What is Potential: Definition and 1000 Discussions
Potential generally refers to a currently unrealized ability. The term is used in a wide variety of fields, from physics to the social sciences to indicate things that are in a state where they are able to change in ways ranging from the simple release of energy by objects to the realization of abilities in people. The philosopher Aristotle incorporated this concept into his theory of potentiality and actuality, a pair of closely connected principles which he used to analyze motion, causality, ethics, and physiology in his aPhysics, Metaphysics, Nicomachean Ethics and De Anima, which is about the human psyche. That which is potential can theoretically be made actual by taking the right action; for example, a boulder on the edge of a cliff has potential to fall that could be actualized by pushing it over the edge. Several languages have a potential mood, a grammatical construction that indicates that something is potential. These include Finnish, Japanese, and Sanskrit.In physics, a potential may refer to the scalar potential or to the vector potential. In either case, it is a field defined in space, from which many important physical properties may be derived. Leading examples are the gravitational potential and the electric potential, from which the motion of gravitating or electrically charged bodies may be obtained. Specific forces have associated potentials, including the Coulomb potential, the van der Waals potential, the Lennard-Jones potential and the Yukawa potential. In electrochemistry there are Galvani potential, Volta potential, electrode potential, and standard electrode potential. In the
thermodynamics, the term potential often refers to thermodynamic potential.
Homework Statement
Show that the variation of gravity with height can be accounted for approximately by the following potential function
V = mgz(1+z/re)
in which re is the radius of the Earth. find the force given by the above potential function.
Homework Equations
V = GM/r
The Attempt at a...
Homework Statement
The z = 0 plane is a grounded conducting surface. A point charge q is at (0,0,a), and charge 4q at (0,-2a,a).
Calculate the potential in the region z > 0.
Homework Equations
V=∑kq/rThe Attempt at a Solution
[/B]
Use the method of images.
V1 = kq/r+ + kq/r-
V1=kq(1/sqrt(x^2...
So I'm an Software Engineer, not a physicist, nor a mathematician. So I like to work in the qualitative, not the quantitative.
Today I hit on a problem. I've been trying to remove the concept of "down" or "inward" from my thinking of gravity and GR.
When people show the concept of space/time...
The setup for one magnet
Introduce a magnet:
Inertial Frame 1 (or lab frame)
A frame where a magnet is seen to move with uniform velocity v and carries a uniform polarization P while a point charge Q is seen to be stationary at time t=0.
Inertial Frame 2 (or material frame)
A frame where a...
Homework Statement
Homework Equations
dV= integral(kdQ/dR)
The Attempt at a Solution
So, I'm familiar with these type of problems but in 2D (like a line of uniform charge).
When the y,z component is added, I'm kinda lost.
i know dQ = p*dV= p*dx*dy*dz. (atleast i think it is).
also the dR =...
Homework Statement
Homework Equations
E=KQ/R^2
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm kinda confused at what the question is asked. It is in terms of x, but I thought the integral for potential is V=int(Edr)? Also, should it be integration starting from infinity? Why is the integration from -2 to 3...
I have been looking everywhere for a clear explanation for the following: How do I know which way to integrate the electrical field, when I'm looking for the potential between to points?
Example:
I have to find the potential between the top conducting plate and the bottom conducting plate...
Homework Statement
Homework Equations
V=kQ/R
The Attempt at a Solution
The answer is B)kQ/R. It is because V= k(2Q)/R. I don't understand why Q=2Q in this case. Isn't the point on the inside of the outer shell, so the Q for the equation is just Q?
Homework Statement
I have attached a problem from within the chapter of my book. I have a question regarding my highlighted part.
My question:
Is the reason they are saying E= -Q/(ε0A) because they defined the positive "s" axis to the right? and since E is pointing from right to left we say...
Homework Statement
A horizontal spring with a constant of 700N/m is compressed 2cm. A ball of mass 200g is placed in front of the spring. The spring is released. The ball slides along a horizontal track for 10cm while experiencing a frictional force of 0.75N. What is the velocity of the ball at...
Homework Statement
a)recall that electric potential is a scalar quantity. For a circular ring of radius, R', carrying charge, Q, what is the electric potential at a height,y, above the center of the ring?
b)Use your above answer to determine the electric potential at a height,y, above the...
Homework Statement
An Electron with an initial speed of 500,000m/s is brought to rest by an electric field
a)did the electron move into a region of higher or lower potential? I
b) what was the potential difference that stopped the electron?
Homework Equations
ΔV=ΔU/q
ΔU=-W
The Attempt at a...
