Print conductor 7.15/31/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() One of the uses of this fact is that a conductor can be fixed at what we consider zero volts by connecting it to the earth with a good conductor-a process called grounding. ![]() There can be no voltage difference across the surface of a conductor, or charges will flow. This implies that a conductor is an equipotential surface in static situations. One of the rules for static electric fields and conductors is that the electric field must be perpendicular to the surface of any conductor. In other words, motion along an equipotential is perpendicular to E. So cos θ cos θ must be 0, meaning θ θ must be 90 º 90 º. Neither q nor E is zero d is also not zero. Note that in this equation, E and F symbolize the magnitudes of the electric field and force, respectively. W = F → ⋅ d → = q E → ⋅ d → = q E d cos θ = 0. Because the electric field lines point radially away from the charge, they are perpendicular to the equipotential lines. An equipotential sphere is a circle in the two-dimensional view of Figure 7.30. This is true because the potential for a point charge is given by V = k q / r V = k q / r and thus has the same value at any point that is a given distance r from the charge. The potential for a point charge is the same anywhere on an imaginary sphere of radius r surrounding the charge. The term equipotential is also used as a noun, referring to an equipotential line or surface. These are called equipotential surface s in three dimensions, or equipotential line s in two dimensions. We use red arrows to represent the magnitude and direction of the electric field, and we use black lines to represent places where the electric potential is constant. Consider Figure 7.30, which shows an isolated positive point charge and its electric field lines, which radiate out from a positive charge and terminate on negative charges. This is not surprising, since the two concepts are related. We can represent electric potentials (voltages) pictorially, just as we drew pictures to illustrate electric fields. Compare and contrast equipotential lines and elevation lines on topographic maps.Map equipotential lines for one or two point charges.Explain the relationship between equipotential lines and electric field lines.Define equipotential surfaces and equipotential lines.By the end of this section, you will be able to: ![]()
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