ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL

AND CAPACITANCE
 Electric potential at a point due to a point
charge.
Electric Potential at a point in the electric field is defined as the work done
in moving (without any acceleration) a unit positive charge from infinity to that
point against the electrostatic force.

Electrostatic potential difference between two points is defined a the work

done in bringing a unit positive charge from one point to another.

Let w be the work done in moving Q charge from one point another
Then the potential difference between the two points is
𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤
Potential difference =
𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞
𝑾
𝑽=
𝑸
 Electric Potential Difference between any two points in the electric field is defined
as the work done in moving (without any acceleration) a unit positive charge from
one point to the other against the electrostatic force irrespective of the path followed.

The S.I Unit of electric potential is volt(V).

One volt
Electric potential at a point is one volt if one joule of work is done in moving one
coulomb of positive charge from infinity to that point in the electric field.
 POTENTIAL AT A POINT DUE TO A POINT CHARGE

Consider a point charge Q at the origin. (take Q to be positive). We wish

to determine the potential at any point P with position vector 𝒓 from the origin.
For that we must calculate the work done in bringing a unit positive test charge
from infinity to the point P. For Q > 0, the work done against the repulsive
force on the test charge is positive.

p’

p 𝑑𝑟 ′
𝒓′

𝑟Ԧ

Q
At some intermediate point P′ on the path, the electrostatic force on a unit
positive charge is

𝟏 𝑸 ෡
𝑭= 𝟐
𝒓′
𝟒𝝅 ∈𝟎 𝒓′
෡ is the unit vector along OP′.
where 𝒓′

Work done against this force from r′ to r′ + dr’ is

−𝟏 𝒒𝒅𝒓′
𝒅𝒘 =
𝟒𝝅 ∈𝟎 𝒓′𝟐

The negative sign appears because for ∆r′ < 0, ∆W is positive .

Total work done (W) is obtained by integrating the above equation from r ′ = ∞ to r ′ = r,

𝑟
𝑊 = ‫𝑤𝑑 ∞׬‬
𝑟
−1 𝑞𝑑𝑟′
𝑊=න
4𝜋 ∈0 𝑟′2
∞

−𝑄 𝑟 1
= ‫׬‬ dr’
4𝜋∈0 ∞ 𝑟′2

− 𝑄 −1 𝑟
=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟′ ∞

1 𝑄
=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟

𝟏 𝑸
Therefore, the potential at P, V =
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓
 POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS

The potential difference between two points is the work done in moving a unit
positive charge from one point to the other.
P.D between two points of position r1 and r2 is obtained by r’= r2 to r’ = r1
𝑟1
W = ‫𝑤𝑑 𝑟׬‬
2

𝑟1 −𝑞 𝑑𝑟′
= ‫ 𝑟׬‬4𝜋∈ 𝑟′2
2 0

− 𝑞 −1 𝑟1
=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟′ 𝑟
2

𝑞 1 1
= −
4𝜋∈0 𝑟1 𝑟2

𝒒 𝟏 𝟏
V= −
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓𝟏 𝒓𝟐
 Conservative nature of electric field

The potential difference between two points is independent of the path

through which it is displaced. But depends only on the initial and final
positions.

The electric field is conservative in nature, because the work done by

the electric field is independent of the path.

or

The work done by the electric field over a closed path is zero.
The graph showing the variation of potential and field due to a point charge
with distance.
Potential at a point due to two point chrges
P Q

1 𝑞1
Potential at O due to charge at P, V1 = 𝑟1
4𝜋∈0 𝑟1
O
1 𝑞2
Potential at O due to charge at Q, V 2=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟2

Therefore, the total potential at O, V = V1+ V2

1 𝑞1 𝑞2
= 4𝜋∈ ( 𝑟 +
𝑟2
)
0 1
POTENTIAL AT A POINT DUE TO AN ELECTRIC DIPOLE
Let us consider an electric dipole of dipole momentP = 2a.q and charges –q and
+q. Let ‘P’ be a point at a distance ‘r’ from the centre ‘o’ of the dipole and
making an angle ‘𝜃’ with the dipole moment p

The potential at P is V = V+q + V-q

𝟏 𝒒 𝟏 𝒒
= −
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓𝟏 𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓𝟐

𝒒 𝟏 𝟏
= −
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓𝟏 𝒓𝟐
 AN = a sinθ and ON= a cosθ
+q
A
r1

