Chapter 24 Electric Potential In this chapter we will define the electric potential ( symbol V ) associated with the electric force and accomplish the following tasks: Calculate V if we know the corresponding electric field Calculate the electric field if we know the corresponding potential V Determine the potential V generated by a point charge Determine the potential V generated by a discreet charge distribution Determine the potential V generated by a continuous charge distribution Determine the electric potential energy U of a system of charges Define the notion of an equipotential surface Explore the geometric relationship between equipotential surfaces and electric field lines Explore the potential of a charged isolated conductor (24 - 1)

O x . xi xf F(x) A B (24 - 2)

(24 - 3) A B

O (24 - 4)

r1 r2 r3 P q1 q3 q2 (24 - 5)

A B C (24 - 6)

. P r dq (24 - 7)

dq O A (24 - 8)

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S A B  V q S V (24 - 11)

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(24 - 13) A B V V+dV

(24 - 14) A B V V+dV

(24 - 15) x y O q1 q2 q3 r12 r23 r13

y O x y  q1 Step 1 (24 - 16) x O r12 q1 q2  Step 2 Step 3 x y O r12

(24 - 17) path A B conductor

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(24 - 20) R