Potential Definition and 1000 Threads

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.

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  1. K

    Clarification of electric potential difference

    I have some questions regarding the sign of potential difference. For example, given the literal definition as the difference in potential between two locations it should be possible for potential difference to be negative if the final potential is less than the initial, but while reading texts...
  2. S

    Potential at the origin due to an infinite set of point charges

    Summary: Potential at origin of an infinite set of point charges with charge (4^n)q and distance (3^n)a along x-axis where n starts at 1. From V=q/r, we find Vtotal=sum from 1 to infinity of (4/3)^n(q/a), which diverges. There cannot be infinite potential because there is a finite electric...
  3. alicia12131415

    How do I calculate elastic potential energy?

    Is this the correct formula to use, if not what is. I really just don't know where to start. I really just need to know where and how to start.
  4. K

    Calculate potential form poisson equation

    Hi. I've the following charge density: ## \rho = \rho_0 \frac {r}{R} ## I'm getting a trouble to calculate the potential inside a sphere of radius R located in the center of axis with the given charge density (using poisson equation): the Laplacian in spherical coordinates is: ##\frac {1}{r^2}...
  5. A

    I Taylor Series for Potential in Crystals

    Hi, I've been reading the passage attached below and from what I understand we are looking at a 1D chain of atoms and if anyone atom moves it changes the potential for surrounding atoms and cause a change in energy in the system so the total energy is dependent on all the positions of the atoms...
  6. EEristavi

    Why a DC power supply doesn't have a voltage with respect to ground?

    I see that DC power supply have voltage between it's + & - and its 24V. However, there is no voltage with ground. I don't understand - if device's "point" has some potential, why doesn't it give some voltage with ground (which has ~0 potential) I tried this with phoenix contact...
  7. B

    AQA physics paper question: Where is the potential zero near these charges?

    This question is a bit werid because would there be a resulatant electric potential equal to zero as we have a positive and negative charge in which case there's no neutral point. As E1-E2 , they have to be acting in oppostie directions , in this case would they be acting in the same direction.
  8. Aryamaan Thakur

    Electric potential at the edge of a thin charged circular plate

    My question might sound stupid to you but please clear my confusions. I'm taking an circular arc like element on the plate. That arc has a radius of 'r' (AB) and the radius is inclined at an angle 'θ' with OA (∠OAB). The area between arc of radius r and r+dr is dA. dA = 2θr.dr The charge on...
  9. M

    Prove the dipole potential is differentiable everywhere except at the surface

    The dipole potential is given by: ##\displaystyle\psi=\int_{V'} \dfrac{\rho}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|} dV' +\oint_{S'} \dfrac{\sigma}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|} dS'## I need to prove that ##\psi## is differentiable at points except at boundary ##S'## (where it is discontinuous) I know if...
  10. cianfa72

    Electric potential difference between a battery's + terminal and the ground

    Hi, I've a question about electricity in the following scenario: consider an accumulator (e.g. a 9V battery) and an analog/digital voltmeter having a probe connected to the accumulator + clamp and the other to the ground (for instance connecting it to a metal rod stuck in the ground). Do you...
  11. J

    I How to derive the energy of a parabolic confining potential in a wire

    Hi all, How to derive the energy of a parabolic confining potential in a wire as shown below? I tried to follow the derivation of the harmonic, oscillator like we did for the quantum well and the magnetic field but i can't find anything that has an expression that come close to the one shown...
  12. L

    I Definition of the potential energy operator

    In quantum mechanics, I can write the hamiltonian as ##\hat{H} = \hat{p}^{2}/2m + \hat{V}##. I am confusing with the definition of the operator ##\hat{V}##, who represents the potential energy. If the potential energy depend only on the position, is it correct write ##\hat{V} = V(\hat{x})##...
  13. B

    AQA physics paper On potential energy in mass spring system

    The spring constant of a helical spring is 28 N mñ1. A 0.40 kg mass is suspended from the spring and set into simple harmonic motion of amplitude 60 mm. i use the equation 1/2 change in extension times by force where the force i assume is mass times by 9.8 but the mark scheme uses 1/2 kx ^2 and...
  14. archaic

    Is the 'test charge' in electric potential energy defined as immobile?