P 𝑟12 = 𝐴𝑁 2 + 𝑁𝑃2
a
r = (a sinθ)2 + 𝑂𝑃 − 𝑂𝑁 2

θ 2
O
= a sinθ + 𝑂𝑃2 + 𝑂𝑁 2 − 2𝑂𝑃. 𝑂𝑁
N
r2 = a sinθ 2
+ 𝑟 2 + a cosθ 2
− 2𝑟 a cosθ
a
2 2
M
= a sinθ + a cosθ + 𝑟 2 − 2𝑟 a cosθ

= 𝑎2 + 𝑟 2 − 2𝑟 a cosθ
B
-q 2
𝑎 2𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
=r2 ( 2 +1- )
𝑟 𝑟

2𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
= r2 ( 1 - )
𝑟
since 𝑎2 ≪≪ 𝑟2
 2 2𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑟1 = r2 (1- )
𝑟
1
2𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 2
r1 = 𝑟 1 −
𝑟
−1
1 1 2𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 2
= 1−
𝑟1 𝑟 𝑟

1 1 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
= (1 + )
𝑟1 𝑟 𝑟
 Similarly, 𝑟22 = a2 + r2 + 2arCos𝜃
+q
A
r1 𝑎 2 2𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑟22 2
=r ( 2+1+ )
P 𝑟 𝑟
2 2 2𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
a r2 = r (1+ )
r 𝑟
O
θ since a<<<<r
N
2𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 1
r2 r2 = r(1+ )2
a 𝑟
1
−
M 1 1 2𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 2
= 1+
B
𝑟2 𝑟 𝑟
-q

1 1 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
= 1−
𝑟2 𝑟 𝑟
 𝒒 𝟏 𝟏
V= −
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓𝟏 𝒓𝟐
1 1
Substituting the values of and in the above equation
𝑟1 𝑟2

1 1 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 1 1 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
= (1 + ) and = 1−
𝑟1 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟2 𝑟 𝑟

𝒒 1 𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 1 𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
V = [ (1+ ) - (1- )
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟

𝒒 𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
V = [1+ – 1+ ]
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓 𝑟 𝑟

𝒒 2𝑎𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑉=
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝒓 𝑟
1 𝑝𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
V =
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝑟 2
 1 𝑝𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
V =
𝟒𝝅∈𝟎 𝑟 2

Case 1. A point on the axial line.

For a point l on the axial line of the dipole, (𝜃 = 0)

Therefore, cos θ = cos 0 = 1

Substituting this in the above expression

𝐩
𝐕=
𝟒𝛑∈𝟎 𝐫 𝟐

Case 2. A point on the equatorial line.

For a point l on the axial line of the dipole, (𝜃 = 90)

Therefor e, cos θ = cos90 = 0

Substituting this in the above expression

V=0
 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY OF A SYSTEM OF CHRGES
Potential energy of a system of charges is defined as the work done
in bringing them from infinite separation to the present position.

Consider a system of two charges q1 and q2 separated by distance of

r12 apart in free space. let the position vector of charges are r1 and r2
respectively.
Let us consider that these charges are kept initially at infinite q1
separation. We can find the work done in bringing them from infinite
separation to the present position. q2
r1

r2
The work done in bringing q1 from infinity to present position
W1 =0
(Because it is moving in a field free region.)

The work done to bring q2 from infinity to its present position is

W2 = V1 X q2

1 𝑞1 𝑞2
=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟12

1 𝑞1 𝑞2
The total work done = W1+W2 =0 +
4𝜋∈0 𝑟12
1 𝑞1 𝑞2
=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟12

𝟏 𝐪𝟏 𝐪𝟐
Potential energy of the system of two charges =
𝟒𝛑∈𝟎 𝐫𝟏𝟐
 Potential energy of a system of three charges

Consider a system of 3 charges q1, q2 and q3 in air. 𝑞1

q2
Let us consider that these charges are kept
initially at infinite separation. We can find the work
done in bringing them from infinite separation to the
present position. 𝑞3
The work done to bring q1 from infinity to its present
position is zero.

