Electrostatics

Potential and
Capacitance

Mennonite Eng. Sr. Sec. School

Electrostatics
Potential and
Capacitor

Deepanshu Rathore
CG-SET
MSc - Physics
(Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, U.P.)
1. Electrostatic Potential
Electrostatic Potential : The electrostatic potential at any point in
an electric field is equal to the amount of work done per unit
positive test charge or in bringing the unit positive test charge from
infinite to that point, against the electrostatic force without
acceleration.

NOTE: Electrostatic potential is a state dependent function as

electrostatic forces are conservative forces.

Electric Potential

2. Potential Difference
The electrostatic potential difference between two points in an
electric field is defined as the amount of work done in moving a
unit positive test charge from one point to the other point against
of electrostatic force without any acceleration (i.e. the difference of
electrostatic potentials of the two points in the electric field).
where, is work done in taking charge q0 from A to B against of
electrostatic force.
Also, the line integral of electric field from initial position A to final
position B along any path is termed as potential difference
between two points in an electric field, i.e.

Caption

Potential Difference
 Caption

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NOTE: As, work done on a test charge by the electrostatic field

due to any given charge configuration is independent of the path,
hence potential difference is also same for any path.
For the diagram given as below, potential difference between
points A and B will be same for any path.
3. Conservative Force
Total work done in moving a unit positive charge along a
closed path is zero. Therefore, electrostatic field and hence
electrostatic force are conservative.

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4. Potential at a point due to a point charge

The electrostatic potential at any point in an electrostatic field
is defined as the work done in carrying a unit positive charge from
infinity to that point against the electrostatic force of the field.

Consider a point Charge +Q at O.Let P be a point at a distance r

from O.Consider a point A at a distance x from O.
 Caption

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 Class room

5. Electric Potential at a Point due to an Electric Dipole

5.1 Axial Position/ longitudinal position

Consider an electric dipole AB in which point charges +q and

-q are separated by a distance 2l. Let P be a point on it's axis
seperated by a distance r from the dipole's center O.

Fig
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5.2 Coaxial Position/ transverse position

Consider an electric dipole AB in which point charges +q and

-q are separated by a distance 2l. Let P be a point on it's coaxis
seperated by a distance r from the dipole's center O.

Fig
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5.3 At any point

Statement
 Caption

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5.4 Electrostatic potential due to a thin charged spherical shell

carrying charge q and radius R respectively, at any point P lying
 Graphical representation of variation of electric potential due to
a charged shell at a distance r from centre of shell is given as
below:

6. Comparison os potential due to a dipole and single

charge

TABLE
7. Equipotential Surface
A surface which have same electrostatic potential at every
point on it, is known as equipotential surface.
The shape of equipotential surface due to
(i) line charge is cylindrical.
(ii) point charge is spherical as shown along side:
(a) Equipotential surfaces do not intersect each other as it
gives two directions of electric field E at intersecting point which is
not possible.
(b) Equipotential surfaces are closely spaced in the region of
strong electric field and vice-versa.
(c) Electric field is always normal to equipotential surface at
every point of it and directed from one equipotential surface at
higher potential to the equipotential surface at lower potential.
(d) Work done in moving a test charge from one point of
equipotential surface to other is zero.
8. Relation between Intensity of electric field and
Potential Difference.
The relation is very simple. Electric field intensity is equal to
the negative of rate of change of potential with respet to the
distance or it can be defined as the negative of the rate of
derivative of potential difference, V with respect to r

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where, negative sign indicates that the direction of electric field

is from higher potential to lower potential, i.e. in the direction of
decreasing potential.

NOTE: (i) Electric field is in the direction of which the

potential decreases steepest.
(ii) Its magnitude is given by the change in the magnitude of
potential per unit displacement normal to the equipotential
surface at the point.
9. Electrostatic Potential Energy
The work done against electrostatic force gets stored as
potential energy. This is called electrostatic potential energy.
10. Electrostatic Shielding
The process which involves the making of a region free from
any electric field is known as electrostatic shielding.

It happens due to the fact that no electric field exist inside a

charged hollow conductor. Potential inside a shell is constant. In
this way we can also conclude that the field inside the shell (hollow
conductor) will be zero.
11. Dielectric
Dielectrics are non-conducting substances which are the
insulating materials and are bad conductor of electric
current. Dielectric materials can be made to hold an
electrostatic charge while dissipating minimal energy in the
form of heat. Examples of dielectric are Mica, Plastics,
Glass, Porcelain and Various Metal Oxides and even dry
air is also example of dielectric.

What is the classification of Dielectric?