    Hello, quick question, when EPE was defined, did we decide that the "test charge" is immobile in the field? Otherwise a force equal and opposite to that of the electric field would just stop the charge from accelerating.
  15. P

    Finding the change in velocity through a potential difference

    We're given the equation qB=mv/r which is simple enough. I just don't know how to find the velocity given the acceleration through a potential difference. I tried using the radial acceleration equation given to me but I end up with the square root of a negative...and that breaks math... I...
  16. Gursimran Singh

    Potential energy of a shell and a disc, both covered uniformly with charge

    Double integration maybe?? I calculated potential due to shell on plate's center but not on other points on it's surface.
  17. D

    A position of stable equilibrium, and the period of small oscillations

    I tried by taking the derivative of the potential to find the critic points and the I took the second derivative to find which of those points are minimum points. I found that the point is ##x=- a##. I don't understand how to calculate the period, since I haven't seen anything about the harmonic...
  18. TheBigDig

    Magnetic field of vector potential

    So I was able to do out the curl in the i and j direction and got 3xz/r5 and 3yz/r5 as expected. However, when I do out the last curl, I do not get 3z2-3r2. I get the following \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \frac{x}{(x^2+y^2+z^2)^\frac{3}{2}} = \frac{-2x^2+y^2+z^2}{(x^2+y^2+z^2)^\frac{5}{2}}...
  19. L

    Aerospace Engineering: Predicting Airfoil Drag in 2D Potential Flow

    Hi, My other post got deleted because it was flagged for spam, but it was just a link to a pdf. So I'm uploading the pdf instead. I am working on a model to predict drag on airfoils in 2D potential flow (e.g. vortex panel methods). Currently, XFOIL uses a semi-empirical wake-momentum-thickness...
  20. EEristavi

    Relation between Potential Field, Force, Kinetic Energy and Abs.Energy

    I understand that the work done is Change of Energy. W = ∫xixf F dx = ΔEThe force is gradient of potential energy F = -∇U (For conservative forces of course) from here, we can say that change of potential energy is W: ΔU = -W but also ΔU = -W = ΔE I'm little bit lost here.. Can you help me...
  21. Lone Wolf

    Potential Energy and Equilibrium Position for a Circular Trajectory

    a) Solution given: F = - x î - y j b) The equilibrium position happens when F = 0. x = 0 and y = 0 is the point of equilibrium. Solution given: (0, 0) c) Since the particle has a circular trajectory the trajectory equation becomes x^2 + y^2 = R^2. The maximum potential energy the...
  22. JD_PM

    Calculating the Fraction of Time Particles Spend Outside a Potential Well

    I want to compute the fraction of time both particles spend outside the finite potential well. All I can get is the probability to find them outside. The wavefunction outside the potential is: $$\frac{d^2\psi}{dr^2} = -L^2 \psi$$ Where: $$L = \sqrt{\frac{2mE}{\hbar^2}}$$ Solving the...
  23. Philip Koeck

    The average potential inside an electrically neutral solid

    If a solid (a few nm diameter) was placed in vacuum inside a grounded hollow sphere, but without touching the sphere (zero gravity), qualitatively what would the potential inside this solid be on average? In other words I don't want to look so closely that I see the potential wells of the...
  24. L

    I How do irrational numbers give incommensurate potential periods?

    I am trying to understand Aubry-Andre model. It has the following form $$H=∑_n c^†_nc_{n+1}+H.C.+V∑_n cos(2πβn)c^†_nc_n$$ This reference (at the 3rd page) says that if ##\beta## is irrational (rational) then the period of potential is quasi-periodic incommensurate (periodic commensurate) with...
  25. A

    Electric Potential across charging battery.

    Homework Statement [/B] A car battery with a 12v emf and an internal resistance of .040 ohms is being charged with a current of 50A. A.) What is the potential difference across the terminals? B.) The rate of energy dissipation in the battery Pr. C.) the rate of energy conversion to chemical...
  26. T

    Gravitational Potential: How to know where the max GP is located?

    By using the equation for the Gravitational Potential -GM/R. It is understand that the max Gravitation Potential would be at infinity point. - G(100M)/22R-(-GM/22R) would be the maximum Gravitational Potential... I guess... Then what would be the next step to find the distance?
  27. fight_club_alum

    Cylinderical reigon and potential difference

    Homework Statement The charge of density 3.0 μC/m fills a long cylindrical region having a 2.0-cm radius. If point A is 1.0 cm from the symmetry-axis and point B is 2.0 cm from the symmetry-axis, what is the potential difference VA – VB? a . –25 mV b. +42 mV c. –42 mV d. +25 mV e. +20 mV <-...
  28. fight_club_alum

    Volume charge density and potential difference in sphere

    Homework Statement The charge of uniform density 50 nC/m3 is distributed throughout the inside of a long nonconducting cylindrical rod (radius = 5.0 cm). Determine the magnitude of the potential difference of point A (2.0 cm from the axis of the rod) and point B (4.0 cm from the axis). a . 2.7...
  29. fight_club_alum