W1 = 0
The work done to bring q2 from infinity to its present
position is
W2 = V1 X q2

1 𝑞1 𝑞2
=
4𝜋∈0 𝑟12
The work done in bringing the charge q3 from infinity to ‘r3’ is

𝑊 3 = q3 (𝑣1 + 𝑣2 )

1 𝑞 𝑞2
= q3 [ ( 1 + ) ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟13 𝑟23

1 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞2 𝑞3
= [ 1 3 + ]
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟13 𝑟23

∴ Total energy of the system is = W1+W2+W3

𝟏 𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐 𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟑 𝒒𝟐 𝒒𝟑
∴ U = [ + + ]
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝒓𝟏𝟐 𝒓𝟏𝟑 𝒓𝟐𝟑
 Potential energy a two charges in an external electric field
Let us consider two charges q1 and q2. Let V(r1) and V (r2) are the potential at the position
where the charges are kept.
The work done in bringing q1 from infinity to r1 is
W1 = q1 V(r1)

The work done in bringing q2 from infinity to r2 is

W2 = q2 V(r2)

The work done in bringing the charge ‘q2’ against the field of q1 is
1 𝑞1 𝑞2
W3 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12

The total work done will be stored as the potential energy of the system as given by

1 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝑈= + q1 V(r1) + q2 V(r2)
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟12
 Potential energy of a dipole in an external field

d𝐰 = 𝝉 d 𝜽 = p E Sin𝜽 d𝜽
The work done in rotating the dipole from
an angle θ1 to θ2 is given by

θ2 θ2
𝑾 = න 𝒅𝒘 = න 𝑝𝐸𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑑𝜃
θ1
θ1
ϴ

= −𝒑𝑬 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 θ
θ1
2

= −𝐩𝐄 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉𝟐 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉𝟏

∴ 𝑼 = 𝒑𝑬 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐
The potential energy of the dipole at an angle θ with electric field can be obtained
by integrating the above equation from 𝝅Τ𝟐 to 𝜽
𝜃
i.e. U= ‫𝜋׬‬Τ pESin𝜃d𝜃
2
𝜃
= pE ‫𝜋׬‬Τ Sin𝜃d𝜃
2
= pE [-Cos 𝜃]𝜃𝜋Τ2

= - pE [Cos 𝜃 – Cos𝜋Τ2]

= -pE (Cos 𝜃 - 0)

U = -PE Cos 𝜽

U =−𝒑. 𝑬
Special cases:

Case.1

𝐔 is max: if 𝜽 = 1800, ie. 𝑼max = PE

Case.2

𝐔 is zero: if 𝜽 = 900, ie. 𝑼zero = 0

Case.3

𝑼 is minimum: if 𝜽 = 00, ie. 𝑼mm = -PE

 Equipotential Surface

An equipotential surface is a surface in which the electric

potential at all points on the surface will be the same.

(1) Point charge (2) Electric dipole (3) Uniform electric field
 Properties of equipotential surfaces
(1) Electric field lines are perpendicular to the equipotential surface

(2) Work done in moving a charge from one point to another point in an equipotential surface
is zero.

(3) The equipotential surface due to a point charge is concentric spheres and that due to
uniform electric field are planes normal to electric field.

(4) In a uniform electric field, they are parallel planes

 General relation between potential difference and field

A and B are two equipotential surfaces separated by a small distance dl

Let the electric field at ‘P’ is E; then the work done in moving unit +ve charge from ‘P’ through a small distance dl
against E is
dω = E. dl = -E d𝑙

But, dω = v+ dv –v = dv = potential difference.

dv = - E d𝑙
𝒅𝒗
𝑜𝑟 E =-
𝒅𝒍
 ELECTROSTATICS OF CONDUCTORS

1. Inside a conductor electrostatic field is zero.

2. At the surface of a charged conductor, electrostatic field must be

normal to the surface at every point.
3. The interior of a conductor can have no excess charge in the static
situation Electrostatic potential is constant throughout the volume
of the conductor and has the same value (as inside) on its surface.
𝛔
4. Electric field at the surface of a charged conductor is
∈𝟎
5. Electrostatic shielding, i.e. electric field is zero inside a cavity in a
conductor
 Inside a conductor electrostatic field is zero.

A conductor has free electrons. As long as electric field is not

zero, the free charge carriers would experience force and drift.
In the static situation, the free charges have distributed
themselves so that the electric field is zero everywhere inside.
 Electric field at the surface of a charged conductor
Choose a pill box (a short cylinder) as the Gaussian
surface about any point P on the surface. The pill box
is partly inside and partly outside the surface of the
conductor. It has a small area of cross section δ S and
negligible height. Just inside the surface, the
electrostatic field is zero. Just outside, the field is
normal to the surface with magnitude E.

