1

YAKEEN BATCH
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Electric Potential
r
Potential at a point, V = −  E.dr

J
The unit of electric potential is
or volt.
C
Dimensional formula : [ML2 T–3 A–1]

Potential is a scalar while electric field is a vector

Electric Potential due to a Point Charge

Potential due to a point charge is

Q
VP =
40 r

Potential Difference
Potential difference between two points:-
1. Close to each other, dV = − E.dr

xB yB zB
VB – VA = −  E x dx −  E y dy −  Ez dz
xA yA zA

(a) The direction of electric field is always in the direction of decreasing potential.
(b) In a direction perpendicular to electric field, electrostatic potential is constant.
(c) When a positive charge is free to move in a region. It will move from higher potential to lower potential.
(d) When a negative charge is free to move in a region, it will move from lower potential to higher potential.
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Electric Potential due to a dipole

p cos 
V = (where p = qd, is the magnitude of electric dipole moment)
40 r 2

Electric Potential due to a system of charges ( kuch important cases)

Potential due to a group of charges
(a) Infinite number of charges are placed along x-axis.
Electric potential at O,
Q  1 1 
V0 = 1 + + + ....
40 r  2 4 
Q  1  2Q
= =
40 r 1 − 1 / 2  40 r

Q
(b) VC =
40 r
EC = 0

(c) VC = 0
2Q
EC = 2
40 r 2
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(d) VC = 0
EC = 0
From the above cases it is clear that,
(1) E = 0, V  0
(2) V = 0, E  0
(3) E = 0, V = 0
(4) E  0, V  0

(e) EC = 0
𝑄 𝜆
VC = =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅 2𝜀0

𝜆
(f) EC =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅
Q
VC =
40 R

(g) Uniformly charges ring in y-z plane,

Q x
EP = along x-axis.
40 ( R + x 2 )3/2
2

Q 1
VP =
40 R + x2
2

Note:
R
E = maximum at x = 
2
1 2Q
Emax =
40 3 3R 2
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(h) Thin sheet of charge


VA – VB =  rb − ra 
20

(i) Metallic sphere or hollow shell of charge Q

Q
Vout = r>R
40 r
Vin = Constant = Vsurface
Q
Vin = (anywhere inside)
40 R

(j) Concentric metallic shells

1  Q1 Q 2 Q3 
For r  r1, V=  + + 
40  r1 r2 r3 
1  Q1 Q 2 Q3 
For r1  r < r2, V=  + + 
40  r r2 r3 
1  Q1 + Q 2 Q3 
For r2  r < r3, V=  + 
40  r r3 
Q + Q 2 + Q3
For r  r3, V= 1
40 r
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(k) Potential due to Volumetric Charge Distribution

A solid sphere of charge having Q, radius R and made of dielectric constant K = 1.
Q
=
4 3
R
3
Q  3R 2 − r 2 
Vin =  
40  2 R3 

At center r = 0

3 Q 3
Vcentre = = Vsurface
2 40 R 2
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Equipotential Surface
1. It is an imaginary or real surface on which every point is at the same potential.

2. dV = 0  E. dr = 0  E ⊥ dr. This means that electric field is always normal to equipotential surface.

3. For a point charge, equipotential surfaces are concentric spheres.

4. For a dipole, equatorial plane represents one equipotential surface (i.e. at zero volt).

5. For uniform electric field, equipotential surfaces are parallel equispaced planes perpendicular to electric lines of
forces.
(a) If a charge ‘q’ is moved from A to B

(i) External work done WAB = q (V3 – V2)

(ii) Work done by electric field WAB = –q(V3 – V2)

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6. V5 < V4 < V3 < V2 < V1 < V0

𝑉0 −𝑉1
E=
𝑟
directed at ‘90 + ’ with x-axis

Electrostatic Potential Energy of a system ( KUCH SAWAAL )

1 q1q2 (a) q1q2  0, U  0

(1) U =  
40 r (b) q1q2  0, U  0

(2) If then,

3  Q2
U1 =
40 r
3  Q2
U2 =
40 (2r )

3Q 2  1 1  −3Q 2
Wext = U2 – U1 = − =
40  2r r  40 (2r )

3Q 2
Welectric field = U1 – U2 = = –Wext
40 (2r )
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(3)

Q2 Q2 Q2
U = 4 +2 = (4 + 2) = = P.E. of configuration
40 a 40 (a 2) 40 a

Potential Energy of Electric Dipoles in an Electrostatic Field

U = p . E
U = –pE cos 

U -U0 = W = pE (1 – cos ).

This is the general equation of the potential energy of the electric dipole.
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ELECTROSTATIC OF CONDUCTORS
When a conductor is placed in an electric field, the free charges present in it start moving under the action of electric field
until net electric field becomes zero. Under Static Conditions
(a) Electric field inside is zero.
(b) At the surface, electric field is normal to the surface.
(c) The surface of the conductor is equipotential surface.
(d) Electric potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor.
(e) The interior of a conductor has no excess charge.
1
(f) Charge density is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature,   .
R
(g) When a conductor is earthed, there is a flow of charge either from earth to conductor or conductor to earth till the
potential of conductor becomes zero.

IMPORTANT CASES

(1) A metallic sheet is given a charge Q.

(a) It distributes equally on its surface.

−Q Q
+
2 2

Q
2
Q
2
Q
2
Q
2
 Q
2
Q
2

(b) Now an uncharged metallic sheet is brough near it.

