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If theres toast in the toaster and no one sees it, is there really toast in the toaster? Check with your local quantum physicist before you answer!
Announcements
Reminder: if you have not yet done so, provide me the
necessary information about your Exam 1 special
circumstances (late exam, test center accommodations,
official University event conflict). See lecture 4 for details.

Test center notification required this week, memos due next
week.
Test anxiety counseling sessions begin Wed., Sept. 12:
email [email protected] for information.
Announcements
In homework problem 22.12, it is shown that the electric
field outside a spherically symmetric charge distribution is
the same as the electric field due to a point charge of the
same total charge.
You now have permission to use to calculate
the electric field magnitude outside a spherically symmetric
charge distribution of total charge Q.
2
E k Q r =
Available energy is the main object at
stake in the struggle for existence and
the evolution of the world.Ludwig
Boltzmann

Todays agenda:

Electric potential energy.
You must be able to use electric potential energy in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential.
You must be able to calculate the electric potential for a point charge, and use the electric
potential in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential and electric potential energy of a system of
charges.
You must be able to calculate both electric potential and electric potential energy for a
system of charged particles (point charges today, charge distributions next lecture).

The electron volt.
You must be able to use the electron volt as an alternative unit of energy.

Definition and Really Important fact to keep straight.
| |
f i conservative
i f
U U U W

A = =
The change in potential energy is the negative of the work done
by the conservative force which is associated with the potential
energy (today, the electric force).
If an external force moves an object against the conservative
force,* and the objects kinetic energy remains constant, then
| | | |
external conservative
i f i f
W W

=
Always ask yourself which work you are calculating.
*for example, if you slowly lift a book, or slowly push two negatively charged balloons together
This definition is
from Physics 23.
Another Important Fact.
Potential energies are defined relative to some configuration of
objects that you are free to choose.
For example, it often makes sense to define the gravitational potential energy of a ball to be
zero when it is resting on the surface of the earth, but you dont have to make that choice.
If I hold one proton in my right hand, and another proton in
my left hand, and let them go, they will fly apart. (You have to
pretend my hands are physics handsthey arent really there.)
Flying protons have kinetic energy, so when I held them at
rest, they must have had potential energy.
The electric potential energy of a system of two point charges
q
1
and q
2
, separated by a distance r
12
is



( )
1 2 1 2
12
12 0 12
q q q q 1
U r k .
r 4 r
= =
tc
Sooner or later I am
going to forget and put
in a 1/r
2
dependence.
Dont be bad like me.
This is not a definition; it is derived from the definition of potential energy.
The next slide, which I will skip in lecture, shows where this comes from. Click here to skip the next slide.
Where does come from?
When we have a conservative force (amount of work done by the force is
independent of path taken) we can define a potential energy.
In Physics 23, you defined potential energy like this:
1 2
12
q q
U k
r
=
| |
f i C
i f
U U U W

A = =
f f
i i
r r
1 2
E E
2
r r
12
k q q
W F d dr
r
= =
} }
We can show the electric force is a conservative force. Then using
Coulombs law, we write
and do the integral to derive the expression for U. (We move one of the protons from r
i

to r
f
and calculate the work to do that.)
Explanatory slide, for those who like to know where things come from.
You may need to use this in
homework for tomorrow!
Still Another Important Fact.
Potential energies are defined relative to some configuration of
objects that you are free to choose.
Our equation for the electric potential energy of two charged
particles uses the convention that the potential energy is zero
when the particles are infinitely far apart.
For example, it often makes sense to define the gravitational potential energy of a ball to be
zero when it is resting on the surface of the earth, but you dont have to make that choice.
I told you the stuff above several slides back.
Does that make sense?
Its the convention you must use if you want to use the equation for potential energy of point
charges! If you use that equation, you are automatically using this convention.
Homework hint: if charged particles are initially far apart, their initial potential energy is zero. So how far is far?
Example: calculate the electric potential energy of two protons
separated by a typical proton-proton intranuclear distance of
2x10
-15
m. +1.15x10
-13
J
What is the meaning of the + sign in the result?
Example: calculate the electric potential energy of a hydrogen
atom (electron-proton distance is 5.29x10
-11
m). -4.36x10
-18
J
What is the meaning of the - sign in the result? Is that a small
energy? Ill have more to say about the energy at the end of
the lecture.

