

+
+ +
Ex. Two charged rings, each of radius R with the charges, Q1 and Q2 are placed parallel with separation

x , between their centres. Find electric field E and potential V at the centre of the rings.
Sol. Electric field at the centre due to own charge is zero, while due to charge of other ring will be
 1  Qx
E   2 3/ 2
 40   R  x 2 
Thus field at the centre of the ring 1,
  1  Q2 x  1  Q2 x
E1  0    2 3/ 2
  2 3/ 2
 4 0   R  x 
2
 4 0   R  x 2 
 1  Q1 x  1  Q1 x
and field at the centre of the ring 2, E2  0    2 3/ 2
  3/ 2
 4 0   R  x 2   40   R 2  x 2 
 1   Q1 Q2   1   Q2 Q1 .
V1     and V2  
   
 40   R R2  x2   4 0   R R2  x2 
-Ex. If the electric potential in a region is represented as V  2 x  3 y  4 z , obtain expression for the
electric
field strength.
Sol. V  2x  3y  4z
V  V 
Ex      2x  3y  4z   2 ; Ey      2x  3y  4z   3
x x y y
V 
and Ez     2x  3 y  4 z   4
z z

Thus E  E x i  E y j  E z k  2i  3 j  4k .
Ex: If electric potential V at any point (x, y, z) all in metres in space is given by V = 4x2 volt. Calculate the
electric field at the point (1m, 0m, 2m).
Sol : As electric field E is related to potential V through the relation
dV
E
dr
dV d dV d dV d
Ex     (4x 2 )  8x Ey     (4x 2 )  0 And, E z     (4x 2 )  0
dx dx dy dy dz dz

So, E  iˆ Ex  ˆj E y  kˆ Ez  8 xiˆ
i.e., it has magnitude 8 V/m and is directed along negative x-axis.
Ex. The potential at any point is given by V = x(y2  4x2). Calculate the cartesian components of the electric
field at the point.
V  V V V 
Sol. V = x(y2  4x2) E    i  j  k 
r  x y z 
V 
Ex    [ xy 2  4 x 2 ] =  [y2  12x2] or Ex = [12x2  y2]
r x
V  
Similarly, E y   2
 E y   [ x( y  4 x )]
2
or E y   [ xy 2  4 x3 ] =  2xy
r r r
Ez =  0 because V does not depend upon z coordinate.
Ex. Some equipotential surfaces are shown in figure.What can you say about the magnitude and
the direction of the electric field?
Sol. a) Draw lines perpendicular to equipotential. These are the field lines.
Vhigher  Vlower 20  10 10 V
 E   0

d 10sin 30 5 cm
and making an angle 120 with the x  axis.
0

k
b) For spherical surface, we have V  .
r
k
Choose any of the equipotential, let of 60 V.  60 
 k  600 V  cm
10
dV k 600V  cm 6
Electric field E      2
 600 V / m .
dr r 2
r 2
 0.1
P E OF A SYSTEM OF CHARGES
Electrostatic potential energy is defined in two ways
a) interaction energy of a system of charged particles and b) self energy of a charged body.
INTERACTION ENERGY
The external work required to assemble the charged particles of a system by bringing them from infinity to
a given configuration is known as electrostatic interaction energy of that system.
1) Potential energy of a system of charges may be positive, negative or even zero.
2) If charged particles are at infinite seperation, potential energy of that system is taken as zero as there is no
interaction between them.
3) If the force between the charges is repulsive, potential energty of the system is positive.
4) If the force between the charges is attractive, potential energy of the system is negative.
Electron–volt (eV):
The amount of energy gained by an electron when accelerated through a potential difference of one volt is
known as electron-volt.
The energy gained by a charge q when accelerated through a potential difference of V is qV.
1eV = 1.6 × 10–19 J
Electron volt is a unit of energy. It is not a unit of potential difference or voltage.
When a charged particle is accelerated by an electric field (uniform or non - uniform), using Work energy
1 2 1 2  2 2qV 
theorem, mv  mu  qV (but W = qV) or v   u  
2 2  m 

2qV
If the charged particle is initially at rest, v 
m
2qEd
If the field is uniform, i.e. E = (V/d) v
m
 1 q1 q 2
The electrostatic potential energy of a system of two point charges is given by P . E U  
4 0 r
If three charges q1, q2 and q3 are situated at the vertices of a triangle , the P.E. of the system is
1 q q
1 2 2 3 3 1 q q q q 
U = U12 + U23 + U31 = 4  d  d  d 
0  1 2 3 

