Chapter 29. The Electric Potential
At any time, millions of light
bulbs are transforming
electric energy into light and
thermal energy. Just as
electric fields allowed us to
understand electric forces,
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understand electric forces,
Electric Potential allows us
to understand electric
energy.
Chapter Goal: To calculateand use the electric potential and electric potential energy.
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Topics:
• Electric Potential Energy
• The Potential Energy of Point Charges
• The Potential Energy of a Dipole
Chapter 29. The Electric Potential
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• The Electric Potential
• The Electric Potential Inside a Parallel-
Plate Capacitor
• The Electric Potential of a Point Charge
• The Electric Potential of Many Charges
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Chapter 29. Reading QuizzesChapter 29. Reading Quizzes
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Chapter 29. Reading QuizzesChapter 29. Reading Quizzes
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What are the units of potential difference?
A. Amperes
B. Potentiometers
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B. Potentiometers
C. Farads
D. Volts
E. Henrys
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What are the units of potential difference?
A. Amperes
B. Potentiometers
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B. Potentiometers
C. Farads
D. Volts
E. Henrys
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New units of the electric field were
introduced in this chapter. They
are:
A. V/C.
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A. V/C.
B. N/C.
C. V/m.
D. J/m2.
E. Ω/m.
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New units of the electric field were
introduced in this chapter. They
are:
A. V/C.
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A. V/C.
B. N/C.
C. V/m.
D. J/m2.
E. Ω/m.
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The electric potential inside a capacitor
A. is constant.
B. increases linearly from the
negative to the positive plate.
C. decreases linearly from the
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C. decreases linearly from the
negative to the positive plate.
D. decreases inversely with distance
from the negative plate.
E. decreases inversely with the
square of the distance from the
negative plate.8
The electric potential inside a capacitor
A. is constant.
B. increases linearly from the
negative to the positive plate.
C. decreases linearly from the
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C. decreases linearly from the
negative to the positive plate.
D. decreases inversely with distance
from the negative plate.
E. decreases inversely with the
square of the distance from the
negative plate.9
Chapter 29. Basic Content and ExamplesChapter 29. Basic Content and Examples
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Chapter 29. Basic Content and ExamplesChapter 29. Basic Content and Examples
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Electric Potential EnergyElectric Potential Energy
The electric potential energy of charge q in a uniform
electric field is
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where s is measured from the negative plate and U0 is the
potential energy at the negative plate (s = 0). It will often
be convenient to choose U0 = 0, but the choice has no
physical consequences because it doesn’t affect ∆Uelec, the
change in the electric potential energy. Only the change is
significant.12
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The Potential Energy of Point ChargesThe Potential Energy of Point Charges
Consider two point charges, q1 and q2, separated by a
distance r. The electric potential energy is
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This is explicitly the energy of the system, not the energy of
just q1 or q2.
Note that the potential energy of two charged particles
approaches zero as r → ∞.
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EXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphereEXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphere
QUESTION:
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EXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphereEXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphere
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EXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphereEXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphere
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EXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphereEXAMPLE 29.2 Approaching a charged sphere
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The Potential Energy of a DipoleThe Potential Energy of a Dipole
The potential energy of an electric dipole p in a uniform
electric field E is
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The potential energy is minimum at ø = 0° where the dipole
is aligned with the electric field.
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EXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a moleculeEXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a molecule
QUESTION:
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EXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a moleculeEXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a molecule
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EXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a moleculeEXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a molecule
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EXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a moleculeEXAMPLE 29.5 Rotating a molecule
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The Electric PotentialThe Electric Potential
We define the electric potential V (or, for brevity, just the
potential) as
Charge q is used as a probe to determine the electric
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Charge q is used as a probe to determine the electric
potential, but the value of V is independent of q. The
electric potential, like the electric field, is a property of
the source charges.
The unit of electric potential is the joule per coulomb,
which is called the volt V:
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The Electric Potential Inside a ParallelThe Electric Potential Inside a Parallel--Plate Plate
CapacitorCapacitor
The electric potential inside a parallel-plate capacitor is
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where s is the distance from the negative electrode.
The electric potential, like the electric field, exists at all
points inside the capacitor.
The electric potential is created by the source charges on
the capacitor plates and exists whether or not charge q is
inside the capacitor.
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
QUESTIONS:
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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EXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitorEXAMPLE 29.7 A proton in a capacitor
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The Electric Potential of a Point ChargeThe Electric Potential of a Point Charge
Let q be the source charge, and let a second charge q', a
distance r away, probe the electric potential of q. The
potential energy of the two point charges is
By definition, the electric potential of charge q is
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By definition, the electric potential of charge q is
The potential extends through all of space, showing the
influence of charge q, but it weakens with distance as 1/r.
