Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
TOPIC 6
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
AND CAPACITOR
Outline
Electric Potential Energy and Potential Difference
Relation between Electric Potential and Electric Field
The Electron Volt, a Unit of Energy
Electric Potential Due to Point Charges
Equipotential Surface
Capacitance
Dielectrics
Storage of Electric Energy
The Electric Battery
Electric Current
2
Uniform
gravitational field
Uniform electric
field
WAB PE A PE B
WAB EPE A EPE B
AS
What is potential energy, PE ?
It is the energy due to position.
For the ball, because ball at A is at a
higher position, it possess higher
gravitational PE.
For the charge, because at A, nearer to the
positive plate, it possess more electrical
PE
WAB PE A PE B
qo
qo
qo
The electric potential at a given point is the
electric potential energy of a small test charge
divided by the charge itself:
PE
V
qo
PE B PE A WAB
VB V A
qo
qo
qo
PE WAB
V
qo
qo
7
Example 1
The work done by the electric
force as the test charge (+2.0
x 106 C) moves from A to B is
+5.0 x 105 J.
(a) Find the difference in PE
between point B and point A.
(-5.0x10-5J)
(b) Determine
the
potential
difference between these
points.(-25V)
8
Solution
PE B PE A WAB q (VB VA )
Work is also force multiplied by distance:
10
VBA
E
d
If the field is not uniform, it can be calculated
at multiple points:
11
WAB
qo
W q0 V AB
KE (1.6 1019 )C 1V 1.6 1019 J
12
13
A
+q
x
The force on the charge q is:
Qq
1 Qq
F k 2
2
x
4 x
dx
14
1
V
q
xr
dW
q
1
xr
Fdx
xr
Qq
k 2 dx
x
r
Q
k
x
Q
k
r
Q
, where k 9.0 10 9 NC 2 m 2
4 r
U qV
qQ
k
r
qQ
4 r
When calculating the electric potential energy U
of a charge in an electric field, the sign of
charge must be consider
18
Example 2
+q
-3q
r12 = 2a
+q and -3q
r13 = a
r23 = a
19
+2q
Solution
20
Equipotential Surfaces
An equipotential surface is a surface on which all
points have the same electric potential.
Equipotentials for:
(a) uniform field, (b) point charge, (c) dipole.
21
A
C
VA VB VC
then the work done to bring a test charge from B
to A is given by
q
BA
0
W BA
q
AB
V V
A
Capacitance
A capacitor consists of two conductors that are
close but not touching. A capacitor has the ability
to store electric charge.
24
25
Q V
Q CV
Q
C
V
Where: Q = charge
C = capacitance
V = potential difference.
27
d
+
+
+
Plate
area A
Example 3
29
Solution
30
C1
C2
-Q
+Q
C3
-Q
+Q
Cequ
V1
V2
V3
V
31
V1
C1
, V2
C2
, V3
C3
Q Q Q
V V1 V2 V3
C1 C2 C3
So
V 1
1
1
Q C1 C2 C3
Q
1 1
1
1
C and
V
C C1 C2 C3
32
Capacitors in parallel:
Q1
Q2
Q3
C1
C2
C3
33
Example 4:
Figure 3 shows five capacitors in a circuit.
Calculate the equivalent capacitance between A
and B terminal.
2 F
3 F
A
1 F
3 F
4 F
Figure 3
35
Solution
3 F
2 F
3 F
1 F
1
1
1
CT 1 2 3
1.2 F
B
4 F
3 F
A
CT 2 1 1.2
1.2 F
1 F
2.2 F
B
4 F
3 F
A
2.2F
1
1
1
1
CT 3 2.2 4
CT 0.96 F
36
4 F
Figure 3
37
Dielectric strength
is the maximum
field a dielectric can
experience without
breaking down.
r > 1 , the effect of
having an insulator
is to increase its
capacitance.
39
No dielectric
Dielectric inserted
Example 5:
A parallel-plate capacitor consists of two metal plates
each of area 0.40 m2 and separated by a distance of 0.20
cm.
a) Find the capacitance of the capacitor if the space
between the plates is
i) vacuum
ii) an insulator of dielectric constant 2.3
(Ans : (i) (1.77x10-9F)(ii) (4.07x10-9F)
b) With the insulator between the plates, the insulation
breaks down when the electric field intensity
exceeds 1.8 105 Vcm1. What is the maximum
potential difference that can be apply across the
capacitor? (Ans:3.6x104V)
41
Solutions:
42
1
1
1Q
2
PE QV CV
2
2
2 C
43
44
Exercise 1:
As shown in diagram, find the total energy
stored in C1, C2 and C3 when they are fully
charged.
46
Ex 1
Two point charges are arranged along the x
axis as shown in the figure. At which of the
following values of x is the electric
potential equal to zero? Note: At infinity,
the electric potential is zero.
Ans: +0.29m
47
48
Ex 2
Three point charges Q, Q, and +3Q are
arranged along a line as shown in the
sketch.
What is the electric potential at the point
P?
Ans: +1.6kQ/R
49
50
Ex 3
If the work required to move a +0.25 C
charge from point A to point B is +175 J,
what is the potential difference between
the two points?
Ans: 700 V
51
Ex 4
When two capacitors are connected
in series, the equivalent capacitance
of the combination is 120 F. When
the two are connected in parallel,
however, the equivalent capacitance
is 480 F. What are the capacitances
of the individual capacitors?
Ans: 240 F and 240 F
52
Ex 5
How much energy is stored in the
combination of capacitors shown?
Ans: 0.030 J
53
54