CHAPTER 25

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
General Physics 2 (10221102)
Physics Department
Faculty Of Science
An-Najah National University
Spring Semester 2023/2024

Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi

Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
 OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. Electric Potential Energy
3. Electric Potential And Potential Difference
4. Work Done By Uniform Electric Field
5. Obtaining The Value Of The Electric Field From
The Electric Potential And Vice Versa
6. Potential Due To A Point Charge
7. Potential Due To A Group Of Point Charges
8. Electric Potential Energy Of A System Of Point
Charges
9. Equipotential Surface
10. Electric Potential Due To Continuous Charge
Distributions
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11. Electric Potential Due To A Charged Conductor
Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi
Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
1. Introduction
➢ One goal of physics is to identify basic forces in our world,
such as the electric force we discussed in Chapter 23. A
related goal is to determine whether a force is conservative -
that is, whether we can find a potential energy to be
associated with the force.

➢ Experimentally, physicists and engineers discovered that the

electric force is conservative and thus has an associated
electric potential energy.

➢ The motivation for associating a potential energy with a force

is that we can then apply the principle of the conservation of
mechanical energy to closed systems involving the force.
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2. Electric Potential Energy
Important facts from Physics I
➢ The change in potential energy is defined as the negative of
the work done by the conservative force (this time: the electric
force).

➢ If an external force moves an object “against” the conservative

force, and the object’s kinetic energy remains constant, then

Always ask yourself which work you are calculating.

➢ Potential energies are defined relative to some configuration of
objects that you are free to choose. For example, it often makes
sense to define the gravitational potential energy of a ball to be
zero when it is resting on the surface of the earth, but you don’t 4
have to make that choice.
Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi
Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
Electric Potential Energy
➢ When an electrostatic force acts between two or more charged particles
within a system of particles, we can assign an Electric Potential Energy
(𝑼) to the system.
➢ If the system changes its configuration from an initial state (a) to a
different final state (b), the electrostatic force does Work (𝑾) on the
particles. If the resulting change is ∆𝑼, then
➢ The work done by the force is the same as the change in the particle’s
potential energy

➢ The work done only depends upon the change in position. 5

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Electric Potential Energy
➢ If we assume that the particle moved from infinity (taken as
reference where 𝑼𝒊 = 0) to a final position within an E-field
of other charged particle or particles (where 𝑼𝒇 = 𝑼); work
done by the electrostatic forces 𝑭𝒆 between the particles during
the move in from infinity is

𝑾∞ = − ∆𝑼 = 𝑼𝒊 – 𝑼𝒇 = −𝑼 𝑾∞ = −𝑼

𝑾∞: represent the work done by the electric forces between the
particles during the move in from infinity.

Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi

Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
Example 1
Near Earth’s surface the electric field has the magnitude 𝑬
= 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝑵/𝑪 and is directed downward. What is the change ∆𝑼 in
the electric potential energy of a released electron when the
electrostatic force causes it to move vertically upward through a
distance 𝒅 = 𝟓𝟐𝟎 𝒎 , as shown in the Figure? ( 𝒒𝒆 = −𝟏. 𝟔
× 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗 𝑪)

Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi

Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
3. Electric Potential And Potential Difference
➢ The potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field is
called the Electric Potential (𝑽) (or simply the Potential) at that
point. This is a scalar quantity. Thus,

➢ The Electric Potential Difference (∆𝑽) between any two points i

and f in an electric field is equal to the difference in potential energy
per unit charge between the two points. Thus,

➢ The potential difference between two points is thus the negative of

the work done by the electrostatic force to move a unit charge from
one point to the other.
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Electric Potential And Potential Difference

➢ If we set 𝑼𝒊 = 𝟎 at infinity as our reference potential energy, then

the electric potential V must also be zero there. Therefore, the
electric potential at any point in an electric field can be defined to be

Here W∞ is the work done by the electric field on a charged particle

as that particle moves in from infinity to point f.

➢ The SI unit for potential is the joule per coulomb (J/C). This
combination is called the volt (V).

