6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof.

Markus Zahn Lecture 4: The Scalar Electric Potential and the Coulomb Superposition Integral I. Quasistatics Electroquasistatics (EQS) 0
E = 0 H 0 t

Magnetquasistatics (MQS)
0 H t

E =

)
0

i 0 E =

( )

0 E H = J+ t

( )

H = J+

0 E t

( )

i 0H = 0

iJ+

=0 t

iJ = 0
i 0 E =

( )

II. Irrotational EQS Electric Field 1. Conservative Electric Field 0

C

E i ds = dt
S

H i da 0

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4 Page 1 of 6

E i ds =

E i ds +
I
a

II
b

E i ds = 0

E i ds
I
Electromotive Force (EMF)
a

E i ds
II
a

EMF between 2 points (a, b) independent of path E field is conservative

r

()

r ref =

( ) E i ds
r

r ref

Scalar electric potential

E i ds =
a

r ref

E i ds + E i ds = ( a) (r
a r ref

ref

) + (r ) (b) = ( a) (b)
ref

2. The Electric Scalar Potential

r = x ix + y iy + z iz r = x i x + y i y + z i z n = r cos
_ _ _

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4 Page 2 of 6

 = ( x + x, y + y, z + z ) ( x, y, z )
= ( x, y, z ) + x + y + z ( x, y, z ) x y z

x + y + z x y z

_ _ _ = ix + iy + i i r y z z x grad = = ix
_ _ _ + iy + iz x z y

grad = = i x
r +r

_ _ + iy + iz x y z

E i ds = r r + r = = i r = E i r

()

E = = r cos = n i r = i r n n

n= n n n

The gradient is in the direction perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces. III. Vector Identity
E = 0

E =
( ) = 0

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4 Page 3 of 6

IV. Sample Problem

( x, y ) = V0 xy a2

(Equipotential lines hyperbolas: xy=constant)

_ _ E = = ix+ i y y x =
_ V0 _ y i + x iy x a2

Electric Field Lines [lines tangent to electric field]

dy Ey x = = ydy = xdx dx Ex y y2 x2 = +C 2 2
2 y2 x2 = y2 0 x0

[lines pass through point ( x0 , y0 ) ]

(hyperbolas orthogonal to xy)

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4 Page 4 of 6

V. Poissons Equation
i E = i ( ) = 0 2 = 0
_ _ _ _ _ _ 2 = i ( ) = i x + iy + iz ix+ iy+ i i y z x z z x y

2 x2

2 y2

2 z2

VI. Coulomb Superposition Integral 1. Point Charge

Er = q q = +C = 40r r 40r2

Take reference (r ) = 0 C = 0
= q 40r

2. Superposition of Charges

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4 Page 5 of 6

 q2 dq1 dq2 1 q1 + + ... + + ... d T (P ) = 40 r r r r2 1 r r' r r' 1 2 N qn 1 dq T (P ) = + 40 n =1 r r n r r' all line, surface, and volume ch arg es r ' dV ' ' r r

N qn 1 = + 40 n =1 r r n

r ' dl' + ' r r

s r ' da' + ' r r

Short-hand notation

r =

()
V

r ' dV ' 40 r r '

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4 Page 6 of 6