ATTENDANCE QUIZ: 23-1, 23-2

1. In bringing a pair of charges with same

charge sign (either both positive or both
negative) closer to each other, the electric
potential energy (decreases or increases)?
2. For a negative point charge, moving
towards the charge means moving
towards (decreasing or increasing)
potential?
ATTENDANCE QUIZ: 23-1, 23-2

1. In bringing a pair of charges with same

charge sign (either both positive or both
negative) closer to each other, the electric
potential energy (decreases or
increases)?
2. For a negative point charge, moving
towards the charge means moving
towards (decreasing or increasing)
potential?
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY Sec 23-1
OBJECTIVE

Calculate the potential energy of a point

charge in a uniform external electric field
Calculate the potential energy of a system of
point charges
Calculate the minimum work needed to
assemble a system of point charges
 PHYSICS 71: PARTICLE MOVING FROM A TO B

Conservative force: -path independent

-has an associated U
 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY IN A UNIFORM FIELD

Wa b Fd q0 Ed
Positive work since force is parallel to the net
displacement of the test charge.

Similar to gravitational force:

Therefore, conservative force!
 =

A positive charge moving (a) in the direction of

E and (b) in the direction opposite of E.

What happens if we have a negative test

charge instead of a positive one?
A negative charge moving (a) in the direction of E and
(b) in the direction opposite of E.
GENERAL RULES

If test charge moves in the

direction
opposite to electric force: U
increases
Same to electric force: U
decreases
 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL OF TWO POINT
CHARGES
1 qq0
Wa b Fr dr
rb rb
dr
ra 4 2
0 r
ra

qq0 1 1
Wa b
4 0 ra rb
 rb rb 1 qq0
Wa b F cos dl cos dl
ra ra 4 0 r 2
The electric potential energy of two point charges q and
q0 separated at any distance r:
qq01
U
4 0 r
EXAMPLE 1

U
1 20Q
2

4 0 R
EXAMPLE 2

U 0
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY WITH SEVERAL
POINT CHARGES

The potential energy associated with the test charge

q0 at point A depends on the other charges and their
displacements from point A.
ri is the distance of qo
at a reference point

qi q0
U
4 0 i ri
EXAMPLE: EXTERNAL FORCE

Consider two point charges on the x-axis:

1 = at x = 0 , 2 = + at x = .
(a) What is the work that must be done by an
external force to bring a third point charge
3 = + from infinity to x = 2?
Consider two point charges on the x-axis:
1 = at x = 0 , 2 = + at x = .
(a) What is the work that must be done by an external force
to bring a third point charge 3 = + from infinity to x =
2?
, =
and
, =

1 3 2 3
Potential energy at initial location: = + =0

Potential energy at final location:
1 3 2 3 + 2 1 + 2
= + = +1 =
2 2 2
Consider two point charges on the x-axis:
1 = at x = 0 , 2 = + at x = .
(a) What is the work that must be done by an external
force to bring a third point charge 3 = + from
infinity to x = 2?

+ 2
= =
2
INDEX CARD EXERCISE
 `

, =
and
, =
OBJECTIVE =
Calculate the potential = ( )
energy of a point charge
in a uniform external
electric field
Calculate the potential
Wab Fd q0 Ed
energy of a system of
point charges
q0 qi
Calculate the minimum
work needed to assemble
a system of point charges
U
4 0 i ri
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL Sec 23-2
OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the potential at any point in a region

containing point charges
Electric Potential
U
V or U q0V
q0
Potential energy PER UNIT CHARGE.
Sometimes simply called as potential
It is a scalar quantity; NOT vector.
SI unit is volt (V): 1 V = 1 J/C
Wa b
Vb Va Va Vb Vab
q0
Vab, the potential of a with respect to b, equals the work (per unit charge)
done BY the electric force when a UNIT charge moves from a to b.

This potential difference is also called

VOLTAGE

Vab Va Vb
GENERAL RULE VALID FOR ANY ELECTRIC FIELD
U 1 qi
V
q0 4 0
i r
Moving WITH the direction of i
the electric field means moving
in the direction of decreasing
V.

Moving AGAINST the direction

of the electric field means
moving in the direction of
increasing V.
ATTENDANCE QUIZ COVERAGE (WED,
FEB8)
Sec 23-3: Calculating Electric Potential