This expression for V assumes that we have chosen V = 0 to
be at r = ∞.37
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EXAMPLE 29.8 Calculating the potential of a EXAMPLE 29.8 Calculating the potential of a
point chargepoint charge
QUESTIONS:
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EXAMPLE 29.8 Calculating the potential of a EXAMPLE 29.8 Calculating the potential of a
point chargepoint charge
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EXAMPLE 29.8 Calculating the potential of a EXAMPLE 29.8 Calculating the potential of a
point chargepoint charge
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The Electric Potential of a Charged SphereThe Electric Potential of a Charged Sphere
In practice, you are more likely to work with a charged
sphere, of radius R and total charge Q, than with a point
charge. Outside a uniformly charged sphere, the electric
potential is identical to that of a point charge Q at the
center. That is,
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Or, in a more useful form, the potential outside a sphere
that is charged to potential V0 is
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The Electric Potential of Many ChargesThe Electric Potential of Many Charges
The electric potential V at a point in space is the sum of the
potentials due to each charge:
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where ri is the distance from charge qi to the point in space
where the potential is being calculated.
In other words, the electric potential, like the electric
field, obeys the principle of superposition.
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EXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two chargesEXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two charges
QUESTION:
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EXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two chargesEXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two charges
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EXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two chargesEXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two charges
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EXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two chargesEXAMPLE 29.10 The potential of two charges
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Chapter 29. Summary SlidesChapter 29. Summary Slides
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Chapter 29. Summary SlidesChapter 29. Summary Slides
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General PrinciplesGeneral Principles
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General PrinciplesGeneral Principles
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ApplicationsApplications
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ApplicationsApplications
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ApplicationsApplications
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Chapter 29. QuestionsChapter 29. Questions
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Chapter 29. QuestionsChapter 29. Questions
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The positive charge is the
end view of a positively
charged glass rod. A
negatively charged particle
moves in a circular arc
around the glass rod. Is the
work done on the charged
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work done on the charged
particle by the rod’s electric
field positive, negative or
zero?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Zero
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The positive charge is the
end view of a positively
charged glass rod. A
negatively charged particle
moves in a circular arc
around the glass rod. Is the
work done on the charged
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work done on the charged
particle by the rod’s electric
field positive, negative or
zero?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Zero
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Rank in order, from largest to smallest, the
potential energies Ua to Ud of these four pairs of
charges. Each + symbol represents the same
amount of charge.
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A. Ua = Ub > Uc = Ud
B. Ub = Ud > Ua = Uc
C. Ua = Uc > Ub = Ud
D. Ud > Uc > Ub > Ua
E. Ud > Ub = Uc > Ua
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Rank in order, from largest to smallest, the
potential energies Ua to Ud of these four pairs of
charges. Each + symbol represents the same
amount of charge.
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A. Ua = Ub > Uc = Ud
B. Ub = Ud > Ua = Uc
C. Ua = Uc > Ub = Ud
D. Ud > Uc > Ub > Ua
E. Ud > Ub = Uc > Ua
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A proton is
released from
rest at point B,
where the
potential is 0 V.
Afterward, the
proton
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proton
A. moves toward A with a steady speed.
B. moves toward A with an increasing speed.
C. moves toward C with a steady speed.
D. moves toward C with an increasing speed.
E. remains at rest at B.
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A proton is
released from
rest at point B,
where the
potential is 0 V.
Afterward, the
proton
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A. moves toward A with a steady speed.
B. moves toward A with an increasing speed.
C. moves toward C with a steady speed.
D. moves toward C with an increasing speed.
E. remains at rest at B.
proton
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Rank in order, from
largest to smallest,
the potentials Va to
Ve at the points a to
e.
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e.
A. Vd = Ve > Vc > Va = Vb
B. Vb = Vc = Ve > Va = Vd
C. Va = Vb = Vc = Vd = Ve
D. Va = Vb > Vc > Vd = Ve
E. Va = Vb = Vd = Ve > Vc
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Rank in order, from
largest to smallest,
the potentials Va to
Ve at the points a to
e.
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e.
A. Vd = Ve > Vc > Va = Vb
B. Vb = Vc = Ve > Va = Vd
C. Va = Vb = Vc = Vd = Ve
D. Va = Vb > Vc > Vd = Ve
E. Va = Vb = Vd = Ve > Vc
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Rank in order, from
largest to smallest, the
potential differences
∆V12, ∆V13, and ∆V23
between points 1 and
2, points 1 and 3, and
points 2 and 3.
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points 2 and 3.
A. ∆V13 > ∆V12 > ∆V23
B. ∆V13 = ∆V23 > ∆V12
C. ∆V13 > ∆V23 > ∆V12
D. ∆V12 > ∆V13 = ∆V23
E. ∆V23 > ∆V12 > ∆V1363
Rank in order, from
largest to smallest, the
potential differences
∆V12, ∆V13, and ∆V23
between points 1 and
2, points 1 and 3, and
points 2 and 3.
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points 2 and 3.
A. ∆V13 > ∆V12 > ∆V23
B. ∆V13 = ∆V23 > ∆V12
C. ∆V13 > ∆V23 > ∆V12
D. ∆V12 > ∆V13 = ∆V23
E. ∆V23 > ∆V12 > ∆V1364