Electric Potential Due to a Point Charge and Equipotential Lines

Electric Potential Due to a Point Charge and Equipotential Lines

By Rachel Wampler

Electric Potential Due to Point Charges

Potential of a Point charge

• Two or more charges

  1. Find the potentials due to each charge at that location ​

  2. Add the potentials together to get the total potential ​

Multiple Charges

Multiple Choice

Two charges are 1 m apart. There are +2 µC and -4 µC.

What is the potential 1/3 of the way between them?

• 3 V

• 0 V

• 1/3 V

• 1 V

Multiple Choice

How much work is done to bring two electrons to a distance of 5.3 x10^-11 m to the nucleus of a Helium atom (q = 3.2 x10^-19 C)? HINT* -W = PE_f -PE₀

• 6.58 x10¹⁷

• 8.68 x10^-18 J

• 6.51 x10^-18 J

• 1.52 x10^-17 J

Equipotential Lines

​Field lines and Eqiupotential Lines

Field lines and equipotential lines are like a topographic map where altitudes are equipotential lines and slopes are like field lines

Sketch the equipotential lines in the vicinity of two opposite charges, where the negative charge is three times as great in magnitude as the positive.

Answer's on the next slide​

Equipotential Lines Activity

Equipotential Lines Activity

Let me charge you with this point: You can reach your potential!!! (: