How to find potential *Energy* between two point charges?

AI Thread Summary
To find the potential energy (PE) between two point charges, the formula is given by PE = qQ/(4πε0r), where q and Q are the charges, and r is the distance between them. The potential V at a distance r from a charge Q is expressed as V(r) = Q/(4πε0r). The potential energy is a property of the system formed by the two charges, not of the individual charges themselves. It represents the energy required to move one charge from infinity to a distance r from the other charge. Thus, the potential energy can be viewed as the interaction energy between the two charges.
gracy
Messages
2,486
Reaction score
83
How to find potential ENERGY between two point charges?I know how to find potential difference between two points and I also know how to find potential at any point .
potential difference between two points 1 and 2 is simply ##V1##-##V2##
potential at any point r=V
While source charge is Q
##V(r)##=##Q/4πε0r##
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You have almost all you need to find out.
What is the PE of a charge q when located at a point with potential V, produced by charge Q?
 
gracy said:
potential at any point r=V
While source charge is Q
##V(r)##=##Q/4πε0r##
The formula is wrong.
 
nasu said:
What is the PE of a charge q when located at a point with potential V, produced by charge Q?
qV
i.e
##qQ##/##4(πε0r)##
 
Yes. Just move the first paranthesis before the "4".
You don't have this in the textbook?
 
But it is potential energy at a point .My textbook does not specify at which point between the particles,it just says determine the potential energy between the two particles.
 
No, r is the distance between particles. There is no point involved. This is the PE of the system of two charges.
 
  • Like
Likes gracy
nasu said:
Yes. Just move the first paranthesis before the "4".
##qQ/(4πε0r)##
Is it correct?
 
##qQ/(4πε0r)## is the potential energy between the two particles having charge q and Q respectively,it is also equal to potential energy of the any of the two particles due to the other one ,right?
 
  • #10
The potential energy is a property of the system not of an individual component. You can say "the pe of the system of two particles" or "the pe of one in the field of the other". In the second case one of them is "represented" by its field. But you cannot "split" it between the two.
 
  • #11
nasu said:
"the pe of one in the field of the other
gracy said:
,it is also equal to potential energy of the any of the two particles due to the other one
That's what I am saying.
 
  • #12
## \#\# ## V(r) = {Q\over 4\pi\epsilon_0 r} ## \# \# ##

## V(r) = {Q\over 4\pi\epsilon_0 r} ## is the electrical potential at a distance ##r## from the origin if a charge ##Q## is placed at the origin. ##V## is in volt (= Joule/Coulomb) .

It takes an energy ##q V## to bring a charge from a place where ##V = 0## (usually infinity) to a place where the potential energy is ##V##. ##\ \ qV## is in Joule

So ## qQ\over 4\pi\epsilon_0 r ## is the energy it takes to move ##q## from infinity to a distance ## r ## of ##Q## . It is also the energy it takes to move ##Q## from infinity to a distance ##r## of ##q## .
 
  • #13
## V(r) = {Q\over 4\pi\epsilon_0 r} ##
is potential energy of q when it is kept at distance r of Q from infinity.
It is also potential energy of Q when it is kept at origin (from infinity to a distance r of q)
It is also potential energy between the two particles having charge q and Q,Right?
 
  • #14
No. $$ V(r) = {Q\over 4\pi\epsilon_0 r} $$is the electrical potential at a distance ## r ## from the origin if a charge ##Q## is placed at the origin.

No q involved. ##V## is a function of position (or rather, distance) ##r##.
 
  • #15
Sorry,sorry!I meant
## {Qq\over 4\pi\epsilon_0 r} ##
is potential energy of q when it is kept at distance r of Q from infinity.
It is also potential energy of Q when it is kept at origin (from infinity to a distance r of q)
It is also potential energy between the two particles having charge q and Q,Right?
 
  • #16
gracy said:
It is also potential energy of Q when it is kept at origin (from infinity to a distance r of q)
Nearly right, but you are mixing two different statements.
You can think of it is the PE of Q when held at distance r from q (though as has been pointed out, it is really the PE of the system);
It is the energy required to bring a charge Q from infinity to be at distance r from q.

Writing " ... when kept at ... from infinity" makes it incomprehensible.
 
  • Like
Likes gracy
  • #17
gracy said:
It is also potential energy between the two particles having charge q and Q,Right?
 
  • #18
gracy said:
It is also potential energy between the two particles having charge q and Q,Right?
Yes.
 
Back
Top