Part of JES-02 — Electrostatic Potential, Capacitance & Energy

Electric Potential — Definition and Point Charge

by Notetube Official132 words8 views

Electric potential V at a point is the work done per unit positive charge by an external agent in bringing a test charge from infinity to that point against the electric field: V = Wextq0\frac{W_ext}{q_0} = -integral(E.dr) from infinity to the point. SI unit: volt (V) = joulecoulomb\frac{joule}{coulomb}. Dimensional formula: [M L2L^2 T^(-3) A^(-1)]. For a point charge Q: V = kQr\frac{kQ}{r}. Potential is a scalar — it has magnitude and sign but no direction. This makes it much easier to compute than E for complex charge distributions, since potentials add algebraically (not vectorially). Convention: V = 0 at infinity. The potential difference between two points A and B: VAV_A - VBV_B = -integral from A to B of E.dr = work done per unit charge in moving from B to A.

Like these notes? Save your own copy and start studying with NoteTube's AI tools.

Sign up free to clone these notes