Scribd
Upload
210 views18 pages

Compressed PPT: Electric Potential, Work and Point Charges

This document provides an overview of electric potential, work, and point charges. It defines electric potential as work done per unit charge to move a charge from one point to another against an electric field. Electric potential is measured in volts. The electric potential is zero at infinity and increases or decreases in value near positive or negative point charges, respectively. Examples are given to illustrate calculating changes in electric potential energy and determining if work done by the electric field is positive or negative for different charge transfer scenarios.

Uploaded by

Jaylanie Evangelista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
210 views18 pages

Compressed PPT: Electric Potential, Work and Point Charges

This document provides an overview of electric potential, work, and point charges. It defines electric potential as work done per unit charge to move a charge from one point to another against an electric field. Electric potential is measured in volts. The electric potential is zero at infinity and increases or decreases in value near positive or negative point charges, respectively. Examples are given to illustrate calculating changes in electric potential energy and determining if work done by the electric field is positive or negative for different charge transfer scenarios.

Uploaded by

Jaylanie Evangelista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 18

COMPRESSED PPT

Electric Potential,Work and Point Charges


GENERAL PHYSICS 2
3RD QUARTER
RECALL ELECTRIC FLUX CONCEPT
• Electric flux is the amount of electric field passing through a closed surface.
• Flux is positive when electric field is outward, and negative when electric field is
inward through the closed surface.
• Gauss’ Law states that the electric flux is proportional to the net charge enclosed
by the surface, and the constant of proportionality is e0. In symbols, it is
 0   qenc
 
 0  E  dA  qenc
• There are three geometries we typically deal with:

Geometry Charge Density Gaussian surface Electric field


Linear l= q/L Cylindrical, with axis 
E
along line of charge 2 0 r
Line of Charge

Sheet or s = q/A Cylindrical, with axis  


E E
Plane along E. 0 Conducting 2 0 Nonconducting

Spherical r = q/V Spherical, with center q  q 


E rR E   r
on center of sphere 4 0 r 2 3 
 4 0 R 
r<R

September 26, 2007


Recal…cont’d
• The electric field is zero inside a conductor.
• The electric field is zero inside a cavity within a conductor,
unless there is a charge inside that is not in contact with the
walls.
• The electric field at the surface of a conductor is always
perpendicular to that surface.
• Note, none of this is true for insulators.
Lesson 1:
Electric Potential and Work
Electric Potential
• Consider an electric field between two equally but oppositely charged
plates a and b whose separation is small. The electric field would be
uniform between these plates.
Work  The electric field will do work to move the charge across the
electric field.
• W = ΔKE
• The charge has high Electrical Potential Energy near b
• As the charge move closer to a, the Electrical PE decreases
while the KE increases
• The size of PE is dependent on the size of the electric field
F = qE; W = Fd;

W = qEd ;

V= W / q if point A is the ground/infinity

Vba = Vb- Va if point is not the ground;


we get the electric potential difference

Vba = Wba/q

Solution:
SAMPLE PROBLEM W = 1.2 x 10 -5 J q = 6 x 10 -7
A charge of 6 x 10 -7 C is transferred from infinity to point
A. If the work done to this is 1.2 x 10 -5 J, what is the Formula: V = W/q
potential at point A?
V = 1.2 x 10 -5 J / 6 x10 -7 C
= 20 V
Scenario I
• A positive charge is moved from the positive plate to the negative
plate
• Does the charge gain potential (+voltage) or lose it (-voltage)
• Is the change in the PEelectric positive or negative?
• Is the work done by the electric field positive or negative?

*Volts is the unit for electric potential in honor of Alessandro Volta.


1volt = 1J/C
Answer
• Negative
• Negative
• Positive - Wnet is positive (force is in the same direction as
displacement)
Scenario II
• A positive charge is moved from the negative plate to the positive
plate.
• Does the charge gain potential (+voltage) or lose it (-voltage)
• Is the change in the PEelectric positive or negative?
• Is the work done by the electric field positive or negative?
Answer
• Positive
• Positive
• Negative(force is in opposite direction of displacement)
Scenario III
• A negative charge moves from the negative plate to the positive plate.
• Does the charge gain potential (+voltage) or lose it (-voltage)
• Is the change in the PEelectric positive or negative?
• Is the work done by the electric field positive or negative?
Answer
• Positive
• Negative
• Positive
Example I
• A charge of –6.0μC is moved from ground to a point where the
potential is +75V. a) What is the change in PE? b) Is the work done by
the electric field positive or negative? c) How much work is done by
the electric field?

ANS. -4.5x10-4J, Positive, 4.5x10-4J


Reminders for point charges and Electric potential

* For point charges, the electric potential infinitely


away from a point charge is zero

*The electric potential near a negative charge is negative (less


than zero).
*The electric potential near a positive charge is large and
decreases to zero at large distances

You might also like