−Q Q
+
2 2

Q
2
Q
2
Q
2
 Q
2
Q
2
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(2) Two concentric conducting shells

(b) + + + + + +
+ + + +Q
R
+ + + +
– ––
+ + + – – +
K + – –
+ r + – r – +
–
+ + + – – +
–– – –
+ + + – +
Uncharged R
+ + + +
+ + + + + + +
+ + +

No induced charge as E = 0

When 'K' is closed, Vin = 0 and a negative charge appears on its surface given by,
𝑄𝑟
𝑞= 𝑅
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Capacitors and Capacitance

(1) A capacitor is an arrangement to store electrostatic potential energy in the form of electric field.
q
(2) C= SI unit of capacitance is coulomb/volt = farad
v

Energy Stored in a Capacitor:

An uncharged capacitor is connected to a battery

When the key is closed, charge flows in the circuit till capacitor becomes fully charged, such that
(1) Q = CV
1 1
(2) Energy stored = CV 2 = QV
2 2
(3) Energy supplied by battery = QV = CV2
1 1 1
(4) Heat produced in the circuit during charging = CV 2 − CV 2 = CV 2 = QV
2 2 2

Parallel plate capacitor

ε0 A
(1) C =
d
A = Area of plates
d = Distance between them


(2) V = E.d VA − VB = r
0

𝜎 𝑞
(3) 𝐸 = 𝜀 = 𝐴𝜀 =constant
0 0

1 1 𝜀0 𝐴 1
(4) 𝑈 = 2 𝐶𝑉 2 = 2 × 𝐸 2 𝑑 2 = 2 𝜀0 𝐸 2 × 𝐴 × 𝑑
𝑑

𝑈 1
(5) = 2 𝜀0 𝐸 2 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

1
(6) Force between plates of capacitor = 2 𝜀0 𝜎 2 𝐴
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Combination of Capacitors
=
1 1
Series combination:
Ceq C

KUCH SAWAL
(1)

C2 V C1 V
V1 = 𝑉𝐴 − 𝑉𝐶 = C , 𝑉2 = 𝑉𝐶 − 𝑉𝐵 = C
1 +C2 1 +C2

C1C2
Q1 = Q2 = V
C1 +C2

C1V1 + C2V2
V=
C1 + C2

C1V1 + C2V2 + C3V3

V=
C1 + C2 + C3

(𝐸1 –𝐸2 )(𝐶1 𝐶2 )

𝑄= (𝐶1 +𝐶2 )
= Same on both capacitors

C2
V1 = (E1 – E2 )
C1 +C2

C1
V2 = (E1 – E2 )
C1 +C2
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Parallel combination: Ceq = ∑ 𝐶

(3)

Q1 Q2
V= =
C1 Q2

Ql + Q2 = Q 
C1Q C2Q
Q1 = , Q2 =
C1 +C2 C1 +C2

C1 C3
When = , then VP = VQ, so C5 can be removed
C2 C4

C1C2 CC
CAB = + 3 4
C1 + C2 C3 + C4

(C1 + C3 )(C2 + C4 )
CAB=
C1 + C2 + C3 + C4

 C1C4 − C2C3 
VAB =  V
 (C1 + C2 )(C3 + C4 ) 
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5C
C AB =
7

12 identical capacitors
12C
(a) C AB = = Ceq , between adjacent corner
7

4C
(b) C AC = = Ceq , between face diagonal
3

6C
(c) C AD = = Ceq , between body diagonal
5

7C
C AB =
8

Plates of area A and separation ‘d’ are arranged as shown

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0 A
(a) C AB =
3d

0 A
(b) C AB =
(n − 1)d

30 A
(c) C AB =
d

0 A
(d) n plates connected alternately C = (n − 1)
d

30 A
(e) Ceff =
d

30 AV
(i) Qtotal = Ceff V =
d
0 AV
(ii) Q1 =
d
−20 AV
(iii) Q2 =
d
20 AV
(iv) Q3 =
d
−0 AV
(v) Q4 =
d
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Capacitor with Dielectric

0 A
(1) C=
d

K 0 A
(2) C=
d

K1 A1 + K 2 A2 + K3 A3 K 0 A
(3) K= ,C =
A1 + A2 + A3 d
A
 For n slab each of area
n
K1 + K 2 + ....... + K n
K=
n

0 A
(4) C=
t
d −t +
K

0 A
(5) C=
t1 t
+ 2
K1 K 2

t1 + t2 t1 t
= + 2
K K1 K 2

2K1K 2
(6) K =
K1 + K 2

d
(7) For n slabs of same thickness
n
n 1 1 1
= + + ...... +
K K1 K 2 Kn
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2 K 2 K3
K1 +
K 2 + K3
(8) K=
2

Sharing of Charge and Loss of Energy:

Two charged capacitors are connected to each other

WHEN SAME POLARITY IS CONNECTED

C1V1 + C2V2
(1) V = , Q1 = C1V , Q2 = C2V
C1 + C2

1 C1C2
U = (V1 − V2 )2 (lost as heat and electromagnetic waves)
2 C1 + C2

WHEN OPPOSITE POLARITY IS CONNECTED

C1V1 − C2V2
(2) V = , Q1 = C1V , Q2 = C2V
C1 + C2
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1 C1C2
U = (V1 + V2 )2 (Energy lost)
2 C1 + C2

(3) For Spherical Capacitors,

C1 = 40R1 C2 = 40R2
Q Q
V1 = 1 V2 = 2
C1 C2
Q12 Q22
U1 = U2 =
80 R1 80 R2

C1V1 + C2V2 Q1 + Q2
(a) V = =
C1 + C2 40 [ R1 + R2 ]

1 C1C2
(b) U = (V1 − V2 )2
2 C1 + C2

(c) If V1 = V2
Q Q Q Q
i.e. 1 = 2 or 1 = 2  U = 0 (No energy loss)
C1 C2 R1 R2