Electric Potential Bootcamp

A cubic crystal has oppositely charged ions at adjacent corners of a cube. One such cube is shown in the figure. Find electrostatic energy of this cube per ion in units of \(\text{J}\) and in \(\text{eV}\text{.}\) Here, charge is equal to the electronic charge, \(q=e\) and side \(a = 5.64\times 10^{-10}\text{ m}\text{.}\) These are the data of \(\text{Na}^{+}\text{Cl}^{-}\) crystal.

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Hint.

Label the charges and then organize pairs of same distances.

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Answer.

\(-3.0\times 10^{-18}\text{ J}\text{,}\) \(-1.86\text{ eV}\text{.}\)

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Solution.

We will label the charges so that we can write down the unique pairs and work out their distances, which go directly into the sum that gives electrostatic energy. The following figure shows my choice.

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We find that we have three types of distances, (i) edge, \(r = a \text{,}\) (ii) face diagonal, \(r = a \sqrt{2}\text{,}\) and (iii) body diagnal, \(r = a\sqrt{3} \text{.}\) There are 12 adjacent pairs of opposite charges, 12 face diagonals of similar type charges, and 4 body diagonals of opposite types. Therefore, the sum over potential energies of all pairs gives

\begin{align*} U_8 \amp = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\, \dfrac{q^2}{a} \left( -12 + \dfrac{12}{\sqrt{2}} - \dfrac{4}{\sqrt{3}} \right). \\ \amp = - 2.4\times 10^{-17}\text{ J} = -14.9\text{ eV}. \end{align*}

We want electrostatic energy per ion, so we divide this by \(8\text{.}\)

\begin{equation*} U = \dfrac{U_8}{8} = -3.0\times 10^{-18}\text{ J} = -1.86\text{ eV}. \end{equation*}

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23. Finding Equipotential Points in a Two-Charge System.

Two charges, \(q_1 = + 6.0\ \text{nC}\) and \(q_2 = -6.0 \ \text{nC}\) are separated by a distance of \(1.00\text{ m}\text{.}\) Place them along \(x\) axis symmetrically about the origin, and find the loci of the points in the \(xy\)-plane where potential is \(1.0\text{ V}\text{.}\)

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Hint.

Use superposition principle.

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Answer.

\(\frac{54}{\sqrt{ (x-0.5)^2 + y^2 }} -\frac{54}{\sqrt{ (x+0.5)^2 + y^2 }} = 1\text{.}\)

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Solution.

Let \((x,y)\) be a representative point on the curve in \(xy\) plane that has potential equal to \(1.0\text{ V}\text{.}\) For brevity, will suppress units in our calculations. Let \(V_1(x,y)\) and \(V_2(x,y)\) be the potentials there by the two charges. Therefore, by using superposition we get

\begin{equation*} V_1(x,y) + V_2(x,y) = 1. \end{equation*}

Now, we can see what these individual potentials are.

\begin{align*} V_1(x,y) \amp = \frac{q_1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{1}{\sqrt{ (x-0.5)^2 + y^2 }} \\ \amp = 9\times 10^9 \times 6\times 10^{-9} \frac{1}{\sqrt{ (x-0.5)^2 + y^2 }} \\ \amp = \frac{54}{\sqrt{ (x-0.5)^2 + y^2 }} \\ V_2(x,y) \amp = \frac{q_2}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{1}{\sqrt{ (x+0.5)^2 + y^2 }} \\ \amp = -\frac{54}{\sqrt{ (x+0.5)^2 + y^2 }} \end{align*}

Therefore, the loci are values of \(x,y\) that satisfy the following equation.

\begin{equation*} \frac{54}{\sqrt{ (x-0.5)^2 + y^2 }} -\frac{54}{\sqrt{ (x+0.5)^2 + y^2 }} = 1. \end{equation*}

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24. Potential of Two Parallel Line Charges.

