Relationship between Electric Field and Potentential

In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between E=keQ/r2 and V=keQ/r, with a focus on the difference between the inverse square relation to distance in E and the lack of it in V. The conversation also mentions that E is the derivative of V and explains that this is due to E being the vector gradient of the potential field V.
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spencerthought
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E=keQ/r2 and V=keQ/r , I'm curious as to what what causes the relationship to r vs r2. I know the electric field is a measure of force per unit charge and the electric potential is a measure of energy per unit charge, just struggling to mentally connect where the inverse square relation to distance loses the square.
 
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  • #2
One is the derivative of the other. The derivative of 1/r gets you 1/r^2 (save some factor).
 
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spencerthought said:
E=keQ/r2 and V=keQ/r , I'm curious as to what what causes the relationship to r vs r2. I know the electric field is a measure of force per unit charge and the electric potential is a measure of energy per unit charge, just struggling to mentally connect where the inverse square relation to distance loses the square.

The most general form of the relationship between E and V is

[tex]E = -\nabla V[/tex]

This means that E is the vector gradient of the potential field V.

Zz.
 
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FAQ: Relationship between Electric Field and Potentential

What is the relationship between electric field and potential?

The electric field and potential are closely related, as the electric field is the gradient of the potential. In other words, the electric field at a point is the slope of the potential at that point. This means that the direction of the electric field is always perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces.

How does the electric field affect the potential?

The electric field can change the potential at a point by exerting a force on a charged particle. The direction of the force depends on the direction of the electric field, and the magnitude of the force depends on the strength of the electric field and the charge of the particle. As the electric field increases, the potential also increases.

What is the difference between electric field and potential?

The electric field is a vector quantity that represents the force per unit charge at a point, while the potential is a scalar quantity that represents the potential energy per unit charge at a point. The electric field is a measure of the strength and direction of the electric force, while the potential is a measure of the potential energy of a charged particle in an electric field.

How are electric field and potential related to capacitance?

The capacitance of a system is directly proportional to the electric field and inversely proportional to the potential. This means that as the electric field increases, the capacitance also increases, while as the potential increases, the capacitance decreases. This relationship is important in understanding the behavior of capacitors in electrical circuits.

Can the potential be negative?

Yes, the potential can be negative. This simply means that the potential energy of a charged particle at that point is negative. It is important to note that the potential is a relative quantity, meaning that it is measured with respect to a reference point. So while the potential may be negative at one point, it may be positive at another point depending on the reference point chosen.

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