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# Electrical Potential Due to a Point Charge

Module by: OpenStax College. E-mail the author

Summary:

• Explain point charges and express the equation for electric potential of a point charge.
• Distinguish between electric potential and electric field.
• Determine the electric potential of a point charge given charge and distance.

Point charges, such as electrons, are among the fundamental building blocks of matter. Furthermore, spherical charge distributions (like on a metal sphere) create external electric fields exactly like a point charge. The electric potential due to a point charge is, thus, a case we need to consider. Using calculus to find the work needed to move a test charge qq size 12{q} {} from a large distance away to a distance of rr size 12{r} {} from a point charge QQ size 12{Q} {}, and noting the connection between work and potential W=qΔVW=qΔV size 12{ left (W= - q?V right )} {}, it can be shown that the electric potential VV size 12{V} {} of a point charge is

V = kQ r ( Point Charge ) , V = kQ r ( Point Charge ) , size 12{V= { { ital "kQ"} over {r} } $$"Point Charge"$$ ,} {}
(1)

where k is a constant equal to 9.0 × 10 9 N · m 2 / C 2 9.0 × 10 9 N · m 2 / C 2 .

## Electric Potential VV size 12{V} {} of a Point Charge:

The electric potential VV size 12{V} {} of a point charge is given by

V = kQ r ( Point Charge ) . V = kQ r ( Point Charge ) . size 12{V= { { ital "kQ"} over {r} } $$"Point Charge"$$ ,} {}
(2)

The potential at infinity is chosen to be zero. Thus VV size 12{V} {} for a point charge decreases with distance, whereas EE size 12{E} {} for a point charge decreases with distance squared:

E = F q = kQ r 2 . E = F q = kQ r 2 . size 12{ left (E=F/q right )= ital "kQ/r" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}
(3)

Recall that the electric potential VV size 12{V} {} is a scalar and has no direction, whereas the electric field EE size 12{E} {} is a vector. To find the voltage due to a combination of point charges, you add the individual voltages as numbers. To find the total electric field, you must add the individual fields as vectors, taking magnitude and direction into account. This is consistent with the fact that VV size 12{V} {} is closely associated with energy, a scalar, whereas EE size 12{E} {} is closely associated with force, a vector.

## Example 1: What Voltage Is Produced by a Small Charge on a Metal Sphere?

Charges in static electricity are typically in the nanocoulomb nCnC size 12{ left ("nC" right )} {} to microcoulomb µCµC size 12{ left (µC right )} {} range. What is the voltage 5.00 cm away from the center of a 1-cm diameter metal sphere that has a −3.00 nC −3.00 nC static charge?

Strategy

As we have discussed in Electric Charge and Electric Field, charge on a metal sphere spreads out uniformly and produces a field like that of a point charge located at its center. Thus we can find the voltage using the equation V=kQ/rV=kQ/r size 12{V= ital "kQ"/r} {}.

Solution

Entering known values into the expression for the potential of a point charge, we obtain

V = k Q r = 8.99 × 10 9 N · m 2 / C 2 –3.00 × 10 –9 C 5.00 × 10 –2 m = –539 V. V = k Q r = 8.99 × 10 9 N · m 2 / C 2 –3.00 × 10 –9 C 5.00 × 10 –2 m = –539 V. alignl { stack { size 12{V=k { {Q} over {r} } = left (9 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{9} } " N" cdot m rSup { size 8{2} } /C rSup { size 8{2} } right ) { { - 3 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 9} } " C"} over {5 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{"–2"} } " m"} } } {} # = - "540"" V" "." {} } } {}
(4)

Discussion

The negative value for voltage means a positive charge would be attracted from a larger distance, since the potential is lower (more negative) than at larger distances. Conversely, a negative charge would be repelled, as expected.

## Example 2: What Is the Excess Charge on a Van de Graaff Generator

A demonstration Van de Graaff generator has a 25.0 cm diameter metal sphere that produces a voltage of 100 kV near its surface. (See Figure 1.) What excess charge resides on the sphere? (Assume that each numerical value here is shown with three significant figures.)

Strategy

The potential on the surface will be the same as that of a point charge at the center of the sphere, 12.5 cm away. (The radius of the sphere is 12.5 cm.) We can thus determine the excess charge using the equation

V = kQ r . V = kQ r . size 12{V= ital "kQ"/r} {}
(5)

Solution

Solving for Q Q and entering known values gives

Q = rV k = 0 . 125 m 100 × 10 3 V 8.99 × 10 9 N · m 2 / C 2 = 1.39 × 10 –6 C=1.39 µC. Q = rV k = 0 . 125 m 100 × 10 3 V 8.99 × 10 9 N · m 2 / C 2 = 1.39 × 10 –6 C=1.39 µC. alignl { stack { size 12{Q= { { ital "rV"} over {k} } = { { left (0 "." "12"" m" right ) left ("100"´"10" rSup { size 8{3} } " V" right )} over {9 "." "00"´"10" rSup { size 8{9} } " N" cdot m rSup { size 8{2} } /C rSup { size 8{2} } } } } {} # =1 "." "39"´"10" rSup { size 8{-6} } " C=1" "." "39 "mC "." {} } } {}
(6)

Discussion

This is a relatively small charge, but it produces a rather large voltage. We have another indication here that it is difficult to store isolated charges.

