Electric potential energy

Not to be confused with Electric potential or Electric power.

This article is about the physical magnitude Electric Potential Energy. For electrical energy, see Electrical energy. For energy sources, see Energy development. For electricity generation, see Electricity generation.

Electric potential energy
Common symbols	U_E
SI unit	joule (J)
Derivations from other quantities	U_E = C · V² / 2

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Electric potential energy, or electrostatic potential energy, is a potential energy (measured in joules) that results from conservative Coulomb forces and is associated with the configuration of a particular set of point charges within a defined system. An object may have electric potential energy by virtue of two key elements: its own electric charge and its relative position to other electrically charged objects.

The term "electric potential energy" is used to describe the potential energy in systems with time-variant electric fields, while the term "electrostatic potential energy" is used to describe the potential energy in systems with time-invariant electric fields.

Definition

We define the electric potential energy of a system of point charges as the work required assembling this system of charges by bringing them close together, as in the system from an infinite distance.

The electrostatic potential energy, U_E, of one point charge q at position r in the presence of an electric field E is defined as the negative of the work W done by the electrostatic force to bring it from the reference position r_ref^{[note 1]} to that position r.^[1]^[2]^:§25-1^{[note 2]}

$U_\mathrm{E}(\mathbf r) = -W_{r_{\rm ref} \rightarrow r } = -\int_{{r}_{\rm ref}}^r q\mathbf{E} \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{s}$ ,

where E is the electrostatic field and ds is the displacement vector in a curve from the reference position r_ref to the final position r.

The electrostatic potential energy can also be defined from the electric potential as follows:

The electrostatic potential energy, U_E, of one point charge q at position r in the presence of an electric potential

\scriptstyle \Phi

is defined as the product of the charge and the electric potential.

$U_\mathrm{E}(\mathbf r) = q \Phi(\mathbf r)$ ,

where

\scriptstyle \Phi

is the electric potential generated by the charges, which is a function of position r.

Units

The SI unit of electric potential energy is the joule (named after the English physicist James Prescott Joule). In the CGS system the erg is the unit of energy, being equal to 10⁻⁷ J. Also electronvolts may be used, 1 eV = 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ J.

Electrostatic potential energy of one point charge

One point charge q in the presence of one point charge Q

A point charge q in the electric field of another charge Q.

The electrostatic potential energy, U_E, of one point charge q at position r in the presence of a point charge Q, taking an infinite separation between the charges as the reference position, is:

$U_E(r) = k_e\frac{qQ}{r}$ ,

where $k_e = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}$ is Coulomb's constant, r is the distance between the point charges q & Q, and q & Q are the signed values of the charges (not the modules of the charges. For example, an electron would have a negative value of charge when placed in the formula). The following outline of proof states the derivation from the definition of electric potential energy and Coulomb's law to this formula.

Outline of proof

The electrostatic force F acting on a charge q can be written in terms of the electric field E as

\mathbf{F} = q\mathbf{E}

By definition, the electrostatic potential energy, U_E, of one point charge q at position r in the presence of an electric field E is the negative of the work done by the electrostatic force to bring it from the reference position r_ref to that position r.

U_E(r) - U_E(r_{\rm ref}) = -W_{r_{\rm ref} \rightarrow r } = -\int_{{r}_{\rm ref}}^r q\mathbf{E} \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{s}

where:

r = position in 3d space of the charge q, using cartesian coordinates r = (x, y, z), taking the position of the Q charge at r = (0,0,0), the scalar r = |r| is the norm of the position vector,
ds = differential displacement vector along a path C going from r_ref to r,
$\scriptstyle W_{r_{\rm ref} \rightarrow r }$ is the work done by the electrostatic force to bring the charge from the reference position r_ref to r,

Usually U_E is set to zero when r_ref is infinity:

U_E (r_{\rm ref}=\infty) = 0

U_E(r) = - \int_\infty^r q\mathbf{E} \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{s}

When the curl ∇ × E is zero, the line integral above does not depend on the specific path C chosen but only on its endpoints. This happens in time-invariant electric fields. When talking about electrostatic potential energy, time-invariant electric fields are always assumed so, in this case, the electric field is conservative and Coulomb's law can be used.

Using Coulomb's law, it is known that the electrostatic force F and the electric field E created by a discrete point charge Q are radially directed from Q. By the definition of the position vector r and the displacement vector s, it follows that r and s are also radially directed from Q. So, E and ds must be parallel:

\mathbf{E} \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{s} = |\mathbf{E}| \cdot |\mathrm{d}\mathbf{s}|\cos(0) = E \mathrm{d}s

Using Coulomb's law, the electric field is given by

|\mathbf{E}| = E = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{Q}{s^2}

and the integral can be easily evaluated:

U_E(r) = -\int_\infty^r q\mathbf{E} \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{s} = -\int_\infty^r \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{qQ}{s^2}{\rm d}s = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{qQ}{r} = k_e\frac{qQ}{r}

One point charge q in the presence of n point charges Q_i

Electrostatic potential energy of q due to Q₁ and Q₂ charge system:

U_E = q\frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0} \left(\frac{Q_1}{r_1} + \frac{Q_2}{r_2} \right)

The electrostatic potential energy, U_E, of one point charge q in the presence of n point charges Q_i, taking an infinite separation between the charges as the reference position, is:

$U_E(r) = k_e q \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{Q_i}{r_i}$ ,

where $k_e = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}$ is Coulomb's constant, r_i is the distance between the point charges q & Q_i, and q & Q_i are the signed values of the charges.

