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Lecture 11

Equipotential lines; Potential gradient

September 6, 2016

Objectives

Given the equipotential lines, evaluate the electric field vector, nature

of the electric field sources and electrostatic potential


Calculate the work done on a point charge relative to a set of

equipotential surfaces/lines
Given a mathematical function describing the potential in a region of

space, calculate the electric field in the region and vice-versa

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Equipotential and electric field lines


Equipotential lines are lines of equal potential.
In analogy, a topographic map depicts lines of equal gravitational potential
energy.

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Equipotential and electric field lines

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Equipotential and electric field lines

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Equipotential and electric field lines

Remark
Electric field lines and equipotential lines are perpendicular to each other.

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ConcepTest!
The equipotential lines of two mystery charges of equal magnitude are
shown. What are the signs of the charges?

A. +,
B. , +
C. ,
D. +, +

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Equipotential lines and work


Example
What is the work done by the electric field in moving a charge of 2 C from
point P to point R to point S?

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Equipotential lines and work

Example
What is the work done by the electric field in moving a charge of 2 C from
point P to point R to point S?

WPS = UP US
= q0 (VP VS )
= (2 C)(2 V (5 V))
= 6J .

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More on conductors
We know that E~ = 0 inside a conductor. Consider a very, very small closed
path running in and out of a conductor.

~ ~
Suppose E~ on the surface
R had a tangential component. Then E d ` is not
zero. This means W = (q0 E~ ) d ~` is also not zero. But this violates the
conservative nature of the electric force: the work done in moving along a
closed path must be zero. Hence
The electric field on the surface of a conductor
is perpendicular to the surface
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More on conductors

We know that E~ and V are related through


Z
Va Vb =

E~ d ~l

In the body of a conductor, E~ = 0. This means that, if we consider any


two points a and b inside the conductor, the right-hand side becomes zero.
So Va Vb = 0 or Va = Vb ; the electric potential of points a and b are
the same, as long as those points lie inside the conductor. Hence
The entire conductor is at the same potential

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ConcepTest!

Consider a positively charged conducting solid sphere. What is the correct


ranking of points X , Y , and Z according to the values of their electric
potential?

A. VX > VY > VZ
B. VX = VY < VZ
C. VX = VY > VZ
D. VX < VY < VZ

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Potential gradient
E~ V
V E~

Rb
Va Vb = a E~ d ~l
E~ = V

gradient
For radial electric fields,
= r

d
dr

Check: for a point particle,


 
 q
q
d
d
1
q
V = k E~ =
r
k
=
r kq
= k 2 r X
r
dr
r
dr r
r
| {z }
1/r 2

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Potential gradient

In Cartesian coordinate system,

+
+ k
=
x
y
z
&
partial derivative

derivative with respect


to x while keeping the
other variables constant

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A short course on partial derivatives


1
x

Example: f (x, y ) = x 2 y xy 3

g (x, y ) =

f
= x 2 y xy 3
x
= 2xy 1y 3

f
= x1 cos y sin x
x
= x12 cos y cos x

cos y + sin x

= 2xy y 3 .

= x12 cos y cos x .

f
= x 2 y xy 3
y
= x 2 1x(3y 2 )

f
= x1 cos y (sin x)1
y
= x1 ( sin y )(sin x)0

= x 2 3xy 2 .

= x1 sin y .

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Potential gradient
Example
Consider the potential V (x, y , z) = A + B Cxy 2 z 3 at a certain region in
space where A, B, and C are constants. What is the corresponding
electric field?
E~ = V



=
+
+ k
(A + B Cxy 2 z 3 )
x
y
z

= (A + B Cxy 2 z 3 )
x

(A + B Cxy 2 z 3 )
y

k (A + B Cxy 2 z 3 )
z
2 3
= (Cy z ) + (2Cxyz 3 ) + (3Cxy 2 z 2 ) k .
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Exercise!

Solve for the electric field of a charged rod, given that


V =

kQ 
a
ln 1 +
a
b

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Exercise!
E~ = V


kQ 
a
=
ln 1 +
b
a
b


kQ
a 
=
ln 1 +
a b
b
kQ 1  a 
=
2
a 1 + ba
b

a
kQ b
2
=
a a+b
b
kQ
1
=
a b(a + b)
| {z }


kQ 1
1
=

.
a
b a+b
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