Homework Statement
Hello, I am wondering if I am thinking about electric potential correctly:
Stop me if I am wrong:
V=electric potential, the electric potential is created by source charges altering space around them.
If you place a test charge, q, within that space we can say it experiences...
UPDATE: the first 2 assignments are done (i think). I'm stuck on 3. and I have explained in attempted solution what I have tried thus far.
I have an important homework assignment due in Electromagnetism, and I have no idea where to start. It has many sub-assignments, but I cannot even figure...
Homework Statement
Taking my Electricity and Magnitism course right now and we are in the section in the book of the electric potential.
I have some basic questions regarding work and potential energy.
Lets say we are holding a ball 10m above the ground and release it. I am defining the ground...
Homework Statement
What is the speed of a proton that has been accelerated from rest through a potential difference of -1000V?
Homework Equations
ΔV=potential difference
V=U/q
Conservataion of energy
U=qEd (d is distance the proton is moving...i think)
The Attempt at a Solution
Here is my...
Hi,
I learned about how PE = U=kq1q2/r is the electrical potential energy for the system. It is found by taking the integral of electrical force and dr from infinity to the point of location we are interested in.
So that is the intregral(F*dr) from r=inf to r=ro.
My question is that do I...
Homework Statement
My textbook is no help, my teacher is no help, so I've found myself here. I am having a difficult time understanding the differences in
1.Electric Potential energy
2. Potential Difference
3. Electric potential
Im sure this question has been asked tons of times but I need...
For a particle trapped in a region of length L the de broglie wave for the 1st excited state is a pure sine wave from 0 to 2pi
for which the particle momentum can be calculated as 2h/L from de broglie relation
Whereas from energy quantisation relation p=nh/2L where n is the state integer,for...
Homework Statement
Given an E field, determine if it's a possible electrostatic field. If so, determine a potential
Homework Equations
∇⋅E
∇×E
The Attempt at a Solution
[/B]
Just more of a clarification, since my friend and I both attempted this question differently.
I took the...
Homework Statement
A 0.200 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring with a spring constant of 77.0 N/m. The other end of the spring is attached to a wall in such a way that it rests on a frictionless horizontal surface. A 10.0 N force is exerted on the spring, causing it to compress
a)...
I have been doing pendulum problems lately, and I have found 2 different formulations for potential energy of a pendulum.
U=mgl(1-cos(Θ)) and U=-mglcos(Θ)
The first says U=0 when Θ=0 (at the bottom). The second has U=0 when Θ=π/2 (halfway to the top).
Both give the same equation of motion...
Homework Statement
[/B]
A particle of mass 'm' is initially in a ground state of 1- D Harmonic oscillator potential V(x) = (1/2) kx2 . If the spring constant of the oscillator is suddenly doubled, then the probability of finding the particle in ground state of new potential will be?
(A)...
Homework Statement
The Lagrangian density for the ##h=h^{00}## term of the Einstein gravity tensor can be simplified to: $$L=-\frac{1}{2}h\Box h + (M_p)^ah^2\Box h - (M_p)^b h T$$ The equations of motion following from this Lagrangian looks roughly like (I didn't calculate this, they are given...
When to use ## V =-\int E ⋅ dl ## or ## V =\int E ⋅ dl ## ?
When i use ## V =-\int E ⋅ dl ##. i can not show that P = IV because ##\frac{ln \frac{b}{a}}{ln \frac{a}{b}} ≠ 1##
But the solution use ## V =\int E ⋅ dl ## I'm concerned about using "minus" .
Homework Statement
If we lift a block with constant velocity, by applying a force mg upwards, is the work done zero?Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
The work done must be zero as the resultant force is zero, what I don't understand is how does the block get potential energy if no...
The potential difference between two points is given ans the negative of integral of E(vector) <dot product> dl(vector) from initial to final points.
Therefore, integral integral of E(vector) <dot product> dl(vector) from initial to final point should give the negative of potential difference...
Why is the electric potential of an electron in a capacitor measured from the negative plate and not the positive plate here?
This is from Liboff Introductory quantum mechanics 1st(current is 4th) edition:
I don't understand why the distance z is measured from the bottom plate if the...
A battery induces an electric field throughout a circuit in such a way that the electric field exists in the wire and the resistance. By moving in the direction of electric field, we expect that the potential decreases no matter we move in the wire or in the resistance. However, we only consider...
Homework Statement
Let's consider two wooden logs. We burn the first one at the base of the mountain and the second one on the peak. Which one is releasing more energy? Do they release the same amount of energy?
Does the potential energy affect the burning
Homework Equations
## \Delta H =##...
Hi!
I would like solve this kind of relation:
\phi = \int_0^r \phi (r') 4 \pi r'dr'
But I don't know how to proceed...
Can you advise me ?
Thank's in advance !
Homework Statement
Consider a point source emitting light of wavelength 5000 A. Light from this source is falling on a metallic cathode of photoelectric cell. It is also given that energy of a photon of wavelength 10,000 A is 1.23 eV. If the source of 5000 A is replaced by 2500 A wavelength but...
Homework Statement
in acid medium the standard reduction potential of NO converted to N2O is 1.59V .its standard potential in alkaline meduim at 298k would be?
Homework Equations
a)2NO+2H ---> N2O +H20 E=1.59
b)2NO + H2O ---->N2O + 2OH- E=x
c)2H2O---->2H+ + 2OH- E=0.826 (calculated...
Homework Statement
If E°(Fe2+/Fe) is x1 and E°(Fe3+/Fe) is x2 then find E°(Fe3+/Fe2+)
2. The attempt at a solution
We need E for Fe3+ + e ----> Fe2+.
We are given Fe2+ + 2e----->Fe is x1. Reversing will give Fe--->Fe2+ + 2e (-x1)...(i)
also, Fe3+ + 3e----->Fe is x2, ...(ii)
multiply (ii) by 2...
Homework Statement
In the diagram, m1 has a mass of 47 kg and m2 has a mass of 35 kg. The coefficients of friction between m1 and the surface of the inclined plane are µs = 0.42 and µk = 0.19.
(a) If the masses are held in place and then released, will they start to move?
(b) If the answer...
Griffith says in problem 1.15 the potential energy has an imaginary part. my question is that any real case exists where the part of the potential energy is imaginary?
Can someone please show that calculation of gravitational potential energy at a point R+h from the centre of the Earth by choosing the centre of the Earth to be at zero potential. Here R is the radius of the Earth and h is not very small wrt to R
Can somebody give me some insights related to spin chemical potential ?
I searched on google but didn't get satisfied.
What it means when two spin groups of electrons (group A with spin up and group B with spin down)have different spin chemical potential?
Homework Statement
The figure shows part of a complete circuit. The potential at point A is greater than that of B by 19 volts what is the potential difference in volts across the three microfarad capacitor?
Homework Equations
All relevant to electric circuits
The Attempt at a Solution
From...
We have set the Earths' Voltage at zero volts but is this 'earth voltage' applicable throughout the Universe. If not, is it relative in the same manner as spacetime and is it calculatable?
So we know that the E-field between two parallel plates is constant and that the potential difference between the plates is just the E-field times the distance between the plates. Let's say we're moving a positive charge from a negatively charged plate to a positively charge plate ( or near)...
I've now found a different way to look at potential energy and its location in the Newtonian approximation to relativistic gravity which may perhaps shed some light on how the corresponding terms work in GR. This is related to a previous thread of mine on "Pressure and Newtonian potential...
Homework Statement
There is a uniform electric field=100 V/m inclined at 45 degrees with the x axis. My doubt boils to which is greater? V(0,0) or V(10√2,0) (since my answer has the wrong sign)
Homework Equations
All electrostatics formulas
The Attempt at a Solution
The work done to move a...
Homework Statement
A solid non-conducting cube of side l and uniformly distributed charge q, has electric field E and potential V at one of its vertex, imagine this cube to be made of 8 smaller cubes of side l/2. if one such cube is removed, find the new field and potential at the point where...
EDIT: Problem is FIXED.
Hello,
I'm trying to understand Ewald Summation and finally found a great link (http://micro.stanford.edu/mediawiki/images/4/46/Ewald_notes.pdf) that I could follow in the five first pages. But then I'm blocked by a rather odd formulation p. 5, after eq. (25):
"where...
1. Homework Statement
Hello,
I'm learning electricity and I'm having a few conceptual questions regarding the subject ( especially about neutral objects ) which I'm unsure of the answers and I'd be happy if someone could help me:1. Is the charge density of a neutral object ( doesn't matter if...
In classical physics electrostatic potential energy is: ##U=k_e\frac{q_1q_2}{r}##
So amount of potential energy is not limited as ##r\rightarrow 0##
But obviously potential energy (= binding energy) is limited by masses of charge carrying particles. Say when electron and positron annihilates...
Homework Statement
I'm given that there is a positive charge of 1 nC at x=0.25 m and a negative charge of -1 nC at x=-0.25 m. I've calculated the potential created at different points along the x-axis by the positive charge and the negative charge using the formula, $$V=\frac{kq}{|r|},$$ where...