If four charges q1, q2 , q3 and q4 are situated at the corners of a square the P.E of the system
1 qq q q q q q d q q qq 
= 4   1 2  2 3  3 4  4 1  2 4  1 3 
0  d d d d 2d 2d 

For a system of many charged particles q1 , q 2 ,q 3 .....q n , the interaction potential energy is given by
1  q1q 2 q 2q3 
U    ..... 
4 0  r12 r23 
Where r12 indicates seperation between q1 and q2 . r23 indicates seperation between q2 and q3 and so on.
Ex. Three charges ‘q’ each are at vertices of equilateral triangle of side ‘r’. How much charge should be
placed at the centroid so that the system remains in equilibrium ?
1 q2
Sol. Force on the charge ‘q’ is 3 .  F1
4  0 r 2
1 3Qq
A charge ‘Q’ is placed at its centroid. Force applied by this charge on ‘q’ is .  F2 .
4 0 r 2
2
1 q 1 3Qq q
I f F1 = F2 the system remains in equilibrium. 3 2
 Q
4 0 r 4 0 r 2 3
Ex. Two point charges - q and +q are located at points (0,0,-a) and (0,0,a) respectively. The electric

potential at point (0,0,z) is  z  a 

Sol. The distance of point P from charge +q is r1  z  a

and from charge -q is r2  z  a
+Q

0
45
0
30
 2Q
R

 3Q

1 q q 1 2qa
Potential at P is 4   r  r   4  z 2  a 2
0  1 2  0  
Ex.. A charge Q is placed at the centre of the line joining two charges q and q . For the system of
three charges to be in equilibrium, what should be the value of Q?
Sol: For equilibrium of q, PE of the system is zero .
1 Qq 1 q2 q
 0 Q . where r is seperation between q and q
40 r / 2 40 r 4
Ex. Two charged rings, each of radius R with the charges, Q1 and Q2 are placed parallel with separation

x between their centres. Find electric field E and potential V at the centre of the rings.
Sol. Electric field at the centre due to own charge is zero, while due to charge of other ring will be
 1  Qx
E   2 3/ 2
 40   R  x 2 
Thus field at the centre of the ring 1,
 1  Q2 x  1  Q2 x
E1  0    2 3/ 2
  2 3/ 2
 4  0   R  x 
2

 4  0  R  x 2 
and field at the centre of the ring 2
 1  Q1 x  1  Q1 x
E2  0    2 3/2
  3/2
 4 0   R  x 2  
 4  0  R 2  x 2 
 1   Q1 Q2   1   Q2 Q1 
Electric potential V1      and V2     
 40   R R2  x 2   40   R R2  x2 
Distance of Closest Approach
Consider an  -particle of mass m moving directly towards a nucleus with velocity v at any given time. As
this  -particle approaches the nucleus, its velocity and hence kinetic energy continues to decrease. At a
\certain distance d from the nucleus, the  -particle will stop and then start retracing its path back. This
distance is called the distance of closest approach.
If Z be the atomic number of the nucleus, then
1 2 1 ( Ze)(2e) 1 4Ze2
mv   d = 4 mv2
2 4 0 d 0
Ex. Two identical particles of mass m carrying a charge q each. Initially one is rest on a smooth horizontal
plane and the other is projected along the plane directly towards the first particle from a large distnace, with
speed v . Find the distance of closet approach.
Sol. When one particle approaches towards the other, due to the repulsion, the other will also start
moving. Hence the velocity of the first decreases while that of second increases until their velocities
become equal. Let the distance between the particles be r at this stage. Let v be the velocity
of each particle at this instant, then from conservation of momentum, we have
u
mu  0  mv  mv or v
2
2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1/ 4 0  q
and from conservation of energy, we have mu  0  mv  mv 
2 2 2 r
2
4q
Solving above equations, we get r
 40 mu 2 
Ex. Linear charge density of arc is λ and total angle at the centre is α . Find the potential at the centre
Sol. Consider a small element of length d  with charge dq

dq K  λd    Kλ 
dq  λd  V K   d
r r  r 
Kλ Kλ
V  d   dr  V  Kλα
r r
 1 2 3  4
Ex. Charges of magnitudes , , , nc are placed at the corners ABCD of a square of side 2cm.
3 3 3 3
5
Work done to move a charge nc from the centre of AB to the centre of CD is
3
1) 5  107 J 2) Zero 3) 5  107 J 4) 5 5  10 7 J
9
 1 3 2 3 3 3 43  9 K  10  1 
Sol. VE  K  2  2   2 
 10 = 2 
1
 10 10 5  10 2
5  10  3  10  5 

