CHAPTER-2

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL
AND
CAPACITANCE
Electric Potential:
Electric potential is a physical quantity which determines the flow of
charges from one body to another. It determines the degree of
electrification of a body.
A body which is +ve charged is said to be in higher potential .
Similarlly a body which is at –ve charged is at lower potential .When
these two bodies put in electrical contact then +ve charge flows from
body at higher potential to lower potential similarly –ve charge flows
from body at lower potential to body at higher potential . These flow
continues till both bodies acquire a same potential.
Electric Potential:
Electric Potential at a point in the electric field is defined as the
work done in moving (without any acceleration) a unit positive
charge from infinity to that point against the electrostatic force
irrespective of the path followed.

Electric Potential Difference:

Electric Potential Difference between any two points in the
electric field is defined as the work done in moving (without any
acceleration) a unit positive charge from one point to the other
against the electrostatic force irrespective of the path followed.
1. Electric potential and potential difference are scalar quantities.
2. Electric potential at infinity is zero.
3. Electric potential near an isolated positive charge (q > 0) is positive and
that near an isolated negative charge (q < 0) is negative.
4. Although V is called the potential at a point, it is actually equal to the
potential difference between the points r and ∞.

CGS unit of electric potential is stat volt. 1 stat volt = 1 erg / stat coulomb.
SI unit of electric potential is volt (V) or J C -1 or Nm C-1.
Electric potential at a point is one volt if one joule of work is done in moving
one coulomb charge from infinity to that point in the electric field.
Electric Potential due to a Single Point Charge:
Let +q0 be the test charge
placed at P at a distance x E dx +q0 q0E
from the source charge +q. +q B Q P ∞
The force F = +q0E is r
radially outward and tends x
to accelerate the test charge.

To prevent this acceleration, equal and opposite force –q 0E has to be applied

on the test charge.
Work done to move q0 from P to Q through ‘dx’ against q0E is

dW = F . dx or dW = F dx cos 180° = - F dx
q q0
dW = - dx
4πε0 x 2

Total work done to move q0 from ∞ to B (from ∞ to r ) is

Electric Potential due a uniformly charged thin spherical shell of
radius R-
Q
V = r >R
4πε0 r

Q
V = r = R or r < R
4πε0 R
Electric Potential due to an Electric Dipole:
i) At a point on the axial line:

1 q
VP =
q+
4πε0 (r – a)
A B +1 C
1 -q
VP = -q O +q P
q-
4πε0 (r + a) p

a a
VP = V P + VP r
q+ q-

[ ]
q 1 1
VP = -
4πε0 (r – a) (r+a)

1 q . 2l
VP =
4πε0 (r2 – a2) For r >>> a
1 p p
VP = 1
4πε0 (r2 – a2) VP =
4πε0 r2
ii) At a point on the equatorial line:

1 q
VQ =
q+
4πε0 BQ Q

1 -q
VQ =
q-
4πε0 AQ r
A θ θ B
VQ = V P + VP -q O +q
q+ q-
p

a a
[ ]
q 1 1
VQ = -
4πε0 BQ AQ

VQ = 0

The net electrostatic potential at a point in the electric field due to an

electric dipole at any point on the equatorial line is zero.
 Equipotential Surfaces:
A surface at every point of which the potential due to charge distribution is
the same is called equipotential surface.
i) For a uniform electric field:

V1 V2 V3
E

Plane Equipotential Surfaces +

Spherical Equipotential Surfaces

ii) For an isolated charge:

Properties of Equipotential Surfaces:

1. No work is done in moving a test charge from one point to

another on an equipotential surface.
2. The electric field is always perpendicular to the element dl of the
equipotential surface.
3. Equipotential surfaces indicate regions of strong or weak electric
fields.
4. Two equipotential surfaces can not intersect.
If two equipotential surfaces intersect, then at the points of
intersection, there will be two values of the electric potential
which is not possible.
EQUEPOTENTIAL SURFACES OF VARIOUS CHARGE
SYSTEMS
ii) Electrostatic Potential Energy of a Three Charges System:
 On the basis of the behaviour in an external
electric field most of the materials can be broadly
classified into two category - Conductors and
Insulators

Conductors- These are the substances which allow

large scale physical movement of electric charges
through them when an external electric field is
applied.
For example - silver copper aluminium human
body etc

Insulators- These are the substances which do not

allow physical movement of electric charges
through them when an external electric field is
applied.
For example – diamond, glass, wood , distilled
water etc
FREE AND BOUND CHARGES-

The electrons of the outer shell of the atoms are loosely

bound to the nucleus they get detached from the atoms and move
freely inside the metal in a external field this free electrons drift in
the opposite direction of the electric field. These are called free
charges

The positive ions which consists of nuclei and electrons of

inner shells remain fixed in their position and these are immovable
so called bound charges.

