46 Equipotential Surfaces and Conductors.
Q. Why separation between equipotential surfaces are not equal?
The equipotential surface is not at an equal distance because the electric field due to a charge is not constant. The electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the point from the charge and electric potential is inversely proportional to the distance of the point from the charge.
Table of Contents
- Q. Why separation between equipotential surfaces are not equal?
- Q. How do you calculate equipotential surfaces?
- Q. Can 2 different equipotential lines pass through the same conductor?
- Q. Why do Equipotentials Cross insulating boundaries at 90 degrees?
- Q. Why are Equipotentials circular?
- Q. Where do you need to be to experience zero electric potential?
Q. How do you calculate equipotential surfaces?
In electric dipole moment P=q*d, how can I calculate q if I have two charges, one positive and one negative? We know E= -dV/dR, and for an equipotential surface V is constant. That means E would be zero for equipotential surface.
Q. Can 2 different equipotential lines pass through the same conductor?
Equipotential lines at different potentials can never cross either. This is because they are, by definition, a line of constant potential. The equipotential at a given point in space can only have a single value. Note: It is possible for two lines representing the same potential to cross.
Q. Why do Equipotentials Cross insulating boundaries at 90 degrees?
If a small test charge is moved so that its direction of motion is always perpendicular to the electric field at each location, then the electric force and the direction of motion at each point are perpendicular. Therefore, electric field lines and equipotentials always cross at right angles.
Q. Why are Equipotentials circular?
For a single, isolated point charge, potential is inversely dependent upon radial distance from the charge. Therefore, equipotential lines for a single point charge are circular, with the point charge at the center. When multiple, discrete charges interact, their fields overlap, meaning their potentials combine.
Q. Where do you need to be to experience zero electric potential?
For example exactly half way (or otherwise equidistant from them) between two equal and oppositely charged point charges, potential is zero. If you move a particle between any two points of equal potential (zero or not) it doesn’t cost any energy.