1 volt = 1 joule per coulomb

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Electric Potential And Potential Difference

➢ This unit of volt allows us to adopt a more conventional unit for the
electric field, E, which is expressed in newtons per coulomb (N/C).

➢ Work or Energy can be expressed in unit of electron-volt (eV).

➢ One electron-volt (eV) is the energy equal to the work required to

move a single elementary charge (e), such as that of the electron or
the proton, through a potential difference of exactly one volt. The
magnitude of this work is q∆V, and

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Electric Potential And Potential Difference
➢ If a particle of charge q is moved from point i to point f in an electric field
by applying a force to it, the applied force does work Wapp on the charge
while the electric field does work W on it. The change K in the kinetic
energy of the particle is

➢ If the particle is stationary before and after the move, then Kf and Ki are
both zero.

➢ Relating the work done by our applied force to the change in the potential
energy of the particle during the move, one has

➢ We can also relate Wapp to the electric potential difference ∆V between the
initial and final locations of the particle:

➢ Note that: ΔU or Wapp can be positive, negative, or zero 11

depending on the signs and magnitudes of q and ∆V.
Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi
Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
4. Work Done By Uniform Electric Field

➢ Electric Force on charge is

➢ Work is done on the

charge by field is

➢ The work done is independent of path taken from point a

to point b because the Electric Force is a conservative
force. 12

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Example 2
A uniform electric field of magnitude 250 V/m is directed in the
positive x direction. A +12 µC charge moves from the origin to the
point (x, y) = (20 cm, 50 cm).
a. What is the change in the potential energy of the charge –
field system?
b. Through what potential difference does the charge move?

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5. Obtaining the Value of the Electric Field
From the Electric Potential and Vice Versa
Let’s say we know the field everywhere:
Can we find the potential?

The potential difference between two

points and for a field is the line
integral of between those two points
along any path.
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∆V = Vf – Vi = -Ed Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi

Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
Obtaining The Value Of The Electric Field
From The Electric Potential And Vice Versa
➢ Electric Field can be found from:
1. Columbe’s law from any charge distribution.
2. Gauss’s law when the charge has symmetrical distribution.
3. The scalar potential V.
➢ What if we know the potential , can we find ?
➢ Let’s just look in 1D for a moment:

➢ In General

➢ Or, we can write it like this:

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Example / Page 750
A 12 V battery is connected between two parallel plates separated by d
= 0.3 cm as shown in Figure. Find the magnitude of the electric
field between the plates, assume the electric field between the
plates to be uniform.

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Example / Page 751
A proton is released from rest at point A in a uniform Electric field
that has a magnitude of 8x104 V/m. The proton undergoes a
displacement of 0.5 m to point B in the direction of E. Find: (qp =
1.6x10-19 C, mp = 1.67x10-27 kg).
a. 𝑽𝑩 – 𝑽𝑨
b. 𝑼𝑩 – 𝑼𝑨
c. Work done on the charge by electric field.
d. The speed of the proton at point B.

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Example 3

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Example 4
The shown Figure represents a graph of the electric potential in a
region of space versus position x, where the electric field is parallel to
the x axis. Draw a graph of the x component of the electric field
versus x in this region.

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6. Potential Due TO A Point Charge
➢ A positively charged particle (+𝒒) produces a positive electric potential (+𝑽).
➢ A negatively charged particle (−𝒒) produces a negative electric potential (−𝑽).
➢ Consider a point P at distance R from a fixed particle of positive
charge 𝒒. Imagine that we move a positive test charge 𝒒𝟎 from
point P to infinity. The path chosen can be the simplest one a line
that extends radially from the fixed particle through P to infinity.

If 𝑽𝒇 = 𝟎 (at ∞ ) and 𝑽𝒊 = 𝑽 (at R). Then, for the

magnitude of the electric field at the site of the test charge,

That gives:

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Switching R to 𝒓, Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi
Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
7. Potential Due TO A Group Of Point Charges

➢ The net potential at a point due to a group of point charges can be

found with the help of the superposition principle.