If released, it gains kinetic
energy and loses potential
energy, but mechanical energy
is conserved: E
f
=E
i
. The
change in potential energy is
U
f
- U
i
= -(W
c
)
if
.

The grav-
itational force does + work.

y
graphic borrowed from http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/newtongrav.html
What force does W
c
? Force due to gravity.
x
U
i
= mgy
i
U
f
= 0

y
i
An object of mass m in a gravitational field has potential
energy U(y) = mgy and feels a gravitational force F
G
=
GmM/r
2
, attractive.
Remember conservation of energy from Physics 23?
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+
E
A charged particle in an electric
field has electric potential
energy.


It feels a force (as given by
Coulombs law).


It gains kinetic energy and loses
potential energy if released. The
Coulomb force does positive
work, and mechanical energy is
conserved.
F
Now your deep philosophical question for the day
If you have a great big nail to drive, are you going
to pound it with a dinky little screwdriver?
Or a hammer?
| |
f i other
i f
E E W

=
The hammer equation.Prof. R. J. Bieniek
Another important Physics 23 Starting Equation, which you
may (fall 2012: will) need for tomorrows homework.
The Work-Energy Theorem:
| |
net
i f
W K

= A
W
net
is the total work, and includes work done by the
conservative force (if any) and all other forces (if any).
Notation: W
ab
= W
a
-W
b
= [W]
ba
Numerical example.
Two isolated protons are constrained to be a distance
D = 2x10
-10
meters apart (a typical atom-atom distance in a
solid). If the protons are released from rest, what maximum
speed do they achieve, and how far apart are they when they
reach this maximum speed? 2.63x10
4
m/s
To be worked at the board.
2.63x10
4
m/s
| |
E Ef Ei E
i f
U U U W

A = =
| |
f f
i i
r r
1 2
E E
2
i f
r r
12
k q q
W F d dr
r

= =
} }
The minus sign in this equation comes from the definition of change in potential energy. The sign from the dot product is
automatically correct if you include the signs of q and q
0
.
The subscript E is to
remind you I am talking
about electric potential
energy. After this slide, I
will drop the subscript E.
Another way to calculate electrical potential energy.
Move one of charges from
r
i
to r
f
, in the presence the
other charge.
f f
i i
r r f
2
E 1 1 2 1 2
2
r r i
12
kq
U q dr q E dr q E d
r
A = = =
} } }
Move q
1
from r
i
to r
f
, in
the presence of q
2
.
f
i
r
1 2
2
r
12
k q q
dr
r
=
}
Generalizing:
f
f i
i
U U q E d =
}
i and f refer to the two points for which we are calculating the potential energy difference. You could also
use a and b like your text does, or 0 and 1 or anything else convenient. I use i and f because I
always remember that A(anything) = (anything)
f
(anything)
i
.
When a charge q is moved from one position to another in the presence of
an electric field due to one or more other charged particles, its change in
potential energy is given by the above equation.
Ive done something important here. Ive generalized from the
specific case of one charged particle moving in the presence of
another, to a charged particle moving in the electric field due to
all the other charged particles in its universe.

Quiz time (maybe for points, maybe just for practice!)


Todays agenda:

Electric potential energy.
You must be able to use electric potential energy in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential.
You must be able to calculate the electric potential for a point charge, and use the electric
potential in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential and electric potential energy of a system of
charges.
You must be able to calculate both electric potential and electric potential energy for a
system of charged particles (point charges today, charge distributions next lecture).

The electron volt.
You must be able to use the electron volt as an alternative unit of energy.

