w3 Chapter 20 Electric Potential Energy

Lecture Outline
Chapter 20
Physics, 4th Edition
James S. Walker
Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 20
Electric Potential and
Electric Potential Energy
Units of Chapter 20
Electric Potential Energy and the
Electric Potential
Energy Conservation
The Electric Potential of Point Charges
Equipotential Surfaces and the Electric
Field
Capacitors and Dielectrics
Electrical Energy Storage
20-1 Electric Potential Energy and the

Electric Potential
The electric force is conservative; therefore, there
must be a potential energy associated with it.
Work done by electric force is ve if
the charge is moved upward.
Electric force & displacement are in
opposite direction.
The change in potential energy is
the negative of the work:

Electric Potential
The electron volt is a unit of energy:
(e experiences energy change

when passing potential difference of 1V)

Electric Potential
The electric field is related to how fast the
potential is changing:
W=qoEs
20-1 Electric Potential Energy and

the Electric Potential
20-1 Electric Potential Energy and

the Electric Potential
Question 20.1a Electric Potential Energy I

a) proton
A proton and an electron are in a

constant electric field created by
oppositely charged plates. You
release the proton from the
positive side and the electron
from the negative side. Which
feels the larger electric force?
b) electron
c) both feel the same force
d) neither there is no force
e) they feel the same magnitude
force but opposite direction
Electron
electron
Proton
proton
Question 20.1a Electric Potential Energy I

A proton and an electron are in
a constant electric field created
by oppositely charged plates.
You release the proton from the
feels the larger electric force?
a) proton
b) electron
c) both feel the same force
d) neither there is no force
force but opposite direction
Since F = qE and the proton and electron

have the same charge in magnitude, they
both experience the same force. However,
the forces point in opposite directions
because the proton and electron are
oppositely charged.
Electron
electron
Proton
proton
Question 20.1b
Electric Potential Energy II

has the larger acceleration?
a) proton
b) electron
c) both feel the same acceleration
d) neither there is no acceleration
acceleration but opposite
direction
Electron
electron
Proton
proton
Question 20.1b
Electric Potential Energy II

has the larger acceleration?
a) proton
b) electron
c) both feel the same acceleration
d) neither there is no acceleration
acceleration but opposite
direction
Since F = ma and the electron is much less

massive than the proton, the electron
experiences the larger acceleration.
Electron
electron
Proton
proton
Question 20.1c
Electric Potential Energy III

a) proton

from the negative side. When
it strikes the opposite plate,
which one has more KE?
b) electron
c) both acquire the same KE
d) neither there is no change of
KE
e) they both acquire the same KE
but with opposite signs
Electron
electron
Proton
proton
Question 20.1c
Electric Potential Energy III

from the negative side. When
it strikes the opposite plate,
which one has more KE?
a) proton
b) electron
c) both acquire the same KE
d) neither there is no change of
KE
e) they both acquire the same KE
but with opposite signs
Since PE = qV and the proton and electron

have the same charge in magnitude, they
both have the same electric potential energy
initially. Because energy is conserved, they
both must have the same kinetic energy after
they reach the opposite plate.
Electron
electron
Proton
proton
20-2 Energy Conservation

In general, for a mass moving from A to B due
to a conservative force,
Express e. potential energy in terms

of e. potential.
Rearrange,
B
20-2 Energy Conservation

Since the force on a negative charge is
opposite to the field direction,
Positive charges accelerate in the direction of
decreasing electric potential;
Negative charges accelerate in the direction of
increasing electric potential.
+q
20-3 The Electric Potential of Point Charges

The difference in potential energy between points A
and B is
If at REST
If RELEASED
-qo will accelerates
-due to F and +q
-K = U
V=U/qo
and
Therefore, the electric potential of a

point charge is:
shown here for a positive and
negative charge, respectively

Superposition of electric potential:
The algebraic sum of the potentials of each charge.
20-3 The Electric Potential of Point

Charges
20-3 The Electric Potential of Point

Charges
Question 20.2
Work and Potential Energy
Which group of charges took more work to bring

together from a very large initial distance apart?
+2
+1
Both took the same amount of work.
+1
d
+1
d
d
+1
Question 20.2
Work and Potential Energy
Which group of charges took more work to bring together

from a very large initial distance apart?
+2
+1
+1
d
+1
Both took the same amount of work.
The work needed to assemble

a collection of charges is the
same as the total PE of those
charges:
Q 1Q 2
PE k
r
added over
all pairs
d
d
+1
For case 1: only 1 pair
(2)(1)
2
PE k
k
d
d
For case 2: there are 3 pairs
(1)(1)
1
PE 3k
3k
d
d
Question 20.3a
Electric Potential I
a) V > 0
What is the electric

potential at point A?
b) V = 0
c) V < 0
Question 20.3a
Electric Potential I
a) V > 0

potential at point A?
b) V = 0
c) V < 0
Since Q2 (which is positive) is closer

to point A than Q1 (which is negative)
and since the total potential is equal
to V1 + V2, the total potential is
positive.
Question 20.3b
Electric Potential II
a) V > 0

potential at point B?
b) V = 0
c) V < 0
Question 20.3b
Electric Potential II
a) V > 0

potential at point B?
b) V = 0
c) V < 0
Since Q2 and Q1 are equidistant

from point B, and since they have
equal and opposite charges, the
total potential is zero.
Follow-up: What is the potential
at the origin of the x y axes?
20-4 Equipotential Surfaces and the

Electric Field
On a contour map, the curves mark constant
elevation (height);
The closer together the curves, the steeper the
slope.

