Electric

Potential

Electric Potential
Energy
To apply conservation of energy, we

need to define electric potential

energy for other types of potential
energy.
Potential energy can only be defined
for a conservative force.
The work done by a conservative force
in moving an object between any 2
positions is independent of the path
taken.

Electric Potential
Energy
Electric potential energy (PE) is energy
stored in the electric field.
PE depends only on the location, not
upon the path taken to get there
(conservative force).
PE = 0 at some reference point.
For two point particles take PE = 0 at r
= .
q1 q2
Fe ke
r2
For the electric force

Electric Potential
Energy
The change in U(PE) between 2

points a and b equals to the ve

work done by the conservative
force to move an object from a to b:
PE = -W

P.E=PEb PEa
(the change
energy)

in

electric

potential

Electric Potential
Energy
For example, consider the electric

field between 2 equally but

oppositely charged parallel plates
and electric field, E is uniform over
most of the region.
Now consider a tiny +ve q placed
at point very near to +ve plate. q is
small and doesnt affect E.
If q at point a is released, the
electric force will do work on the
charge and accelerate toward ve
plate.
Work done:

W = Fd = qEd
(when U is negative, the potential energy decrease)

Electrostatic Potential
Energy and Potential
Difference
when U is negative, the potential energy decrease.
as particle charged particle accelerates from
point a to point b, the particle/s kinetic energy KE
increases by an equal amount.
Note that the positive charged q has its greatest
potential energy at point a near the positive plate.

Change in electric potential

energy is negative of work done
by electric force:

Electrostatic Potential
Energy
Electric potential, V is defined as potential
energy, P.E per unit charge:
If a positive test charge q has electric
potential energy, PEa at some point a, the
electric potential at this point is
Unit of electric potential: the volt (V).
1 V = I J/C

Potential Difference
When electric force does positive Work
on charge, KE increases and PE
decreases.
The difference in potential energy, PEbPEa, is equal to the negative of the work,
Wba by the electric field to move the
charge from a to b,
(17-2b)
The positive plate is at a higher potential than the negative plate.
Thus a positively charged object moves naturally from a high potential to
a low potential

Relation between Electric

Potential and Electric Field
Work done by the electric field to
move a positive charge q from a
to b is equal to the negative of the
change in potential energy:

Work is also force multiplied by

distance:

Relation between Electric

Potential and Electric Field
Solving for the
field,
(17-4b)

If the field is not uniform, it can be

calculated at multiple points:

What about the

signs (+ -)?
Even though potential and potential energy
are scalars, the signs do have meaning:
The electric field line arrows indicate the
direction of force on a positive charge.
The
electric field lines point in the
direction of decreasing potential.
The
electric field lines point in the
direction of decreasing PE for a positive
charge.
Or as a + charge moves in the direction
of the field lines PE decreases

Equipotential
Lines
An equipotential is a line or
surface over which the
potential is constant.
Electric field
perpendicular
equipotentials.

lines

are
to

The surface of a conductor

is an equipotential.

Equipotential
Lines

The Electron Volt, a Unit of

Energy
One electron volt (eV) is the energy
gained by an electron moving through
a potential difference of one volt.

Electric Potential Due to

Point Charges
The electric potential due to a point
charge can be derived using calculus.

(17-5)

Electric Potential Due to

Point Charges

These plots show the

potential due to (a)
positive and (b)
negative charge.

EXAMPL
E
How much work does the electric

field do in moving a proton from a

point with a potential of 185 V to a
point where it is 55 V?
Vba

Wba
q

Wba qVba 1.60 1019 C 55V 185V 3.84 1017 J

EXAMPL
E
An electron acquires 5.253 x 10-16 of

kinetic energy when it is accelerated by

an electric field from plate A to plate B.
What is the potential difference between
the plates, and which plate is at the
higher potential?
Wba
5.25 1016 J
Vba

1.60 10

19

3280 V

The electron moves from low potential to high potential, so

plate B is at the higher potential

EXAMPL
E
The electric field between two parallel

plates connected to a 45-V battery is 1300

V/m. How far apart are the plates?
E

Vba
d

Vba
E

45 V
1300 V m

3.5 10 2 m

EXAMPLE
(a) What is the electric potential 0.50 x 10 -10

from a proton (charge )?

(b) What is the potential energy of an
electron at this point?
V

1 Q
4 0 r

8.99 10 N gm C
9

1.60 1019 C

0.50 10

10

28.77 V 29 V

(b) The potential energy of the electron is the charge of the

electron times the electric potential due to the proton.

U QV 1.60 1019 C 28.77 V 4.6 10 18 J