Sign of a Potential Difference

CLAIMED BY ANDRES BEGAZO (Fall 2017)

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This article discusses the sign of potential difference, and how to determine the sign in different situations involving a particle and an electric field.

Introduction

Recall from previous sections that the change in potential energy is equal to the charge multiplied by the change in potential difference. From Conservation of Energy, we know that an increase in potential energy is related to a decrease in kinetic energy, and vice versa. Furthermore, recall that the change in potential energy, potential difference, kinetic energy, etc. can be positive or negative. The sign is important in calculating the potential energy because the Law of Energy Conservation states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed but rather transformed into a different kind (potential ----> kinetic).

As seen from the equation above, two factors can affect the sign of potential energy. First, the charge of the particle being observed can be positive or negative (proton vs. electron). Second, and the topic of this page, the sign of the potential difference can also affect if a particle is gaining or losing potential energy.

Direction of Path vs. Direction of Electric Field

From the equation relating potential difference with electric field and motion, we can see that the sign of the potential difference is dependent on the direction of both the electric field and displacement vectors, as shown below.

Consistent with previous convention, the delta symbol indicates "final - initial." We will use this same notation in showing the direction of the path. For example: Vb - Va ---> signifies the potential difference between location B (final) and location A (initial).

For this equation, note that the result of the cross product between the electric field and displacement is negated before finding the potential difference. Furthermore, it is important to note that the electric field and displacement vectors are multiplied by the dot product. Because of this dot product, we will analyze 3 different scenarios: path in the direction of the electric field, path in the opposite direction of the electric field, and the path moving perpendicular to the direction of the electric field.

Quick Review of Delta symbol

In the equation for potential difference, we see a Delta for the path, also written as dL sometimes. This delta means change in the path as taken from two different reference points. These reference points are known as initial and final or sometimes source and observation location. To properly calculate a delta, or change, you must take the final and subtract the initial from it. More simply, Delta is Final-Initial.

Below are some practice problems to understand what dL would be.

As seen from the problems, direction can differ in the x, y, and z dimensions, but as long as you remember Delta = Final-Initial or Delta = Observation-Source, you will always get the location right! It is important to understand the dimensions of dL as we move forward with determining what the sign of potential difference is.

Sign of Potential Difference

For the last scenario it will be critical to have a strong understanding of the dot product and how to calculate it. Remember that a dot product multiplies terms that are in the same direction before being summed for a total. This means that when finding the dot product of two perpendicular vectors, the result will be zero. To better understand this, imagine the electric field between two very long capacitor plates. The electric field points from one plate to the other, let's say in the +x direction. If you wanted to move a charge at any location between the plates in either the +y or -y direction, your displacement vector would point in one of these directions. Whether you moved the particle +y or -y direction, the dot product of the electric field and displacement, and therefore the potential difference, will be zero.

Real Life Example to Explain Sign of Potential Difference

Imagine you are swimming in a stream. The energy the swimmer uses or does not use in this system will represent potential difference. If a swimmer is going along the stream then comes upon a current that starts to push him forward, he does not need to keep stroking in the water as the current can just carry him from one location to the other. This is a great representation of potential difference. Imagine the current in the swimming example is an electric field and that there are two set locations for the swimmer to go from and to. If the current and the change in location (final-initial) are in the same direction, then the swimmer had to use less energy swimming. This drop in energy can represent the negative potential difference. Both the current (electric field) and change in location (dL) were in the same direction, so the swimmer let the current carry him rather than exert energy himself (negative potential difference).

Now imagine if the same swimmer decided to test his endurance skills and swim upstream instead, or against the current. Now, the theoretical electrical field and change in location (dL) are opposing each other. This now means that the swimmer must exert a lot of his own energy to get from point A to B while opposing the current pushing against him. Looking at the energy in the scenario, the swimmer now has to provide a change in energy that he, himself, makes, so the potential difference would be positive. In reference to the swimmer, he is providing the energy as opposed to letting the current provide it like in the previous example. This shows that opposite directions mean a positive potential difference.

Finally, imagine if you were swimming perpendicular to the current. Now, the dL and electrical field equivalents are running perpendicular to each other. The swimmer does not have to exert any more or less energy to get from point A to B because the current is not in the same dimension as the initial and final locations. This shows why potential difference = 0 when the dot product of Electric Field and dL is carried out.

Examples

Remember:

Path going in direction of E ------> Potential is decreasing

Path going opposite to E -------> Potential is increasing

Path perpendicular to E --------> Potential does not change

Summary

When determining the sign of the potential difference, there will be 3 different scenarios that will determine whether the sign of the potential difference is positive, negative, or zero. Pay close attention to notation when considering the change in a quantity (potential, displacement, etc..) in order to avoid confusing the wrong sign. Attention to detail when find the sign of potential difference will make solving the more difficult problems at the end of the chapter a little easier. The following summary of the 3 scenarios is extremely helpful: