ENERGY / ELECTRIC POTENTIAL OF CHARGE SYSTEMS

Prepared by: IRINEO P. QUINTO

WORK DONE IN MOVING A POINT CHARGE

F = QE
dW = FdL = Fcos dL dW = QEdL dL = dxax + dyay + dzaz dL = drar + rda + dzaz dL = drar + rda + rsinda (cartesian) (cylindrical) (spherical)
F

STATIC FIELDS
The work done in moving a point charge Q from one point to another in a static electric field is the same for any path chosen The work done in moving a charge around any closed loop is zero.
EdL = 0

PROBLEM
Find the work done in moving a charge of +2C from (2,0,0) to (0,2,0)m along the line path joining the two points if the electric field is: E = 2xax 4yay V/m dW = 2(2xax 4yay)(dxax + dyay + dzaz) dW = 4xdx - 8ydy but dx = -dy

dW = 4xdx - 8(2-x)(-dx) = -4(x-4)dx W= [-2x2 +16x]2 = -24 J

0

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL BETWEEN TWO POINTS

Vab = - a EdL = W Q
b

Vab = Vac - Vbc

POTENTIAL OF A POINT CHARGE

Vab = - a EdL = - Erdr
Q rb dr/r2 Vab = 4o ra Q [ Vab = 4o IF ra =: 1 rb
b

1 ra

Vb = Q / 4orb

POTENTIAL OF A CHARGE DISTRIBUTION

dv =

dQ
4oR dV 4oR

v=

GRADIENT
The gradient of a scalar function V characterizes how it changes in a specified direction
Consider a scalar function V:
z r M (x,y,z) dr r+dr y x N(x+dx,y+dy,z+dz) dV = dr = dxax + dyay + dzaz The change of V from M to N is: V x V y V z

dx +

dy +

dz

GRADIENT OF V, V (grad V)
V = V x ax + V y ay + V z az

dV = Vdr

1. For a fixed |dr|, the change in V in a given direction dr, is proportional to the projection of V in that direction. 2. V lies in the direction of maximum increase of the function V

GRADIENT OF A POTENTIAL FUNCTION V

V(x,y,z) = K2

V
dr M N V(x,y,z) = K1

Since V is in the direction of increasing V, it points from V = K1 to V = K2 where K2 > K1

EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACE, dV = 0

THE GRADIENT OF A POTENTIAL FUNCTION V IS A VECTOR FIELD THAT IS EVERYWHERE NORMAL / PERPENDICULAR TO THE EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES.

GRADIENT
V = V r ar +

V
r V r

a +

V z

az

V =

V
r

ar +

a +

V
rsin

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E AND V

dV = - EdL

dV = Vdr

dL = dr
E = -V

ENERGY IN STATIC FIELDS

WE = W1 + W2 + W3

WE = 0 + Q2V21 + (Q3V31 + Q3V32)

WE = W3 + W2 + W1

3
WE = 0 + Q2V23 + (Q1V12 + Q1V13) 2WE = Q1(V12 + V13) + Q2(V21 + V23) + Q3(V31 + V32) 2WE = Q1V1 + Q2V2 + Q3V3 n WE = QiVi 2 i=1 1

OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY IN STATIC FIELDS

WE =

1
2 1 2 1 2

V dv
DE dv
E2 dv

WE =

WE =

WE =

1 2

D2

dv