➢ For n charges, the net potential is

➢ This summation produces an electric potential at all points in space

– a scalar function.

➢ Calculating the electric potential from a group of point charges is

usually much simpler than calculating the electric field. It’s a scalar!
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Example 5
What is the electric potential at point P, located at the center of
the square of point charges shown in the Figure? The distance 𝒅 is
𝟏. 𝟑 𝒎 , and the charges are 𝒒𝟏 = +𝟏𝟐 𝒏𝑪, 𝒒𝟐 = −𝟐𝟒 𝒏𝑪 , 𝒒𝟑
= +𝟑𝟏 𝒏𝑪 and 𝒒𝟒 = +𝟏𝟕 𝒏𝑪.

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8. Electric Potential Energy Of A System Of
Point Charges
➢ The electric potential energy of a system of fixed point charges is equal
to the work that must be done by an external agent to assemble the
system, bringing each charge in from an infinite distance.
➢ The Figure shows two point charges 𝒒𝟏 and 𝒒𝟐, separated by a distance 𝒓.
When we bring 𝒒𝟏 in from infinity and put it in place, we do no work
because no electrostatic force acts on 𝒒𝟏. However, when we next bring
𝒒𝟐 in from infinity and put it in place, we must do work because 𝒒𝟏 exerts
an electrostatic force on 𝒒𝟐 during the move.

The work done is 𝒒𝟐𝑽, where 𝑽 is the potential that has been set up
by 𝒒𝟏 at the point where we put 𝒒𝟐

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Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
Electric Potential Energy Of A System Of Point
Charges
➢ For system of more than two charged particles: we obtain the
total potential energy of the system by calculating 𝑼 for
every pair of charges and summing the terms
algebraically

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Example 6
The Figure shows three point charges held in fixed positions by forces
that are not shown. What is the electric potential energy 𝑼 of this
system of charges? Assume that 𝒅 = 𝟏𝟐 𝒄𝒎 and that 𝒒𝟏 = +𝒒, 𝒒𝟐
= −
𝟒𝒒, and 𝒒𝟑 = +𝟐𝒒, in which 𝒒 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝒏𝑪.

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Example / Page 754
As shown in the Figure, a charge 𝒒𝟏 = 𝟐 µ𝑪 is located at the origin and
a charge 𝒒𝟐 = −𝟔 µ𝑪 is located at (𝟎, 𝟑) m.
a. Find the total electric potential due to these charges at the
point P, whose coordinates are (𝟒, 𝟎) m. (Figure a)
b. Find the change in potential energy of the system of two
charges plus a third charge 𝒒𝟑 = 𝟑 µ𝑪 as the latter charge
moves from infinity to point P. (Figure b)
c. Find the total potential energy of the system. (Figure b)

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9. Equipotential Surface
➢ It is possible to move a test charge from one point to another
without having any net work done on the charge; this occurs
when the beginning and end points have the same potential
(equipotential surface).
➢ The electric field does no work as a charge is moved along an
equipotential surface.
➢ Since no work is done, there is no force, 𝒒𝑬, along the direction of
motion.
➢ The electric field is perpendicular to the equipotential surface.

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Point Charge Uniform Field Electric Dipole
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10. Electric Potential Due To Continuous Charge
Distributions
➢ When a charge distribution 𝒒 is continuous (as
on a uniformly charged).
➢ We must choose a differential element of charge
𝒅𝒒, determine the potential 𝒅𝑽 at P due to 𝒅𝒒,
and then integrate over the entire charge
distribution.
➢ Let us again take the zero of potential to be at
infinity. If we treat the element of charge 𝒅𝒒 as
a point charge, then the express the potential
𝒅𝑽 at point P due to 𝒅𝒒: 𝒅𝒒 = 𝝀𝒅𝒍
𝒅𝒒 = 𝝈𝒅𝑨
𝒅𝒒 = 𝝆𝒅𝑽
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Example / Page 759
1. Electric Potential Due To A Uniformly Charged Ring
a. Find an expression for the electric potential at a point P located
on the perpendicular central axis of a uniformly charged ring of
radius a and total charge 𝑸.
b. Find an expression for the magnitude of the electric field at
point P.

