Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge Pretend a point charge q is sitting out in the universe. It generates an E-field, for which we can write a potential function. Let’s find the electric potential at a point r away from the charge.

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge We know the E-field of the point charge: So…

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge Also, the magnitude of r-hat is always equal to 1, so…

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge But, dscosθ is the projection of ds onto r, which is just the differential change in r.

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge In other words, if our little steps ds cause a change in r, then E dot ds will take some value.

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge

The electric potential difference between two points, A and B, due to a point charge. Notice, the potential difference is path independent. It only depends upon the radial-distance-change from A to B.

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge The electric potential a distance r away from a point charge, setting zero potential an infinite distance from the charge. It’s our job to decide where the electric potential is zero. It makes the math easiest if we zero the potential at r A = infinity relative to the point charge. 0 0

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge The electric potential a distance r away from a point charge, setting zero potential an infinite distance from the charge. A plot showing the electric potential some distance from a positive point charge. We set the potential at 0 when r = infinity, so the electric potential is small far away and grows as you move toward the charge. Keep in mind, this actually happens in all 3 dimensions, but we can only represent 2 here. Reminds you of a hill, right?

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge To get the electric potential from a group of i point charges, we simply sum their individual potentials (principle of superposition).

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge The electric potential surrounding a symmetrical dipole. For instance… The electric potential due to a symmetrical dipole.

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge Recall: We’re putting V A out at infinity now. So, if we move a charge q 2 in from infinity toward another point charge q 1, the electric potential energy will change by an amount:

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge In other words, if we started two charges, q 1 and q 2, infinitely far apart, and then we brought them together to a final spacing of r 12, we’d need to supply at least this much energy: Of course, that’s assuming the charges don’t accelerate. U represents the electric potential energy of the two-charge system.

Ch 25.3 – Potential and Pot. Energy of Point Charge If we have more than two charges, we need to account for all interactions in the system. For instance, the electric potential energy of a three-charge system would be: This is the minimum work you’d need to do to start the charges infinitely far apart and move them together to this final state.

Charge q 1 = 2.00 μC and is at the origin. Charge q 2 = μC and is at ordered pair (0, 3.00)m. (a)Find the total electric potential due to these charges at the point P, located at (4.00, 0)m. (b)Find the change in PE of the system when a third charge, q 3 = 3.00 μC, moves in from infinity to point P. EG 25.3 The electric potential due to 2 point charges

Remember this equation? It says a finite change in potential will occur if you move from A to B and an E-field exists in that region. Stands to reason that we should be able to get the E-field in the region if we know the change in electric potential between A and B. Ch 25.4 – Getting the E-field from the E-potential

If we only take one little step, ds, then the change in potential is infinitesimally small: Ch 25.4 – Getting the E-field from the E-potential

If we only take one little step, ds, then the change in potential is infinitesimally small: Let’s make it simple. Pretend the E-field only points in the x direction, and therefore only has one component E x. Then: Ch 25.4 – Getting the E-field from the E-potential

So, for this 1-D example, Ch 25.4 – Getting the E-field from the E-potential

This is actually valid in all three dimensions: In other words, if we know the spatial-rate-of-change of the V function in one of the coordinate directions, then we know the component of the E-field in that dimension. Ch 25.4 – Getting the E-field from the E-potential

Experimentally, electric potential and position can be measured easily (using a voltmeter and a meter stick). So, you can determine the E- field at some point by measuring the electric potential at several positions in the field and making a graph of the results. Ch 25.4 – Getting the E-field from the E-potential

A dipole consists of two charges, equal in magnitude and opposite sign. They’re separated by a distance 2a as shown. The dipole lies along the x axis, centered at the origin. (a)Calculate the electric potential at point P on the y axis. (b)Calculate the electric potential at point R on the +x axis. (c)Calculate V and E x at a point way down the x axis. EG 25.4 The electric potential of a Dipole