Dielectrics can be classified as:
• Polar Molecules
• Non-Polar Molecules

Polar Molecules: Polar Molecules are those type of dielectric

in which the possibilities that the positive and negative molecules
will coincide with each other is null or zero.
 The reason why the polar molecules do not coincide with each
other is due to their shape, that is they all are asymmetric in
shape.
Examples: H2O, CO2, NO2 etc.
When the electric field is not present that is if it is absent then,
it causes the electric dipole moment of these molecules in random
direction which is responsible for cancellation of these molecules
with each other. So, the average dipole moment is zero.

If the external electric field is present, the molecules assemble

in the same direction as electric field.
Non-Polar Molecule, unlike polar molecules in non-polar
molecules the center of positive charge and negative coincide,
that is it is not zero. The molecule then has no permanent (or
intrinsic) dipole moment.

Example: O2, N2, H2 etc.

12. Induced Electric Dipole Moment

When in a non-polar molecule, all the protons are pulled in the
direction as of electric field and electrons are pulled in opposite
direction as of electric field, when an external electric field is
applied. Due to the presence of electric field, this process
continues unless the internal forces balance them. Due to this two
centers of charge are created; the molecules are known as
Polarized and is known as Induced Electric Dipole. The dipole
moment is known as Induced Electric Dipole Moment.
13. Polarisability
Applied field is directly proportional to induced dipole moment
and is independent of the temperature. The direction of induced

dipole moment (x) is parallel to the direction of electric field

and for a single polar atom.
Polarizabilities determine the dynamical response of a bound
system to external fields, and provide insight into a molecule's
internal structure. In a solid, polarizability is defined as the dipole
moment per unit volume of the crystal cell

where 'a' is known as Atomic Polarisability

S.I. unit and dimensions of polarisability

The S.I. unit of polarisability is m3 and it’s dimensions as same
as it’s volume.

Electric Polarisation
When a dielectric slab is placedin an electric field, then the
dipole moment is gained by the molecule and the dielectric is said
to be polarised.
The Electric Polarization is dipole moment per unit volume of
a dielectric material.
The polarization is denoted by P.
 Polarisation Polarisation Process

14. Dielectric Constant

When Dielectric slab is placed between parallel plate, the ratio
of the applied electric field strength to the strength of the reduced
value of electric field capacitor is called Dielectric Constant that is:

E is always less than or equal to E.

Where Eo is dielectric
And E is net field
 The larger the dielectric constant, the more charge can be
stored. Completely filling the space between capacitor plates with
a dielectric increases the capacitance by a factor of the dielectric
constant:
C = κ Co, where Co is the capacitance with no dielectric
between the plates.

Dielectric constant for materials

Dielectric constant for selected materials (~300 K except where
indicated)

15. Dielectric Strength

For an insulating material, the dielectric strength is
that ,without breaking down maximum electric field strength that
it can withstand intrinsically, that is, without
experiencing failure of its insulating properties is known as
Dielectric Strength.
 Names and uses of material with dielectric strength
• for electric motor windings mica is used and its stator
bars.
• The glass and porcelain are widely used for high voltage
transformers and transmission line connectors
• Naphtha or Paraffin Oil is used when it is necessary.

16. Dielectric Polarisation

When an external electric field is applied to a dielectric
material, its behavior can be determined and is known as
Dielectric Polarizationthat can be understood by the displacement
of charges(positive and negative) when an electric field is applied

The main task of the dielectric polarization is to relate

macroscopic properties to microscopic properties. Where
macroscopic property can be dielectric constant to polarizability

Polarization occurs through the action of an electric field or

other external factors, such as mechanical stress in the case of
piezoelectric crystals (piezoelectric crystals are those solid
material which accumulates electric charge within them). Dielectric
Polarization can also arise spontaneously in pyroelectric crystals,
particularly in ferroelectrics (Ferroelectricity is a property of certain
materials that have a spontaneous electric polarization that can be
reversed by the application of an external electric field).
 Dielectric Polarisation

17. Susceptibility
The electric susceptibility can be defined as the ratio
of Polarisation P to electric field strength E,

where ϵ is the electric permittivity

In MKS, the electric susceptibility is defined as:

where ϵ0 is the permittivity of free space.

18. Permittivity
How much a medium can be polarized in response to an
applied electric field, this can determine permittivity.
Units of permittivity:
• In CGS units, ε is unitless.
• In SI units, ε is in units of Farads/meter.
In SI units, ε0 is the permittivity of free space and has the
value ε0 ≈ 1.85 × 10-12 Farads/meter.
The permittivity is given by: