1. Chapter 23 Electric Potential
Chapter 23 opener. We are used to voltage in our lives—a 12-volt car battery, 110 V or 220 V at home, 1.5 volt flashlight batteries, and so on. Here we see a Van de Graaff generator, whose voltage may reach 50,000 V or more. Voltage is the same as electric potential difference between two points. Electric potential is defined as the potential energy per unit charge. The children here, whose hair stands on end because each hair has received the same sign of charge, are not harmed by the voltage because the Van de Graaff cannot provide much current before the voltage drops. (It is current through the body that is harmful, as we will see later.)

2. 23.1 Electrostatic Potential Energy
•Gravitational Potential Energy
•Electric Potential Energy
•UE can result from either an attractive force or a repulsive force
•Ug is due to an attractive force + - r r
•Ug 0 when r ∞
•UE 0 when r ∞

3. 23.1 Electrostatic Potential Energy
•Gravitational Ug
Attractive force
•Electric UE
Attractive force
•Electric UE
Repulsive force - + + + or - -
> 0
< 0
Bigger when farther
Bigger when farther
Bigger when closer U r U r U r

4. Work and Electrostatic Potential energy- 1 FE 1 FE + 2 2 + +
∆U > 0
Work done BY conservative force
∆U < 0 U r U r 2
Move in the direction of force -->positive work 1 1
Move opposite the direction of force --> negative work 2

5. 23-1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential Difference
The electrostatic force is conservative – potential energy can be defined.
Change in electric potential energy is negative of work done by electric force:
Figure Work is done by the electric field in moving the positive charge q from position a to position b.

6. Potential Difference and E-fields
Just as the Force points in the direction of LOWER Potential Energy, UE
The Electric Field points in the direction of LOWER Potential, V
Low UE
High UE
High UE
Low UE - - E + - - E + F F + -
Low V
High V
Low V
High V

7. 23-1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Electric potential energy per unit charge
Electric Potential =
Electric Potential Difference: DV
~ Volts
∆𝑉= 𝑉 𝑓 − 𝑉 𝑖 = 𝑉 𝐵 − 𝑉 𝐴 for a point charge moving from A to B
Since only changes in potential energy are important, typically we are most interested in potential difference

8. 23-1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Only changes in potential can be measured,

9. 23-1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Analogy between gravitational and electrical potential energy:
Two charges have the same electric potential.
The 2Q charge has more potential energy
Figure (a) Two rocks are at the same height. The larger rock has more potential energy. (b) Two charges have the same electric potential. The 2Q charge has more potential energy.

10. 23-1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Electrical sources such as batteries and generators supply a constant potential difference. Here are some typical potential differences, both natural and manufactured:

11. 23-1 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Example 23-2: Electron in CRT.
Suppose an electron in a cathode ray tube is accelerated from
rest through a potential difference Vb – Va = Vba = V. (a) What is the change in electric potential energy of the electron? (b) What is the speed of the electron (m = 9.1 × kg) as a result of this acceleration?
Solution: a. The change in potential energy is qV = -8.0 x J.
b. The change in potential energy is equal to the change in kinetic energy; solving for the final speed gives v = 4.2 x 107 m/s.

12. 23-2 Relation between Electric Potential and Electric Field
The general relationship between a conservative force and potential energy:
Substituting the potential difference and the electric field:
Figure To find Vba in a nonuniform electric field E, we integrate E·dl from point a to point b.

13. 23-2 Relation between Electric Potential and Electric Field
The simplest case is a uniform field:

14. Points to remember Increasing U increases stored energy
Force always points in the direction of LOWER potential energy
The potential energy is a scalar—no direction
The signs of the charges give the sign on the electric potential energy
•Only changes in potential energy are important
•Energy is NOT a vector

15. Relationships…. Property of a charge q Property of a Point P
Electric Force
Electric Field
Vector
quantities
Per unit
Charge=
Is the negative
Gradient of
Is the negative
Gradient (change) of
Electric Potential
Energy
Electric Potential
Scalar
quantities
Per unit
Charge=