Due to the absence of free charges insulators are poor

conductors of electricity
Behaviour of Conductors in the Electrostatic Field:
1. Net electrostatic field in the interior of a
E0
conductor is zero.
When a conductor is placed in an
electrostatic field, the charges (free EP
electrons) drift towards the positive plate
leaving the + ve core behind. At an
equilibrium, the electric field due to the
polarisation becomes equal to the applied Enet = 0
field. So, the net electrostatic field inside
the conductor is zero.
2. Electric field just outside the charged
conductor is perpendicular to the surface of
the conductor.
E cos θ E
Suppose the electric field is acting at an
angle other than 90°, then there will be a θLE
component E cos θ acting along the tangent SIB
O S
at that point to the surface which will tend to
T P •+ q n
accelerate the charge on the surface leading NO
to ‘surface current’. But there is no surface
current in electrostatics. So, θ = 90° and
cos 90° = 0.
3. Net charge in the interior of a conductor is zero
and any excess Charge always resides on the
surface of a conductor.
The charges are temporarily separated. The total
charge of the system is zero.
Suppose a conductor is given some excess
charge q. Construct a Gaussian surface just
inside the conductor.
Since E = 0 in the interior of the conductor,
therefore q = 0 inside the conductor.

q q

4. Electric potential is constant within and on q=0

the surface of the entire conductor.
dV = - E . dr
Since E = 0 in the interior of the conductor,
therefore dV = 0. i.e. V = constant
5. Electric field at the surface of a charged conductor is proportional to the
surface charge density.
σ
E= (where σ = q/A )
ε0
6.Electric field is zero in the cavity of a hollow charged conductor.

The phenomenon of making a region free from any electric field is called
electrostatic shielding .
Application- 1. In thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, it is safest to sit
inside a car, rather near a tree or on the open ground. The metallic body of
the car becomes an electrostatic shielding from lightning .
2. Sensitive components of electronic devices are protected or
shielded from external electric disturbances by placing metal shielding
around them
Capacitor-

A capacitor is an arrangement of two conductors separated

by an insulating medium that is used to store electric charge and
electric energy.
Principle of Capacitor:
A B
Step 1: Plate A is positively charged and B is neutral.
Step 2: When a neutral plate B is brought near A,
charges are induced on B such that the side near A is
negative and the other side is positive.
The potential of the system of A and B in step 1 and 2
remains the same because the potential due to positive
and negative charges on B cancel out. Potential = V
Step 3: When the farther side of B is earthed the
positive charges on B get neutralised and B is left only
with negative charges. A B
Now, the net potential of the system decreases due to
the sum of positive potential on A and negative
potential on B.
To increase the potential to the same value as was in
step 2, an additional amount of charges can be given to
plate A.
Potential = V
This means, the capacity of storing charges on A E
Potential
increases.
decreases to v
The system so formed is called a ‘capacitor’.
Capacitance-

The measure of the ability of a conductor to store charges is known as

capacitance or capacity (old name).

q α V or q =CV
q
or C=
V

Capacitance of a conductor is defined as the charge required to raise its

potential through one unit.
SI Unit of capacitance is ‘farad’ (F). Symbol of capacitance:
Capacitance is said to be 1 farad when 1 coulomb of charge raises the
potential of conductor by 1 volt.
Capacitance of an Isolated Spherical Conductor:
Let a charge q be given to the sphere which is assumed to be
concentrated at the centre.
Potential at any point on the surface is
r
O•
q +q
V =
4πε0 r
q
C=
V

C = 4πε0 r

1. Capacitance of a spherical conductor is directly proportional to its radius.

2. The above equation is true for conducting spheres, hollow or solid.
3. IF the sphere is in a medium, then C = 4πε0εr r.
4. Capacitance of the earth is 711 μF. (putting r= 6400 km)
Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor:
Parallel plate capacitor is an arrangement of two
parallel conducting plates of equal area σ E σ
separated by air medium or any other insulating
medium such as paper, mica, glass, wood, A A
ceramic, etc. σ
E=
ε0
σ
V=Ed= d
ε0
qd
or V=
A ε0 d
q
But C=
V
ε0 A
C=
d
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is
(i) directly proportional to the area of the plates and
(ii) inversely proportional to the distance of separation between them.
When a dielectric (of dielectric constant K ) is inserted between the plates to
occupy the region fully ,the capacitance of the parallel plate capacitor will be

K ε0 A
C=
d

ε
Here K = dielectric constant of medium ==
ε0

When dielectric is introduced the field between the plates of capacitor

decreases by K and hence potential decreases by a factor K ,This
implies the increase of capacitance by a factor K.
As t/k =0
Energy Stored in a Capacitor:
The process of charging a capacitor is
equivalent to transferring charges from one
plate to the other of the capacitor.
The moment charging starts, there is a potential
difference between the plates. Therefore, to
transfer charges against the potential difference
some work is to be done. This work is stored as
electrostatic potential energy in the capacitor.

1 q2
U=
2 C
V

A ε0 and V=Ed
1 But C=
or U= C V2 d
2 1
U= ε0 Ad E2
2
1 U 1
or U= qV
Energy Density: = ε0 E 2
Ad 2
2
Energy density is generalised as energy per unit volume
of the field.
How to Calculate the Energy Stored in a Capacitor?
 WITH DIELECTRIC SLAB

Physcial Quantity With Battery With Battery

disconnected connected
Charge Remains the same Increases (K C0 V0)

Capacitance Increases (K C0) Increases (K C0)

Electric Field Decreases Remains the same

EN = E 0 – E p
Potential Difference Decreases Remains the same

Energy stored Remains the same Increases (K U0)

THANK YOU