Electrostatic potential energy stored in a system of point charges

The electrostatic potential energy U_E stored in a system of N charges q₁, q₂, ..., q_N at positions r₁, r₂, ..., r_N respectively, is:

$U_\mathrm{E} = \frac{1}{2}\sum_{i=1}^N q_i \Phi(\mathbf{r}_i) = \frac{1}{2} \sum_{i=1}^N q_i \sum_{j=1}^{N(j\ne i)} k_e \frac{q_j}{r_{ij}}$ ,

(1)

where, for each i value, Φ(r_i) is the electrostatic potential due to all point charges except the one at r_i,^{[note 3]} and is equal to:

$\Phi(\mathbf{r}_i) = \sum_{j=1}^{N(j\ne i)} k_e \frac{q_j}{\mathbf{r}_{ij}}$ ,

where r_ij is the distance between q_j and r_i.

Outline of proof

The electrostatic potential energy U_E stored in a system of two charges is equal to the electrostatic potential energy of a charge in the electrostatic potential generated by the other. That is to say, if charge q₁ generates an electrostatic potential Φ₁, which is a function of position r, then

U_\mathrm{E} = q_2 \Phi_1(\mathbf r_2).

Doing the same calculation with respect to the other charge, we obtain

U_\mathrm{E} = q_1 \Phi_2(\mathbf r_1).

This can be generalized to say that the electrostatic potential energy U_E stored in a system of N charges q₁, q₂, ..., q_N at positions r₁, r₂, ..., r_N respectively, is:

$U_\mathrm{E} = \frac{1}{2}\sum_{i=1}^N q_i \Phi(\mathbf{r}_i)$ .

Energy stored in a system of one point charge

The electrostatic potential energy of a system containing only one point charge is zero, as there are no other sources of electrostatic potential against which an external agent must do work in moving the point charge from infinity to its final location.

Energy stored in a system of two point charges

Consider bringing a point charge, q, into its final position in the vicinity of a point charge, Q₁. The electrostatic potential Φ(r) due to Q₁ is

\Phi(r) = k_e \frac{Q_1}{r}

Hence we obtain, the electric potential energy of q in the potential of Q₁ as

U_E = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{q Q_1}{ r_1 }

where r₁is the separation between the two point charges.

Energy stored in a system of three point charges

The electrostatic potential energy of a system of three charges should not be confused with the electrostatic potential energy of Q₁ due to two charges Q₂ and Q₃, because the latter doesn't include the electrostatic potential energy of the system of the two charges Q₂ and Q₃.

The electrostatic potential energy stored in the system of three charges is:

U_\mathrm{E} = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \left( \frac{Q_1 Q_2}{r_{12}} + \frac{Q_1 Q_3}{r_{13}} + \frac{Q_2 Q_3}{r_{23}} \right)

Outline of proof

Using the formula given in (1), the electrostatic potential energy of the system of the three charges will then be:

U_\mathrm{E} = \frac{1}{2} ( Q_1 \Phi(\mathbf{r}_1) + Q_2 \Phi(\mathbf{r}_2) + Q_3 \Phi(\mathbf{r}_3) )

Where $\Phi(\mathbf{r}_1)$ is the electric potential in r₁ created by charges Q₂ and Q₃, $\Phi(\mathbf{r}_2)$ is the electric potential in r₂ created by charges Q₁ and Q₃, and $\Phi(\mathbf{r}_3)$ is the electric potential in r₃ created by charges Q₁ and Q₂. The potentials are:

\Phi(\mathbf{r}_1) = \Phi_2(\mathbf{r}_1) + \Phi_3(\mathbf{r}_1) = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{Q_2}{r_{12}} + \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{Q_3}{r_{13}}

\Phi(\mathbf{r}_2) = \Phi_1(\mathbf{r}_2) + \Phi_3(\mathbf{r}_2) = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{Q_1}{r_{21}} + \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{Q_3}{r_{23}}

\Phi(\mathbf{r}_3) = \Phi_1(\mathbf{r}_3) + \Phi_2(\mathbf{r}_3) = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{Q_1}{r_{31}} + \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \frac{Q_2}{r_{32}}

Where r_ab is the distance between charge Q_a and Q_b.