Electric Field
Electric potential and the
electric field have the
same relationship there
are lines (or, in three
dimensions, surfaces) of
constant potential.
The electric field is
perpendicular to these
equipotential lines, and
strongest where the lines
are closest together.

Electric Field
(a)
(b)
E Field
In between is very Very strong in

weak (cancel
between
each other)
E potential
Constant between Changes rapidly

the charges.

Electric Field
An ideal conductor is an equipotential surface.
Therefore, if two conductors are at the same
potential, the one that is more curved will have a
larger electric field around it. This is also true for
different parts of the same conductor.
Question 20.4
Hollywood Square
Four point charges are

arranged at the corners of a
square. Find the electric
field E and the potential V at
the center of the square.
a) E = 0
V=0
b) E = 0
V0
c) E 0
V0
d) E 0
V=0
e) E = V regardless of the value
-Q
+Q
-Q
+Q
Question 20.4
Hollywood Square
Four point charges are

arranged at the corners of a
square. Find the electric
field E and the potential V at
the center of the square.
a) E = 0
V=0
b) E = 0
V0
c) E 0
V0
d) E 0
V=0
e) E = V regardless of the value
The potential is zero: the scalar

contributions from the two positive
charges cancel the two minus charges.
-Q
+Q
However, the contributions from the

electric field add up as vectors, and
they do not cancel (so it is non-zero).
Follow-up: What is the direction
of the electric field at the center?
-Q
+Q
Question 20.5b
Equipotential Surfaces II
Which of these configurations gives V = 0 at all points on the x axis?

+2 C
+1 C
+2 C
+1 C
x
-2 C
-1 C
a)
-2 C
x
-1 C
d) all of the above
+2 C
b)
-2 C
x
-1 C
e) none of the above
+1 C
c)
Question 20.5b
Equipotential Surfaces II
Which of these configurations gives V = 0 at all points on the x axis?

+2 C
+1 C
+2 C
+1 C
x
-2 C
-1 C
a)
+2 C
-2 C
x
-1 C
d) all of the above
b)
-2 C
x
-1 C
+1 C
c)
Only in case (1), where opposite charges lie

directly across the x axis from each other, do
the potentials from the two charges above the
x axis cancel the ones below the x axis.
Question 20.5c
Equipotential Surfaces III
Which of these configurations gives V = 0 at all points on the y axis?

+2 C
+1 C
+2 C
+1 C
x
-2 C
-1 C
a)
-2 C
x
-1 C
d) all of the above
+2 C
b)
-2 C
x
-1 C
+1 C
c)
Question 20.5c
Equipotential Surfaces III
Which of these configurations gives V = 0 at all points on the y axis?

+2 C
+1 C
+2 C
+1 C
x
-2 C
-1 C
a)
+2 C
-2 C
x
-1 C
d) all of the above
b)
-2 C
x
-1 C
+1 C
c)
Only in case (3), where opposite charges lie

directly across the y axis from each other, do
the potentials from the two charges above the
y axis cancel the ones below the y axis.
Question 20.6
Equipotential of Point Charge

a) A and C
Which two points have

the same potential?
b) B and E
c) B and D
d) C and E
e) no pair
A
C
B
Question 20.6
Equipotential of Point Charge

a) A and C
Which two points have

the same potential?
b) B and E
c) B and D
d) C and E
e) no pair
Since the potential of a point charge is:
Q
V k
r
only points that are at the same distance

from charge Q are at the same potential.
This is true for points C and E.
C
B
They lie on an equipotential surface.

Follow-up:
Which
Copyright 2010 Pearson Education,
Inc. point has the smallest potential?
20-5 Capacitors and Dielectrics

A capacitor is two conducting plates separated
by a finite distance:

The capacitance relates the charge to the
potential difference:
Michael Faraday:
Pioneer researcher in
electricity & magnetism

A simple type of capacitor is the parallel-plate
capacitor. It consists of two plates of area A
separated by a distance d.
By calculating the electric
field created by the charges
Q, we find that the
capacitance of a parallelplate capacitor is:
The general properties of a parallel-plate

capacitor is that
the capacitance increases as the plates
become larger and
decreases as the separation increases.

A dielectric is an insulator; when placed between
the plates of a capacitor it gives a lower potential
difference with the same charge, due to the
polarization of the material. This increases the
capacitance.

