Definition of Electric Potential
For defining electric potential we take the reference of zero potential at infinity.
The electric potential at any point in an electric field is defined as the work done in bringing per unit (infinitesimal) positive test charge from infinity to given point. Therefore, if W is the work done is bringing test charge q0 from infinity to given point in an electric field, then electric potential
q0 is taken as infinitesimal so that it may not affect the original electric field; hence it is better to write
Definition of Electric Potential Difference : The electric potential difference between two points in an electric field is defined as the work done in bringing per unit infinitesimal positive test charge from one point to another against the direction of electric field.
If is the work done in bringing the positive test charge
from B to A, then electric potential difference between A and B is
Units and Dimensions of Electric Potential
The electric potential
The S.I. unit of work ( W ) is joule and of charge ( q0 ) is coulomb, so S.I. unit of electric potential is joule/coulomb or volt.
Dimensional formula for work is [ML2T-2]and of q0 is [AT], so dimensional formula for electric potential is
Relation between electric field and potential
Let dV = potential difference between A and B.
= work done in taking unit +ve charge from A → B or from B → A against the field
= E. dr
Negative gradient of potential is electric field.
Physical Meaning of Electric Potential
The electric potential is that physical quantity which determines the direction of flow of charge from one body to another when brought in electrical contact.
If two charged bodies A and B have charges QA and QB and potentials VA and VA respectively such that VA > VA , then when bodies A and B are brought in electrical contact, the charge will always flow from body A to body B till then potentials become equal; whatever the initial charges on bodies A and B may be.
Electric Potential as Line Integral of Electric Field
The electric potential at any point in an electric field is given by the negative line integral of electric field from infinity to given point in electric field.
If P is a point in electric field of a distance r and is electric field at intermediate length element
(at point A ) between
and point P, then electric potential at P is
This line integral is independent of path followed between infinity and point P.
Electric Potential due to a point charge
The electric potential due to a point charge at a any point is defined as the work done in bringing per unit (infinitesimal and positive) test charge from infinity to given point. Let q be the charge and P a point at a distance r from q at which the potential is to be found.
Suppose test charge is being brought from infinity to point P . When test charge
is at a distance x, the electrostatic coulomb force on the test charge is
where is unit vector along
.
Work done by external force against electric force during small displacement dx is
Work done in bringing test charge from infinity to point P is
The electric potential at point P (distant r from point charge q ) is
Clearly, the potential due to a point charge varies inversely with distance r from the point charge (fig.)
Electric Potential due to a system of Charges
The electric potential at a point due to a system of point charges is equal to the algebraic sum of potentials due to all individual charges of the system at that point. Therefore, if V1,V2,V3,……..,Vn are the electric potentials at given point due to charges q1,q2,q3,……. qn of the system, then the net electric potential at that point will be
While calculating potential at a point it should be taken into account what type of charge is it. If it is positive charge, potential is positive. If it is negative charge, potential is negative.
Electric potential due to an Electric Dipole
The is electric dipole moment
of dipole formed of charge ? q and + q at separation 2 a , then the electric potential at a distance r from the centre of dipole at difference positions are given by
(i) At Axial point, C
(ii) At equatorial point D ,
V =0 (zero)
(iii) At any general point P having polar coordination (r,θ)
.
Equipotential Surface
The surface having same electric potential at its each point is called an equipotential surface. The surface of a charged conductor is always an equipotential surface.
Charactersitics :
(i) The electric field lines are always perpendicular to every point of equipotential surface.
(ii) The work done in moving a charge between any two points on equipotential surface is always zero.
Electric Potential Energy
The electric potential energy of a system of charges is defined as the work done in assembling the system of charges assuming them initially at infinity from one another.
(i) For a system of two charges : If two charges q1 and q2 are at a distance r12, then electric potential energy is given by
(ii) For a system of three charges :
(iii) For a system of n -charges :
Electric Potential Energy of an Electric Dipole in a Uniform Electric Field
The electric potential energy of an electric dipole in an electric field is defined as the work done by external force in bringing the dipole from infinity to its present position and orientation. If p is dipole moment and E is the electric field and θ is angle between the directions of and
, then the electric potential energy of dipole
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