If we add everything:

U_\mathrm{E} = \frac{1}{2} \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} ( \frac{Q_1 Q_2}{r_{12}} + \frac{Q_1 Q_3}{r_{13}} + \frac{Q_2 Q_1}{r_{21}} + \frac{Q_2 Q_3}{r_{23}} + \frac{Q_3 Q_1}{r_{31}} + \frac{Q_3 Q_2}{r_{32}})

Finally, we get that the electrostatic potential energy stored in the system of three charges:

U_\mathrm{E} = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} ( \frac{Q_1 Q_2}{r_{12}} + \frac{Q_1 Q_3}{r_{13}} + \frac{Q_2 Q_3}{r_{23}})

Energy stored in an electrostatic field distribution

The energy density, or energy per unit volume, $\frac{dU}{dV}$ , of the electrostatic field of a continuous charge distribution is:

u_e = \frac{dU}{dV} = \frac{1}{2} \varepsilon_0 \left|{\mathbf{E}}\right|^2.

Outline of proof

One may take the equation for the electrostatic potential energy of a continuous charge distribution and put it in terms of the electrostatic field.

Since Gauss's law for electrostatic field in differential form states

\mathbf{\nabla}\cdot\mathbf{E} = \frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}

where

$\mathbf{E} \$ is the electric field vector
$\rho \$ is the total charge density including dipole charges bound in a material
$\varepsilon_0$ is the permittivity of free space,

then,

\begin{align} U & = \frac{1}{2}\int \limits_{\text{all space}} \rho(r) \Phi(r) \, dV \\ & = \frac{1}{2}\int \limits_{\text{all space}} \varepsilon_0(\mathbf{\nabla}\cdot{\mathbf{E}})\Phi \, dV \end{align}

so, now using the following divergence vector identity

\nabla\cdot(\bold{A}{B}) = (\nabla\cdot\bold{A}){B} + \bold{A}\cdot(\nabla{B}) \Rightarrow (\nabla\cdot\bold{A}){B} = \nabla\cdot(\bold{A}{B}) - \bold{A}\cdot(\nabla{B})

we have

U = \frac{\varepsilon_0}{2}\int \limits_{\text{all space}} \mathbf{\nabla}\cdot(\mathbf{E}\Phi) dV - \frac{\varepsilon_0}{2}\int \limits_{\text{all space}} (\mathbf{\nabla}\Phi)\cdot\mathbf{E} dV

using the divergence theorem and taking the area to be at infinity where $\Phi(\infty) = 0$

\begin{align} U & = \overbrace{\frac{\varepsilon_0}{2}\int\limits_{{}^\text{boundary}_\text{ of space}} \Phi\mathbf{E}\cdot d\mathbf A}^{0} - \frac{\varepsilon_0}{2}\int \limits_{\text{all space}} (-\mathbf{E})\cdot\mathbf{E} \, dV \\ & = \int \limits_{\text{all space}} \frac{1}{2}\varepsilon_0\left|{\mathbf{E}}\right|^2 \, dV. \end{align}

So, the energy density, or energy per unit volume $\frac{dU}{dV}$ of the electrostatic field is:

u_e = \frac{1}{2} \varepsilon_0 \left|{\mathbf{E}}\right|^2.

Energy in electronic elements

The electric potential energy stored in a capacitor is U_E=½ CV²

Some elements in a circuit can convert energy from one form to another. For example, a resistor converts electrical energy to heat; this is known as the Joule effect. A capacitor stores it in its electric field. The total electric potential energy stored in a capacitor is given by

U_E = \frac{1}{2}QV = \frac{1}{2} CV^2 = \frac{Q^2}{2C}

where C is the capacitance, V is the electric potential difference, and Q the charge stored in the capacitor.

Notes

↑ The reference zero is usually taken to be a state in which the individual point charges are very well separated ("are at infinite separation") and are at rest.
↑ Alternatively, it can also be defined as the work W done by the an external force to bring it from the reference position r_ref to some position r. Nonetheless, both definitions yield the same results.
↑ The factor of one half accounts for the 'double counting' of charge pairs. For example, consider the case of just two charges.

References

↑ Electromagnetism (2nd edition), I.S. Grant, W.R. Phillips, Manchester Physics Series, 2008 ISBN 0-471-92712-0
↑ Halliday, David; Resnick, Robert; Walker, Jearl (1997). "Electric Potential". Fundamentals of Physics (5th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-10559-7.

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Electric potential energy

Definition

Units

Electrostatic potential energy of one point charge

One point charge q in the presence of one point charge Q

One point charge q in the presence of n point charges Qi

Electrostatic potential energy stored in a system of point charges

Energy stored in a system of one point charge

Energy stored in a system of two point charges

Energy stored in a system of three point charges

Energy stored in an electrostatic field distribution

Energy in electronic elements

Notes

References

One point charge q in the presence of n point charges Q_i