Now Im going to do something different, and introduce the
electric potential.
Electric potential energy is just like gravitational potential
energy.
Except that all matter exerts an attractive gravitational force, but charged particles exert
either attractive or repulsive electrical forcesso we need to be careful with our signs.
Electric potential is the electric potential energy per unit of
charge.
Electric Potential
In lecture 2 we defined the electric field by the force it exerts
on a test charge q
0
:
0
0
q 0
0
F
E = lim
q

Similarly, it is useful to define the potential in terms of the

potential energy of a test charge q
0
:
( )
( )
0
q 0
0
U r
V r = lim
q

The electric potential V is independent of the test charge q

0
.
Later youll get an Official
Starting Equation version of this.
A point in space can have an electric potential even if there is no charge around to feel it.
Analogy with gravitational potential.
so that the electric potential of a point charge q is
( )
1 2 2
1 1 0 12 0 12
U r
q q q 1 1 1
V(r)
q q 4 r 4 r
= = =
tc tc
( )
0
1 q
V r .
4 r
=
tc
The electric potential difference between points a and b is
b
b b
a
a a
r
E
r r
r
E
r r
0 0 0
F d
F U
V d E d .
q q q

A
A = = = =
}
} }
f
i
V E d A =
}
q
1
is the test charge, q
2

is the charge that gives
rise to the potential V(r)
that q
1
feels. (q
1

probes the potential)
Sooner or later I am
going to forget and put
in a 1/r
2
dependence.
Dont be bad like me.
Only valid for a
point charge!
E is likely due to
a collection of
point charges.
electric potential of a point charge
One more starting equation
f i
U
V V V
q
A
A = =
*Very Handy Version: U q V A = A
A particle of charge q moved through a
potential difference AV gains (or loses)
potential energy q AV.
b
b b
a
a a
r
E
r r
r
E
r r
0 0 0
F d
F U
V d E d .
q q q

A
A = = = =
}
} }
Drop the subscript on the
q
0
. It was there to remind us
that q
0
is the charge that
feels the potential.
Copied from
previous slide.
*In other words, you usually start with this version of the equation.
Things to remember about electric potential:
- Electric potential and electric potential energy are related, but
not the same.
Electric potential difference is the work per unit of charge
that must be done to move a charge from one point to
another without changing its kinetic energy.
- The terms electric potential and potential are used
interchangeably.
( )
( )
0
U r
V r = .
q
- The units of potential are joules/coulomb:
1 joule
1 volt =
1 coulomb
Things to remember about electric potential:
- Only differences in electric potential and electric potential
energy are meaningful.
It is always necessary to define where U and V are zero. In
this lecture we define V to be zero at an infinite distance
from the sources of the electric field.
Sometimes (e.g., circuits) it is convenient to define V to be
zero at the earth (ground).
It will be clear from the context where V is defined to be
zero. Most equations for this chapter assume V=0 at infinite
separation of charges.
Saying take V to be zero when the charges are far apart means its OK to use the equations in this chapter.
Two conceptual examples.
Example: a proton is released in a region in space where there
is an electric potential. Describe the subsequent motion of the
proton.
Example: an electron is released in a region in space where
there is an electric potential. Describe the subsequent motion of
the electron.
The proton will move towards the region of lower potential. As it moves, its
potential energy will decrease, and its kinetic energy and speed will increase.
The electron will move towards the region of higher potential. As it moves,
its potential energy will decrease, and its kinetic energy and speed will
increase.
Protons fall down, electrons fall up.
Simple numerical example.
What is the potential due to the proton in the hydrogen atom at
the electrons position (5.29x10
-11
m away from the proton)? 27.2V
To be worked at the board.

Todays agenda:

Electric potential energy.
You must be able to use electric potential energy in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential.
You must be able to calculate the electric potential for a point charge, and use the electric
potential in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential and electric potential energy of a
system of charges.
You must be able to calculate both electric potential and electric potential energy for a
system of charged particles (point charges today, charge distributions next lecture).

The electron volt.
You must be able to use the electron volt as an alternative unit of energy.