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Example / Page 759
2. Electric Potential Due To A Uniformly Charged Disk
A uniformly charged disk has radius R and surface charge density 𝝈.
a. Find the electric potential at a point P along the
perpendicular central axis of the disk.
b. Find the x component of the electric field at a point P
along the perpendicular central axis of the disk.

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Example / Page 760
3. Electric Potential Due To A Finite Line Of Charge
A rod of length 𝒍, located along the x axis has a total charge 𝑸 and a
uniform linear charge density 𝝀. Find the electric potential at a point
P located on the y axis a distance a from the origin (as shown in the
Figure).

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Example 7
A uniformly charged insulating rod of length 𝟏𝟒 𝒄𝒎 is bent into the
shape of a semicircle as shown in the Figure. The rod has a total
charge of −𝟕. 𝟓 µ𝑪. Find the electric potential at 𝑶, the center of
the semicircle.

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Example / Page 758
An electric dipole consists of two charges of equal magnitude and
opposite sign separated by a distance 𝟐𝒂 as shown in the Figure. The
dipole is along the x axis and is 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 positive x axis.
c. Calculate 𝑽 and 𝑬𝒙 at a point on the x axis far from the dipole.

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11. Electric Potential Due To A Charged
Conductor
➢ Consider two points (𝑨 and 𝑩) on the
surface of the charged conductor.

➢ Electric field is always perpendicular to the

displacement ds.

𝑩
𝑽𝑩 − 𝑽𝑨 = − ‫𝑬 𝑨׬‬. 𝒅𝒔 =𝟎 𝑽𝑨 = 𝑽𝑩

➢ The surface of any charged conductor is an

equipotential surface.

➢ Because the electric field is ZERO inside

the conductor ( 𝑬 = 𝟎 ), the electric
potential is constant everywhere inside the
conductor and equal to the value at the 34

surface. Dr. Maen Ishtaiwi

Dr. Muna Hajjyahya
Electric Potential Due To A Charged Conductor

For charge conducting sphere of charge Q

a. The excess charge on a conducting

sphere of radius 𝑹 is uniformly
distributed on its surface.

b. Electric potential versus distance 𝒓

from the center of the charged
conducting sphere.

c. Electric field magnitude versus

distance 𝒓 from the center of the
charged conducting sphere.
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Example / Page 762
Two spherical conductors of radii 𝒓𝟏 and 𝒓𝟐 are
separated by a distance much greater than the
radius of either sphere. The spheres are connected
by a conducting wire as shown in the Figure. The
charges on the spheres in equilibrium are 𝒒𝟏 and
𝒒𝟐, respectively, and they are uniformly charged.
Find the ratio of the magnitudes of the electric
fields at the surfaces of the spheres.

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Example 8
A spherical conductor has a radius of 𝟏𝟒 𝒄𝒎 and a charge of 𝟐𝟔 µ𝑪.
Calculate the electric field (𝑬) and the electric potential (𝑽) at:
a. 𝒓 = 10 cm
b. 𝒓 = 20 cm, and
c. 𝒓 = 14 cm from the center.

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Example 9
Initially, sphere 𝑨 has a charge of −𝟓𝟎𝒆 and sphere 𝑩 has a charge of
+ 𝟐𝟎𝒆. The spheres are made of conducting material and are identical
in size. If the spheres then touch, what is the resulting charge on
sphere A?

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Example 10
Two conducting spheres are far apart. The smaller sphere carries a
total charge 𝑸. The larger sphere has a radius that is twice that of the
smaller and is neutral. After the two spheres are connected by a
conducting wire. The wire is thin enough so that any net charge on it is
negligible. The charges on the smaller and larger spheres
respectively, are:
a. zero and 𝑄
b. 2𝑄/3 and 𝑄/3
c. 𝑄/2 and 𝑄/2
d. 𝑸/𝟑 and 𝟐𝑸/𝟑

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