Draw an equipotential surface for a system consisting of two charges
Answers
Explanation:
Define equipotential surfaces and equipotential lines
Explain the relationship between equipotential lines and electric field lines
Map equipotential lines for one or two point charges
Describe the potential of a conductor
Compare and contrast equipotential lines and elevation lines on topographic maps
We can represent electric potentials (voltages) pictorially, just as we drew pictures to illustrate electric fields. This is not surprising, since the two concepts are related. Consider Figure 3.5.1, which shows an isolated positive point charge and its electric field lines, which radiate out from a positive charge and terminate on negative charges. We use blue arrows to represent the magnitude and direction of the electric field, and we use green lines to represent places where the electric potential is constant. These are called equipotential surfaces in three dimensions, or equipotential lines in two dimensions. The term equipotential is also used as a noun, referring to an equipotential line or surface. The potential for a point charge is the same anywhere on an imaginary sphere of radius rsurrounding the charge. This is true because the potential for a point charge is given by V=kq/r and thus has the same value at any point that is a given distance r from the charge. An equipotential sphere is a circle in the two-dimensional view of Figure 3.5.1. Because the electric field lines point radially away from the charge, they are perpendicular to the equipotential lines.