- #1
kihr
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I find that there are two ways in which the relationship between electric field intensity and potential are expressed as mentioned hereunder:
(A) E = - dV / dx (V = potential and x is the direction along which V varies)
(B) E = - Delta V / Delta x
My understanding of the application of (A) and (B) is as follows:
(A) is the general case where the variation of V with x could be linear or non-linear, i.e. E could be constant or variable along the x direction. E represents the limiting value of an incremental value of V divided by an incremental value of x (at a given value of x) as the increment in x is made infinitesimally small. Thus E is the gradient of the V versus x graph at any given value of x.
(B) is a specific case of (A) when V varies linearly with x, when E is constant along
the x direction. In this case the value of E would be the same irrespective of the
values chosen for Delta V or Delta x.
I would appreciate if the above understanding could be commented upon / ratified. Thanks.
(A) E = - dV / dx (V = potential and x is the direction along which V varies)
(B) E = - Delta V / Delta x
My understanding of the application of (A) and (B) is as follows:
(A) is the general case where the variation of V with x could be linear or non-linear, i.e. E could be constant or variable along the x direction. E represents the limiting value of an incremental value of V divided by an incremental value of x (at a given value of x) as the increment in x is made infinitesimally small. Thus E is the gradient of the V versus x graph at any given value of x.
(B) is a specific case of (A) when V varies linearly with x, when E is constant along
the x direction. In this case the value of E would be the same irrespective of the
values chosen for Delta V or Delta x.
I would appreciate if the above understanding could be commented upon / ratified. Thanks.