Therefore, total flux = E .ds

Charge enclosed Q = σ .ds

𝝈 𝒅𝒔
Applying Gauss’s theorem 𝑬. 𝒅𝒔 =
∈𝟎

𝝈
𝑬=
∈𝟎
 Capacitor and Capacitance

A capacitor is a system consisting of two conductors separated by an insulator.

Let the charge on the conductor is Q and the potential difference across them is V.

Then Q α V
Q = CV

where C is the constant of proportionality known as capacitance of the capacitor.

𝑸
Therefore, C =
𝑽

The S.I unit of capacitance is C/V but it is called farad(F)

Different types of capacitors

Symbol of a capacitor
 Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

A Parallel Plate Capacitor is formed by two identical parallel conducting plate

separated by a small distance of ‘d.
+Q + -Q
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+ Surface density of charge on the plates is 𝝈
-
+----------d----------- The charge on the plate is Q=𝝈A
-
+ The p.d between the plates is V=Ed
-
+ 𝝈
- The electric field between the plats is E=
+ ∈𝟎
-
+
-
+
-
A + B
-
 Capacitance of a parallel plate
capacitor
𝑸
The capacitance of the capacitor 𝑪=
𝑽

𝝈𝑨
=
𝐄𝒅
𝛔𝐀
= 𝛔
𝐝
𝛜𝟎

∈𝟎 𝑨
=
𝒅
∈𝟎 𝐀
∴𝐂=
𝐝
 Dielectrics and polarization
Dielectrics are non-conducting polar or non-polar substances.
If the centres of positive and negative
charges of a molecule do not coincide, Polar molecule

then it is a polar molecule.

If the centres of positive and

Non-Polar molecule negative charge coincide each
other, it is a non polar molecule

In the polar molecule there will be a permanent dipole moment. But the net dipole
moment of the substance becomes zero because of the random orientation of each molecule of
the substance.
 Non-Polar substance in an external electric field

If a non-polar substance is placed in an external electric field, each

molecule will change into dipoles in the direction of the external field and
produce an induced field in the opposite direction.
 Polar substance in an external electric field

If a polar substance is placed in an external electric field, each dipole molecule will
align in the direction of the electric field and produce an internal field in the
opposite direction.
 Electric field inside a dielectric in an external electric field
In both polar and non-polar substances the internal field produced will be less than the
external field and there by the net field becomes,

E = E0 - Ep

- + - +
𝐄𝐏
𝑬𝒐
- + - + =K
𝑬𝟎 𝑬
Where K is a constant for a
- + - +
dielectric, called dielectric
- + - +
constant
 The effect of dielectric in a capacitor

When a dielectric is placed in between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor due
to electric polarization, the electric field and hence the potential between the plates is
decreased. Hence the capacitance of the capacitor is increased

+𝜎 −𝜎
E0
----------d---------
-
----------V---------
-
Let us consider a parallel plate capacitor of plate area ‘A’ and separation ‘d’. If the space
𝜺𝟎 𝑨
between the plates is air, its capacitance is given by, C0 =
𝒅
Let ±Q be the charges and ±𝜎 be the charge densities on the plate. Let and V0 = E0 d be the
potential difference between the plates in this case and Q = 𝜎 A
The electric field developed inside the dielectric slab of thickness t = 𝑬𝒑
-----------------d-------------------
The net electric field inside the dielectric slab 𝑬 = 𝑬𝟎 − 𝑬𝒑 + _
+ _
+ _
𝐸0
But 𝐸= + _
𝑘 + _
+ _
The potential difference between the plates of the capacitor after 𝑬𝒑
+ _
introducing the dielectric slab of thickness t < d is given by
+ _
+ _
V = E.t + Eo .(d-t)
+ _
𝑄 𝜎𝐴 𝜎𝐴 + _
Therefore, C= = = 𝐸0 + _
𝑉 𝐸.𝑡+𝐸0 𝑑−𝑡 𝑡+𝐸0 𝑑−𝑡
𝑘 + 𝑬𝟎 _
+ _
𝜎𝐴 + _
=
𝐸 𝑡 + _
0 +(𝑑−𝑡)
𝑘 + _
𝜎
But, E0 = 𝜖 + _
0
∈𝟎 𝑨 + -----t---- _
Therefore, 𝑪 = 𝒕 + _
𝒌
+(𝒅−𝒕)
Capacitance of the capacitor if the region between the plates is fully filled with
the dielectric.
If the entire region between the plates is filled with dielectric, t = d

∈𝟎 𝑨
𝑪= 𝒕
t=d 𝒌
+(𝒅−𝒕)

∈𝟎 𝑨
𝑪=𝒅
𝒌
+(𝒅−𝒅)

𝑲∈𝟎 𝑨
𝑪= = 𝑲. 𝑪𝟎
𝒅
 Energy stored in a capacitor
𝜺𝟎 𝑨
C= 𝒅
𝒒 𝒒
If a charge ‘q’ is given to the capacitor, its potential is ‘v’ so that C= or V=
𝒗 𝑪
Now the work done in giving an additional charge dq to is d𝒘 = Vdq

𝒒
i.e. d𝒘 = dq
𝒗

Now the total work done in charge the capacitor from q=0 to q=Q is obtained by integration as
𝑸𝒒 𝟏 𝒒𝟐 𝑸
W = ‫𝟎׬‬ 𝒅𝒒 = [ ]𝟎
𝒗 𝑪 𝟐

𝟏 𝑸𝟐
=
𝑪 𝟐

𝟏 𝑸𝟐
Therefore, The energy stored in the capacitor U =
𝑪 𝟐
 ENERGY DENSITY
The energy stored per unit volume of the capacitor is its energy density.

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑦 =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
1 2
CV
2
=
𝐴.𝑑
𝜀0 𝐴
V = Ed and C=
𝑑
1 1 𝜀0 𝐴
Energy = CV2 = (Ed)2
2 2 𝑑

1 𝜀0 𝐴𝐸 2 𝑑 2 1
= = 𝜀0 𝐸 2 (Ad)
2 𝑑 2

∴ The energy density or energy per unit volume of the capacitor is

𝐔 𝟏
𝐔d = = 𝛆𝟎 𝐄 𝟐
𝐀𝐝 𝟐
 Combination of capacitors

Capacitors can be connected together in a circuit in two different ways, series

combination and parallel combination.
C1 C2 C3

(1)Series combination

(2)Parallel combination
 Series combination
Let us consider three capacitors C1, C2 and C3 connected in series with a voltage source ‘v’ as shown
below.
C1 C2 C3

If the Capacitors are connected in Series the same charge ‘Q’ will be reaching to all the capacitors and the
potential ‘V’ is divided into V1, V2 and V3 across C1, C2 and C3 respectively.

𝑉 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3
𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
But, 𝑉1 = ,𝑉 = and 𝑉3 =
𝐶1 2 𝐶2 𝐶3

𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
𝑉= + +
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

𝐼 1 1
𝑉=𝑄 + + (1)
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
If these capacitors are replaced by an equivalent capacitance ‘Cs’ such that the voltage ‘V’ and the charge ‘Q’
remains the same, then

𝑄
V= (2)
𝐶𝑠

From Equation: (1) and (2)

𝑄 1 1 1
= Q[ + + ]
𝐶𝑠 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
∴ = + +
𝑪𝒔 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑪𝟑
 Series combination of n capacitors
If n capacitors are connected in series then
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + + + …………..+
𝑪𝒔 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑪𝟑 𝑪𝒏

i.e. The reciprocal of the effective capacitance in series combination is equal

to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances.

If ‘n’ identical capacitors of C each are connected in series, then

𝑪
𝑪𝒔 =
𝒏
 Parallel combination
If the capacitors are connected in parallel, the potential difference across each capacitor will be
same and equal to the source voltage V, but the charge is distributed as Q1, Q2 and Q3 so that
the charge from the source

Q = Q1+ Q2 + Q3 (1)

But Q1= C1V, Q2 = C2V and Q3 = C3V

∴ Q = C1V + C2V + C3V

Q = (C1 + C2 + C3) V (2)

 If these three capacitors are replaced by a single capacitance ‘Cp’ in such a way
that the voltage ‘V’ and the charge ‘Q’ remains the same, then
Cp

Q = C pV (3)
Q = (C1 + C2 + C3) V (2)

From (2) and (3)

CpV = (C1 + C2 + C3) V

Cp = C1 + C2 + C3
 Parallel combination of n capacitors
If ‘n’ capacitors are connected in parallel then

Cp = C1 + C2 + C3 + …………………+ Cn

i.e. The effective capacitance in parallel combination is equal to the sum of the
individual capacitances.

If ‘n’ identical capacitors of each ‘c’ are connected in parallel, then

CP = nC