Two oppositely charged infinitely long wires are placed parallel to each other as shown in Figure 31.29. Let wires be parallel to the \(x\)-axis. Let the wire with charge density \(+\lambda\) cross \(y\) axis at \(y=+a\) and that with charge density \(-\lambda\) cross \(y\) axis at \(y=-a\text{.}\) What is the potential at an arbitray point \(P(y,z)\) in the \(yz\)-plane?

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Hint.

Use superposition.

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Answer.

\(\frac{\lambda}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \ln \dfrac{ (y-a)^2 + z^2}{ (y+a)^2 + z^2}\text{.}\)

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Solution.

Let \(\phi_\pm\) be the potentials from \(\pm\lambda\text{.}\) Then, the net potential at P will be

\begin{equation*} \phi_P = \phi_+ + \phi_-. \end{equation*}

Now, potential \(\phi_+\) is already known to be

\begin{equation*} \phi_+ = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon_0}\ln \dfrac{s}{s_\text{ref}}. \end{equation*}

Let reference zero be at origin, which will make \(s_\text{ref} = a\) from the positive wire. The distance to P is \(s= \sqrt{(y-a)^2 + z^2}\text{.}\) Therefore, we have

\begin{equation*} \phi_+ = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon_0}\ln \dfrac{\sqrt{(y-a)^2 + z^2}}{a}. \end{equation*}

Similarly, we will get the following using the same reference point.

\begin{equation*} \phi_+ = -\frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon_0}\ln \dfrac{\sqrt{(y+a)^2 + z^2}}{a}. \end{equation*}

Note: we must use the same reference point for all charges in one situation. Now, we can add them to get

\begin{equation*} \phi_P = \frac{\lambda}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \ln \dfrac{ (y-a)^2 + z^2}{ (y+a)^2 + z^2}. \end{equation*}

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25. Potential of Two Overlapping Spherically Charged Clouds.

Two spherically charged clouds of equal radius \(R\) and opposite charge densities \(\pm \rho\) overlap so that their separation distance is \(a\) with \(a \lt 2R\text{.}\) Find the electric potentials (a) at a point outside the clouds, (b) at a point where the clouds overlap, and (c) at a point inside the positive cloud which is not in the overlap zone. Use Figure 31.30 to express your answer.

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You can use the following result from Exercise 31.7.5.4. Let \(r\) be the distance from center of this cloud to the field point. Then, we have worked out the potentials at outisde and inside points to be

\begin{equation*} \phi(r) = \begin{cases} \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\,\frac{q}{r}, \amp r \gt R\\ \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{R} \left( \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\; \frac{r^2}{R^2} \right), \amp r\le R. \end{cases} \end{equation*}

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Hint.

Use superposition.

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Answer.

(a) \(\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\left(\frac{1}{r_1} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{r_1^2 + a^2 + 2 r_1 a \cos\, \theta_1}} \right)\text{,}\) (b) \(\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{2R^3}\left( a^2 + 2 a r_2 \cos\,\theta_2 \right)\text{,}\) (c) \(\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{R} \left( \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\; \frac{r_{3}^2}{R^2} - \frac{R}{ \sqrt{r_3^2 + a^2 + 2 r_3 a \cos\, \theta_3} } \right)\text{.}\)

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Solution 1. (a)

(a) We will use superposition to find the net potentials. We need the distance of the field point \(P_1\) from the centers of the two spheres. Let us call these distances \(r_\pm\text{.}\)

\begin{align*} r_+ \amp = r_1 \\ r_- \amp = \sqrt{r_1^2 + a^2 - 2 r_1 a \cos(\pi - \theta_1)} \\ \amp = \sqrt{r_1^2 + a^2 + 2 r_1 a \cos\, \theta_1} \end{align*}

Let total charges on the spheres be \(\pm q = \pm\dfrac{4}{3}\pi R^3 \rho\text{.}\) Then, we have the following for the net potential at \(P_1\text{.}\)

\begin{align*} \phi_1 \amp = \frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\left(\frac{1}{r_+} - \frac{1}{r_-} \right) \\ \amp = \frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\left(\frac{1}{r_1} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{r_1^2 + a^2 + 2 r_1 a \cos\, \theta_1}} \right) \end{align*}

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Solution 2. (b)

(b) Here, point is inside point for both clouds. Therefore, we will use the inside formulas when superposing them. The distances are

\begin{align*} r_+ \amp = r_2 \\ r_- \amp = \sqrt{r_2^2 + a^2 - 2 r_2 a \cos(\pi - \theta_2)} \\ \amp = \sqrt{r_2^2 + a^2 + 2 r_2 a \cos\, \theta_2} \end{align*}

Using the same \(q\) as in (a), we have the following for the net potential at \(P_2\text{.}\)

\begin{align*} \phi_2 \amp = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{R} \left( \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\; \frac{r_{+}^2}{R^2} \right) - \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{R} \left( \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\; \frac{r_{-}^2}{R^2} \right)\\ \amp = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{2R^3}\left( -r_{+}^2 + r_{-}^2\right) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{2R^3}\left( a^2 + 2 a r_2 \cos\,\theta_2 \right). \end{align*}

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Solution 3. (c)

\begin{align*} \phi_3 \amp = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{R} \left( \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\; \frac{r_{+}^2}{R^2} \right) - \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{r_{-}}, \end{align*}

with

\begin{align*} r_+ \amp = r_3,\ \ r_- = \sqrt{r_3^2 + a^2 + 2 r_3 a \cos\, \theta_3}. \end{align*}

Writing the potential explicitly, we have

\begin{equation*} \phi_3 = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{R} \left( \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\; \frac{r_{3}^2}{R^2} - \frac{R}{ \sqrt{r_3^2 + a^2 + 2 r_3 a \cos\, \theta_3} } \right). \end{equation*}

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Section 31.9 Electric Potential Bootcamp

Exercises Exercises

Electric Potential

1. Electric Potential Difference from Change in Potential Energy.

2. Electric Potential Difference from Changes in Potential and Kinetic Energy.

3. Electric Potential Energy from Electric Potential Difference.

4. Practice with Joule and Electron Volt Conversions.

5. Speed of a Charge Released in the Neighborhood of a Fixed Charge.

6. Electric Potential of a Proton at Atomic Distances.

Superposition of Electric Potential

7. Electric Potential and Electric Field of Charges at Three Corners of a Square.

Electrostatic Energy

8. Electrostatic Energy of Charges at Corners of a Square.

9. Electrostatic Energy of a "Helium" Atom.

10. (Calculus) Electrostatic Energy of Uniformly Charge Sphere.

Electric Potential of a Charge Distribution

11. (Calculus) Electric Potential of a Uniform Line of Charge.

12. Electric Potential of a Uniformly Charged ring.

13. (Calculus) Electric Potential of a Uniformly Charged Disk.

Electric Potential from Electric Field

14. Electric Potential Difference in the Region of Constant Electric Field.

15. Constant Electric Field between Parallel Plates from Electric Potential Difference.

16. (Calculus) Electric Potential Outside and Inside of a Charge Spherical Shell.

17. (Calculus) Potential of Uniformly Charged Sphere.

18. (Calculus) Electric Potential of an Infintely Long Wire.

19. Electric Field Between Conductors of a Coaxial Cable.

20. (Calculus) Electric Field of a Spherical Charge Distribution from Electric Potential.

Conservation of Energy of Moving Charges

21. Accelerating a Charged Particle Between two Conductors.

Miscellaneous

22. Electrostatic Energy Per Ion of a Cubic Crystal.

23. Finding Equipotential Points in a Two-Charge System.

24. Potential of Two Parallel Line Charges.

25. Potential of Two Overlapping Spherically Charged Clouds.