Electric Potential Energy of a System of Charges
Electric Potential of a System of Charges
Electric potential energy comes from the interaction between
pairs of charged particles, so you have to add the potential
energies of each pair of charged particles in the system.
(Could be a pain to calculate!)
The potential due to a particle depends only on the charge of
that particle and where it is relative to some reference point.
The electric potential of a system of charges is simply the sum
of the potential of each charge. (Much easier to calculate!)
A single charged particle has no electrical potential energy. To
find the electric potential energy for a system of two charges,
we bring a second charge in from an infinite distance away:
before after
q
1
U 0 =
q
1
q
2
1 2
q q
U k
r
=
r

Example: electric potential energy of three charged particles
To find the electric potential energy for a system of three
charges, we bring a third charge in from an infinite distance
away:
before
q
1
after
q
1
q
2
1 3 2 3 1 2
12 13 23
q q q q q q
U k
r r r
| |
= + +
|
\ .
r
12
q
2
r
12
1 2
12
q q
U k
r
=
q
3
r
13
r
23
We have to add the potential energies of
each pair of charged particles.
Electric Potential of a Charge Distribution (details next lecture)
Collection of charges:
i
P
i
0 i
q 1
V .
4 r
=
tc

Charge distribution:
P is the point at which V is to be calculated, and r
i
is the distance of the i
th

charge from P.
P
r
dq
0
1 dq
V .
4 r
=
tc
}
Potential at point P.
Well work with this next lecture.
Example: a 1 C point charge is located at the origin and a -4
C point charge 4 meters along the +x axis. Calculate the
electric potential at a point P, 3 meters along the +y axis.
q
2

q
1

3 m
P
4 m
x
y
i 1 2
P
i
i 1 2
-6 -6
9
3
q q q
V = k = k +
r r r
110 -410
= 910 +
3 5
= - 4.210 V
| |
|
\ .
| |
|
\ .

Thanks to Dr. Waddill for the use of these examples.

Example: how much work is required to bring a +3 C point
charge from infinity to point P? (And what assumption must we make?)
q
2

q
1

3 m
P
4 m
x
y
q
3

external 3
W U q V = A = A
( )
external 3 P
W q V V

=
external
W E K U = A = A + A
0
0
( )
6 3
external
W 3 10 4.2 10

=
3
external
W 1.26 10 J

=
The work done by the external force was negative, so the work done by the electric field was
positive. The electric field pulled q
3
in (keep in mind ,q
2
, is 4 times ,q
1
,).
Positive work would have to be done by an external force to remove q
3
from P.
Example: find the total potential energy of the system of three
charges.
q
2

q
1

3 m
P
4 m
x
y
q
3

1 2 1 3 2 3
12 13 23
q q q q q q
U = k + +
r r r
| |
|
\ .
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6
9
110 -410 110 310 -410 310
U = 9 10 + +
4 3 5
| |
|

|
\ .
-2
U = - 2.16 10 J

Todays agenda:

Electric potential energy.
You must be able to use electric potential energy in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential.
You must be able to calculate the electric potential for a point charge, and use the electric
potential in work-energy calculations.

Electric potential and electric potential energy of a system of
charges.
You must be able to calculate both electric potential and electric potential energy for a
system of charged particles (point charges today, charge distributions next lecture).

The electron volt.
You must be able to use the electron volt as an alternative unit of energy.

The Electron Volt
An electron volt (eV) is the energy acquired by a particle of
charge e when it moves through a potential difference of 1 volt.
U= q V A A
( )
( )
-19
1 eV= 1.6 10 C 1 V
-19
1 eV= 1.6 10 J
This is a very small amount of energy on a macroscopic scale,
but electrons in atoms typically have a few eV (10s to 1000s)
of energy.
Example: on slide 9 we found that the potential energy of the
hydrogen atom is about -4.36x10
-18
joules. How many electron
volts is that?
( )
-18 -18
-19
1 eV
U = -4.36 10 J = -4.36 10 J -27.2 eV
1.6 10 J
| |
~
|

\ .
Hold it! I learned in Chemistry (or high school physics) that the
ground-state energy of the hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV. Did you
make a physics mistake?
The ground-state energy of the hydrogen atom includes the
positive kinetic energy of the electron, which happens to have a
magnitude of half the potential energy. Add KE+PE to get
ground state energy.
Remember your Physics 23 hammer equation?
| |
f i other
i f
E E W

=
What goes into E
f
and E
i
? What goes into W
other
?
Homework Hints!
Youll need to use starting equations from Physics 23!
| |
f i c
i f
U U W

= This is also handy:

Potential of a with respect to b means V
a
- V
b

Homework Hints!
Work-Energy Theorem:
| |
net
i f
W K

= A