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Understanding Electric Potential Energy and Equipotential Surfaces in Physics

This chapter explores electric potential energy and the concept of electric potential. It discusses how electric potentials are defined and how they interact with point charges, emphasizing the superposition principle. Important concepts such as equipotential surfaces—which are crucial for understanding electric fields—and their relationship with electric field lines are thoroughly examined. The chapter also connects these principles to biomedical applications, including how electrical signals in neurons work, the significance of potential differences in the body, and techniques used in medical diagnostics like electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms.

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Understanding Electric Potential Energy and Equipotential Surfaces in Physics

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  1. Chapter 19 Electric Potential Energy and the Electric Potential

  2. 1) Electric Potential Energy

  3. 2) Electric Potential

  4. q1 q2 q2 3) Point Charges If V = 0 at r = ∞, then V r q Superposition: potentials add as scalars

  5. 4) Equipotential surfaces • Definition Surface with constant potential e.g. For a point charge, equipotential surfaces are spheres

  6. e.g. parallel plates E is uniform, and W = qEs, so equipotential surfaces are planes

  7. b) Work along an equipotential surface Work = 0

  8. c) Electric field direction and equipotential surfaces If W = 0, and E ≠ 0, then E is perpendicular to equipotential surfaces

  9. Electric field lines Equipotential lines

  10. d) Electric field as a potential gradient units: V/m = J/(Cm) = N/C

  11. In general, Electric field points in the direction of maximum change of the potential

  12. Resting state (selective permeability) 5) Biomedical examples a) Conduction of electrical signals in neurons V=-70mV

  13. Stimulated cell Signal travels at ~ 50 m/s

  14. b) Medical diagnostics - body is not an equipotential surface - Flow of Na+, K+, Cl- ions; potential differences ~ 30 - 500 µV - depend on stimuli and can form regular patterns

  15. - heartbeat (electrocardiography, ECT, EKG)

  16. - brain waves (electroencephalography, EEG)

  17. - response to light (electroretinography, ERG)

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