The polarization of the dielectric results in a
lower electric field within it; the new field, E is
given by dividing the original field, Eo by the
dielectric constant :
Therefore, the new capacitance, C becomes:
The dielectric
constant is a
property of the
material; here are
some examples:
Question 20.8
Capacitors
Capacitor C1 is connected across

a battery of 5 V. An identical
capacitor C2 is connected across
a battery of 10 V. Which one has
more charge?
a) C1
b) C2
c) both have the same charge
d) it depends on other factors
Question 20.8
Capacitors
Capacitor C1 is connected across

a battery of 5 V. An identical
capacitor C2 is connected across
a battery of 10 V. Which one has
more charge?
a) C1
b) C2
c) both have the same charge
d) it depends on other factors
Since Q = CV and the two capacitors

are identical, the one that is connected to
the greater voltage has more charge,
which is C2 in this case.
Question 20.9a
Varying Capacitance I
What must be done to
a) increase the area of the plates
a capacitor in order to
b) decrease separation between the plates
increase the amount of
c) decrease the area of the plates
charge it can hold (for
d) either a) or b)
a constant voltage)?
e) either b) or c)
+Q Q
Question 20.9a
Varying Capacitance I
What must be done to
a) increase the area of the plates
a capacitor in order to
b) decrease separation between the plates
increase the amount of
c) decrease the area of the plates
charge it can hold (for
d) either a) or b)
a constant voltage)?
e) either b) or c)
Since Q = CV, in order to increase the charge

that a capacitor can hold at constant voltage,
one has to increase its capacitance. Since the
capacitance is given by C A , that can be
0d
done by either increasing A or decreasing d.
+Q Q
Question 20.9c
Varying Capacitance III
A parallel-plate capacitor initially has

a potential difference of 400 V and is
then disconnected from the charging
battery. If the plate spacing is now
doubled (without changing Q), what
is the new value of the voltage?
+Q Q
a) 100 V
b) 200 V
c) 400 V
d) 800 V
e) 1600 V
Question 20.9c
Varying Capacitance III
A parallel-plate capacitor initially has

a potential difference of 400 V and is
then disconnected from the charging
battery. If the plate spacing is now
doubled (without changing Q), what
is the new value of the voltage?
Once the battery is disconnected, Q has to
remain constant, since no charge can flow
either to or from the battery. Since
C 0 A, when the spacing d is doubled, the

d
capacitance C is halved. And since Q =
CV, that means the voltage must double.
a) 100 V
b) 200 V
c) 400 V
d) 800 V
e) 1600 V
+Q Q
20-6 Electrical Energy Storage

By considering how much energy it takes to
move an increment of charge, Q, from one plate
to the other across the potential difference, V we
can find the total energy stored in the capacitor:
Summary of Chapter 20
Electric force is conservative, and has a
potential energy associated with it
Change in electric potential energy:
Change in electric potential:
Relation between electric field and electric
potential:
Total energy (electric potential energy plus
kinetic energy) is conserved
Positive charges accelerate in the direction of
increasing potential
Negative charges accelerate in the direction of
decreasing potential
Electric potential of a point charge:
Electric potential energy of two point charges:
Total electric potential and total electric
potential energy are sums of those due to
individual charges
Equipotential surfaces are those on which the
electric potential is constant.
The electric field is perpendicular to the
equipotential surfaces.
Ideal conductors are equipotential surfaces.
A capacitor is a device that stores electric
charge.
Capacitance:
Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor:
A dielectric is an insulator that increases a
capacitors capacitance.
A dielectric is characterized by its dielectric
constant.
A sufficiently large electric field can cause a
dielectric to break down.
A capacitor also stores electric energy.
Electric energy stored in a capacitor:
Energy density in an electric field:

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w3 Chapter 20 Electric Potential Energy

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Lecture Outline

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-1 Electric Potential Energy and the

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-1 Electric Potential Energy and the

The electron volt is a unit of energy:

(e experiences energy change

20-1 Electric Potential Energy and the

20-1 Electric Potential Energy and

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-1 Electric Potential Energy and

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 20.1a Electric Potential Energy I

A proton and an electron are in a

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 20.1a Electric Potential Energy I

Since F = qE and the proton and electron

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Electric Potential Energy II

A proton and an electron are in

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Electric Potential Energy II

A proton and an electron are in

Since F = ma and the electron is much less

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Electric Potential Energy III

A proton and an electron are in

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Electric Potential Energy III

A proton and an electron are in

Since PE = qV and the proton and electron

20-2 Energy Conservation

Express e. potential energy in terms

20-2 Energy Conservation

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-3 The Electric Potential of Point Charges

20-3 The Electric Potential of Point Charges

Therefore, the electric potential of a

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-3 The Electric Potential of Point Charges

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-3 The Electric Potential of Point

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

20-3 The Electric Potential of Point

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Work and Potential Energy

Which group of charges took more work to bring

Both took the same amount of work.

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Work and Potential Energy

Which group of charges took more work to bring together

Both took the same amount of work.

The work needed to assemble

For case 1: only 1 pair

What is the electric

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

What is the electric

Since Q2 (which is positive) is closer

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

What is the electric

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

What is the electric

Since Q2 and Q1 are equidistant