Electric Potential
Conservative Force
If work done by force is independent of the path followed
by It and depends only upon initial and final point, force is said
to be conservative.
e.g. Gravitational Force
Some properties of conservative force:
1. Work done by a conservative force over closed path is always
zero.
2. All the forces which obey inverse square law are conservative.
Non Conservative Force
If work done by the force depends upon the path followed,
force is said to be non-conservative.
e.g. Frictional Force
Electrostatic Forces are Conservative in nature
Line integral of electric field is independent of the path.
Consider a charge at origin. Let a test charge q० be moved
from P to Q through small displacement dl.
Then work done in moving charge from P to Q is given by
dW ⃗F ⃗⃗dl q0 ⃗E ⃗⃗⃗⃗
dl
dW q0 ⃗E ⃗⃗⃗⃗
dl
dW q0 Edl cos
dW q0 Edr
Now total work done is given by
B
W ∫ q0 Edr
A
Chapter-3: Page 1
B
1 q
W q0 ∫ dr
4 ०r
2
A
r
q 1 B
W q0 [ ]
4 ० r rA
qq0 1 1
W [ ]
4 ० rA rB
which depends upon rA and rB.
Electric Potential (Electrostatic Potential)
Electric Potential due to a charge at a point is defined as
the amount of work done in moving a unit +ve charge from
infinity to that point against electric field without acceleration.
Consider a charge +q at point O. Let P be the point where
electric potential has to be known. Let q0 be test charge moved
from A to B.
Work done is given by
dW ⃗F ⃗⃗⃗
dx q0 ⃗E ⃗⃗⃗⃗
dx
dW q0 Edx
Total work done in moving charge q0 from infinity to P without
acceleration.
r r
1 q
W ∫ q0 Edx ∫ q0 dx
4𝜋 ० x2
r r
1 1 1 1
W qq0 ∫ 2 dx qq0 ( )
4𝜋 ० x 4𝜋 ० x
1 1 1
W q0 ( )
4𝜋 ० r
1 q0
W
4𝜋 ० r
Chapter-3: Page 2
W 1 q
V
q0 4𝜋 ० r
Unit of V is JC-1 (joule per coulomb)
Electric Potential Difference
Electrostatic potential difference between two points is
defined as the work done in moving a unit +ve charge from one
point to another against electric field. i.e.
WAB
VAB
q
Consider a charge q0 be moved from A to B then work done is
given by
rB rB
WAB ∫ ⃗F ⃗⃗dl ∫ q ⃗E ⃗⃗dl
rA rA
rB
WAB q ∫ ⃗E ⃗⃗dl
rA
rB
WAB
∫ ⃗E ⃗⃗dl VAB
q
rA
Electrostatic Potential difference may is defined as the –ve line
integral of electric field. Or
Electrostatic Potential Difference may also be defined as the
difference of potential between the two points.
VAB VB VA
WAB 1 1 1
q( )
q 4π ० rB rB
Electric Potential due to Group of Charge
Electric Potential at a point due to group of charge is equal
to the algebraic sum of potentials due to individual charges.
1 q
V ∑ i
4𝜋 ० ri
Chapter-3: Page 3
Electric Potential due to dipole
Consider a dipole consisting of charge q and length 2l. Let
P be any point at a distance r from its center, such that OP
makes an angle with dipole.
Potential at P due to –q is given by
1 q
V1
4π ० PA
Potential at P due to +q is given by
1 q
V2
4π ० PB
Now PA PO1 = PO+OO1 = r+lcos
also PB PO2 = PO-OO2 = r-lcos
V V1 V2
1 q q
V [ ]
4π ० r lcos r lcos
q r lcos r lcos
V * +
4π ० r2
2
l cos2
q 2lcos
V * +
4π ० r2 l2 cos2
1 pcos
V
4π ० r2 l2 cos2
In case of short dipole l can be neglected
1 pcos
V
4π ० r2
Relation between electric field and gradient of Potential
Consider a charge q at O. Let a charge q0 be displaced from
P to Q.
Chapter-3: Page 4
By the definition of potential difference
WPQ
VPQ VQ VP V dV V dV
q
Also WPQ q ⃗E ⃗⃗⃗
dr q Edr
WPQ
Edr dV
q
dV
E
dr
Thus electric field is equal to –ve gradient of potential.
Equipotential Surfaces:
Those surfaces which have same potential at all points are
called equipotential surfaces.
Properties of Equipotential Surfaces
1. No work is done in moving charge over an equipotential
surface.
Consider a charge be moved from point A to B over an
equipotential surface
WAB
VB VA 0
q
WAB 0
2. Electric field is always perpendicular to the equipotential
surface.
3. No two equipotential surfaces can intersect each other.
Electrostatic Potential Energy of system of charges
Electrostatic potential energy of system of charges is
defined as the amount of work done required in bringing them to
their respective positions.
Potential Energy of system of two charges
Consider a system of two charges q1 and q2 separated by a
distance r. First, charge q1 is placed at its location, no work has
to be done. When q2 is placed at its location work has to be done
against field due to q1.
Chapter-3: Page 5
W 1 q1
Vq1
q2 4π ० r
1 q1 q2
W
4π ० r
This work done is the potential energy of the system.
Potential Energy of group of charges
1 qi qj
U (∑ )
4π ० rij
i j
Chapter-3: Page 6