 4 3 3 3 1 3 23  9 K  10 9  1 
VF  K  2  2    10 = 1  5 
10 10 5  10 2 5  102  3  10 2  
VE  VF  0  Work done = 0
SELF ENERGY
When a body is charged, all the charge on it must be brought from infinity onto that body. In doing so, work
has to be done against the electric field of that body. This work will be stored in that body in the form of
potential energy known as self energy
a) Self energy of a charged conducting sphere:
Q2
Self energy of charged conducting sphere is U 
8 0 R
b) Self energy of a non conducting sphere :
3Q 2
Self energy of the sphere is given by U
20 0 R
Total electrostatic energy of a system of charges is the sum of self energy of all charged bodies and
interaction energy of all possible pairs of charged bodies. U total   Uself   Uint eraction
A point charge does not have any self energy. So for a pair of charges there will be interaction energy only
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO A LINEAR CHARGE DISTRIBUTION:
Consider a thin infinitely long line charge having a uniform linear charge density  placed along YY 1 . Let P is
a point at distance ‘r’ from the line charge then manitude of electri field at point P is given by
Y
+
+
+
 + 
dS
E
2 0 r
 + r
+ P
So V  r     Edr    2  r dr
E 0
+ G a u ss ia n
+ S u rfa c e
+
+
  
Y'
 V r    log e r 
 2  0 
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO INFINITE PLANE SHEET OF CHARGE (NON CONDUCT
ING)
Consider an infinite thin plane sheet of positivive charge having a uniform surface charge density  on both
sides of the sheet. The electric filed is perpendicular to the plane sheet of charge and directed in out ward
direction.

The electric field intensity is E  2
0
Electrostatic potential due to an infinite plane sheet of charge at a perpendicular distance r from the sheet given
   
by V  r     E .dr    Edr V r    dr   r
2 0  2 0 
imilarly the electric pontential due to an infinite plane conducting plate at a perpendicular distance r from the
V  r     E .dr    Edr    
plate is given by V  r     dr   r
0  0 
ELECRTIC POTENTIAL DUE TO A SPERICAL SHELL (OR CONDUCTING SPHERE):
E
q P
+ + + dS
+ R r + Charged spherical
+ +
+ O shell
+ +
+ +

Gaussian
Surface

Consider a thin spherical shell of radius R and having charge+q on the spherical shell.
Case (i): When point P lies outside the spherical shell. The electric field at the point is
1 q
E
4 0 r 2 (for r > R)
1 q 1 q
The potential V  r     E .dr    Edr    4  r 2 dr  4  r
0 0
Case (ii) : When point P lies on the surface of spherical shell then r = R .Electrostatice potential at P on the
1 q
surface is V  4  R
0
Case (iii) : For points inside the charged spherical shell (r < R), the electric field E = 0
 dV
So we can write  0  V is constant and is equal to that on the surface
dr
1 q
So, V  4  R for r  R
0
The varitaion of V with distance ‘r’ from centre is as shown in the graph.
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO A CHARGED NON-CONDUCTING SOLID SPHERE:
Consider a charged sphere of radius R with total charge q uniformly distributed on it.
Cast (i) : For points Outside the sphere (r > R)
1 q
The electric field at any point is E , 2 (for r > R)
4 0 r
The potential at any point outside the shell is
1 q 1 q
V  r     E .dr    Edr    2
dr 
4  0 r 4  0 r
Case (ii) : When point P lies on the surface of spherical shell then r = R
1 q
The electrostatic potential at P on the surface is V  4  R
0
Case (iii) : FOr points inside the sphere (r < R)
1 qr
The electric field is E  4  R 3
0

+ E
+ + ++
+ + + + +
+ r
+ + ++ + +
+ +R +
+

dV  E .dr   Edr
v r r
1 qr
 dV    E dr    4 
vs R R 0 R3
dr

r
1 q  r2 
V  Vs    
4 0 R 3  2  R
1 q 1 q  r 2 R2  1 q 3 r2 
V    V   
4 0 R 4 0 R3  2 2  4 0 R  2 2 R 2 
At the centre r = 0 then
1 3q 3 1 q
Potential at centre VC  4  2 R  2 4  R
0 0