The voltages in both of these examples could be measured with a meter that compares the measured potential with ground potential. Ground potential is often taken to be zero (instead of taking the potential at infinity to be zero). It is the potential difference between two points that is of importance, and very often there is a tacit assumption that some reference point, such as Earth or a very distant point, is at zero potential. As noted in Electric Potential Energy: Potential Difference, this is analogous to taking sea level as h=0h=0 size 12{h=0} {} when considering gravitational potential energy, PEg=mghPEg=mgh size 12{"PE" rSub { size 8{g} } = ital "mgh"} {}.

## Section Summary

• Electric potential of a point charge is V=kQ/rV=kQ/r size 12{V= ital "kQ"/r} {}.
• Electric potential is a scalar, and electric field is a vector. Addition of voltages as numbers gives the voltage due to a combination of point charges, whereas addition of individual fields as vectors gives the total electric field.

## Conceptual Questions

### Exercise 1

In what region of space is the potential due to a uniformly charged sphere the same as that of a point charge? In what region does it differ from that of a point charge?

### Exercise 2

Can the potential of a non-uniformly charged sphere be the same as that of a point charge? Explain.

## Problems & Exercises

### Exercise 1

A 0.500 cm diameter plastic sphere, used in a static electricity demonstration, has a uniformly distributed 40.0 pC charge on its surface. What is the potential near its surface?

144 V

### Exercise 2

What is the potential 0 . 530 × 10 –10 m 0 . 530 × 10 –10 m size 12{0 "." "530" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 10} } m} {} from a proton (the average distance between the proton and electron in a hydrogen atom)?

### Exercise 3

(a) A sphere has a surface uniformly charged with 1.00 C. At what distance from its center is the potential 5.00 MV? (b) What does your answer imply about the practical aspect of isolating such a large charge?

#### Solution

(a) 1.80 km

(b) A charge of 1 C is a very large amount of charge; a sphere of radius 1.80 km is not practical.

### Exercise 4

How far from a 1.00 µC1.00 µC size 12{1 "." "00" mC} {} point charge will the potential be 100 V? At what distance will it be 2.00 × 10 2 V ? 2.00 × 10 2 V ? size 12{2 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{ 2} } V} {}

### Exercise 5

What are the sign and magnitude of a point charge that produces a potential of –2.00 V –2.00 V at a distance of 1.00 mm?

#### Solution

–2 . 22 × 10 13 C –2 . 22 × 10 13 C size 12{2 "." "22" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 13} } C} {}

### Exercise 6

If the potential due to a point charge is 5 . 00 × 10 2 V 5 . 00 × 10 2 V size 12{5 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{ 2} } V} {} at a distance of 15.0 m, what are the sign and magnitude of the charge?

### Exercise 7

In nuclear fission, a nucleus splits roughly in half. (a) What is the potential 2 . 00 × 10 14 m 2 . 00 × 10 14 m size 12{2 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 14} } m} {} from a fragment that has 46 protons in it? (b) What is the potential energy in MeV of a similarly charged fragment at this distance?

#### Solution

(a) 3 . 31 × 10 6 V 3 . 31 × 10 6 V size 12{3 "." "31" times "10" rSup { size 8{6} } V} {}

(b) 152 MeV

### Exercise 8

A research Van de Graaff generator has a 2.00-m-diameter metal sphere with a charge of 5.00 mC on it. (a) What is the potential near its surface? (b) At what distance from its center is the potential 1.00 MV? (c) An oxygen atom with three missing electrons is released near the Van de Graaff generator. What is its energy in MeV at this distance?

### Exercise 9

An electrostatic paint sprayer has a 0.200-m-diameter metal sphere at a potential of 25.0 kV that repels paint droplets onto a grounded object. (a) What charge is on the sphere? (b) What charge must a 0.100-mg drop of paint have to arrive at the object with a speed of 10.0 m/s?

#### Solution

(a) 2 . 78 × 10 - 7 C 2 . 78 × 10 - 7 C size 12{2 "." "78" times "10" rSup { size 8{-7} } C} {}

(b) 2 . 00 × 10 - 10 C 2 . 00 × 10 - 10 C size 12{2 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{-10} } C} {}

### Exercise 10

In one of the classic nuclear physics experiments at the beginning of the 20th century, an alpha particle was accelerated toward a gold nucleus, and its path was substantially deflected by the Coulomb interaction. If the energy of the doubly charged alpha nucleus was 5.00 MeV, how close to the gold nucleus (79 protons) could it come before being deflected?

### Exercise 11

(a) What is the potential between two points situated 10 cm and 20 cm from a 3.0 µC3.0 µC size 12{3 "." 0 mC} {} point charge? (b) To what location should the point at 20 cm be moved to increase this potential difference by a factor of two?

### Exercise 12

Unreasonable Results

(a) What is the final speed of an electron accelerated from rest through a voltage of 25.0 MV by a negatively charged Van de Graaff terminal?

(c) Which assumptions are responsible?

#### Solution

(a) 2.96×109m/s2.96×109m/s

(b) This velocity is far too great. It is faster than the speed of light.

(c) The assumption that the speed of the electron is far less than that of light and that the problem does not require a relativistic treatment produces an answer greater than the speed of light.

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