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Chapter 2

Electric potential and potential energy are important concepts in physics and biology. Electric potential energy is the energy stored in an electric field. The potential difference between two points is the change in electric potential energy divided by the charge moved between the points. Membrane potentials in cells are due to ion concentration differences inside and outside cell membranes. Action potentials allow cells like neurons and muscles to signal by changing membrane potentials through ion flow. Potential differences have applications in electroencephalograms, electrocardiograms, and electronic devices.

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11 views

Chapter 2

Electric potential and potential energy are important concepts in physics and biology. Electric potential energy is the energy stored in an electric field. The potential difference between two points is the change in electric potential energy divided by the charge moved between the points. Membrane potentials in cells are due to ion concentration differences inside and outside cell membranes. Action potentials allow cells like neurons and muscles to signal by changing membrane potentials through ion flow. Potential differences have applications in electroencephalograms, electrocardiograms, and electronic devices.

Uploaded by

Pinky Rose
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics

Electric Potential and Potential Energy

Dr. rer. nat. M. Mokhtar Hefny Biomedical Engineering Dept.


Faculty of Engineering and Technology
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Electric Potential Energy
• It is the energy stored in an electric field

• The work done within the charge–field system by the


electric field on the charge is
𝑘 𝑞1𝑞2
𝑈𝑒 =
𝑟12
• Recall from Equation 7.26 that internal work done in
a system is equal to the negative of the change in the
potential energy of the system: If the two charges have opposite signs, the potential
energy should be negative. And, if the two charges
instead have the same sign, the potential energy
should be positive.
• For a finite displacement of the charge from some point
A in space to some other point B, the change in electric
potential energy of the system is

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Potential energies for pairs of point particles as a function of separation
distance r.
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Example:

Find the electric potential energy for the array of


charges (shown in Fig. 17.4. in the text book) Charge
q1 = +4.0 μC is located at (0.0, 0.0) m; charge q2 = +2.0
μC is located at (3.0, 4.0) m; and charge q3 = −3.0 μC
is located at (3.0, 0.0) m.

Answer:

From the presented figure, r13 = 3.0 m and r23 = 4.0 m. The (+4.0)((+20.) +4.0 −3.0
Pythagorean theorem enables us to find r12: Ue = 8.99 × 109 × ቀ + +
5.0 3.0
+2.0 −3.0
ቁ × 10-12
4.0
𝑟12 = 3.02 + 4.02 = 25 m = 5.0 m

The potential energy can be calculated as:


= -0.035 J

𝑞1𝑞2 𝑞1𝑞3 𝑞2𝑞3


Ue = k( + + )
𝑟12 𝑟13 𝑟23

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Electric potential
It is the electric potential energy per unit charge OR is the amount of work needed to move a unit
charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric field
𝑈𝐸 (J)
V=
(V) 𝑞 (C) Membrane potentials

The potential difference DV 5 VB 2 VA between two


points A and B in an electric field is defined as the change
in electric potential energy of the system when a charge q
is moved between the points (Eq. 25.1) divided by the
charge:

Potential due to a point charge

𝑘𝑄𝑖
V= Σ For i = 1,2,3, …,N https://chem.libretexts.org/
𝑟𝑖 5
Example:

Charges of + 2.0 nC and − 1.0 nC are located at opposite corners, A and C, respectively, of a square
which is 1.0 m on a side. What is the electric potential at a third corner, B, of the square (where there
is no charge)?

Answer:

kQi k 8.988 109 N  m2 C2


V = = (QA + QB ) = (2.0 10−9 C − 1.0 10−9 C) = 9.0 V
ri r 1.0 m

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Potential Difference in a Uniform Electric Field

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Potential Differences in Biological Systems
• The inside and outside of a biological cell are not at the same potential.

• The potential difference across a cell membrane is due to different concentrations of ions in the
fluids inside and outside the cell.

(a) The structure of a neuron. (b) The action potential. The graph shows the potential
difference between the inside and outside of the cell membrane at a point along the
axon as a function of time.

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Action potential

• Some cells can signal via action potentials such as:


neurons and muscle cells.
• When the cell membrane stimulated, a movements of ions
across the cell membrane can occurred.
• Sodium ions can flow into the cell and change the
https://www.moleculardevices.com/applications/patch-clamp-electrophysiology/what-
potential difference -85 mV to +60 mV. action-potential

• The action potential propagates through the axon with


speed 30 m/s.
• Restoration of the resting state occurred by diffusion of
potassium and pumping sodium ions out of the cell.

Ventricular action potential

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https://lookfordiagnosis.com/mesh_info.php?term=action+potentials&lang=1
Applications

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Electronic microchip from a laptop integrated circuit board is a photograph by


Reimar Gaertner which was uploaded on July 28th, 2016. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocardiography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocardiography
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Thank you

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