    Uniform charge density and electric potential

    Homework Statement A charge Q is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from x = a to x = b. If Q = 45 nC, a = –3.0 m, and b = 2.0 m, what is the electric potential (relative to zero at infinity) at the point, x = 8.0 m, on the x axis? a . 71 V b. 60 V c. 49 V <-- correct answer d. 82 V...
  30. fight_club_alum

    Potential difference to achieve speed

    Homework Statement Through what potential difference must an electron (starting from rest) be accelerated if it is to achieve a speed of 3.0 x 10^7 m/s? a . 5.8 kV b. 2.6 kV c. 7.1 kV d. 8.6 kV e. 5.1 kV Homework Equations me = 9.11 × 10−31 kg |qe| ≡ e = 1.6 × 10−19 C F = ma Eq = ma V = Eq/r...
  31. Thorscira

    Expression for effective potential energy

    << Mentor Note -- Poster has been reminded to use the Template when starting new schoolwork threads >> Two particles of identical mass m interact with each other via central potential energy Vcentral(r) = -V0(1-|r|/a), if 0 <= |r| <= a 0, if a < |r| Constants are V0 > 0...
  32. W

    Thermal Physics: Fermi Gas and chemical potential

    Hi all, I have an issue trying to understand the following paragraph from Blundell's book. How, exactly, does the definition of ##\mu_0 = E_F## "make sense"? In the sentence after 30.21, it seems to say that the mean energy for a system with ##N## particles differs from that of a system with...
  33. fight_club_alum

    Electric Potential slowing a charged particle to a stop

    Homework Statement A particle (mass 6.7 × 10–27 kg, charge 3.2 × 10–19 μC) moves along the positive x-axis with a speed of 4.8 × 105 m/s. It enters a region of uniform electric field parallel to its motion and comes to rest after moving 2.0 m into the field. What is the magnitude of the...
  34. W

    Working with Electric Field E, not Vector Potential A

    We commonly have E and B defined as: But how can I work in electric field E, instead of vector potential A?
  35. tinesi

    Voltage, electric field and potential energy for concentric shells

    1. Homework Statement the a shell is charged Va=120v shell b is grounded, Vb=0V What is the voltage in the center of shells (vo)? The electric field in the center of shells? The potential energy in the center of shells? Homework Equations Vr=Va+(1/r-1/a)/(1/a-1/b)Vab (from integrals) though I...
  36. Z

    The potential between a cone and a plate

    Homework Statement [/B] There is a conducting cone with angle α placed so that its vertex is normal to an electrically grounded plate, but electrically insulated from the plate and kept at a constant potential V. Find the potential V and the electric field in the region between the cone and the...
  37. J

    Finding the expected value of position in a Potential Well

    Homework Statement Hello today I am solving a problem where an electron is trapped in a potential well. I have a solved Schrodinger's Equation. I am having problems in figuring out what the wave function should be. When I solved the equation I got a complex exponential. I know I cannot use the...
  38. L

    Potential Energy and Potential -- Systems versus Particles

    When I first learned about these subjects, I did what was intuitive to me and treated particles as if they carried potential energy. I would do this similarly for rigid bodies where I would also treat them as a particles with their body's mass at the center of mass. This wasn't helped by...
  39. arturo

    Potential across a conducting sphere surrounded by an insulator

    Homework Statement A conducting sphere has a radius of 2.25 m and carries a positive surplus charge of 35.0 mC. A protective layer of barium titanate is applied to the surface of the sphere to make it safe for laboratory workers nearby. Safety considerations dictate that the potential...
  40. Interdimensional

    Potential Energy of a Finite Proton

    Homework Statement This was in a problem set I found. Suppose that the proton in a hydrogen atom is not a pointlike object, but instead described by a uniform spherical charge distribution with charge e and radius R = 8.7 x 10^-16 m. Using Gauss's law and the definition for the electric...
  41. E

    What is the Minimum Distance of Masses After a Split in a Satellite System?

    Homework Statement A satellite with mass of m is circling a star. The radius of the circle is R. At some moment the mass splits to 2 equal masses (the tangential velocity of the masses doesn't change). As a result of the split the kinetic energy in the system is multiplied by k (k>1). What will...
  42. Zack K

    Potential difference in a 2 disk system (Capacitor)

    Homework Statement A capacitor consists of two large metal disks placed a distance ##s## apart. The radius of each disk is R ## (R \gg s)## and the thickness of each disk is ##t##. The disk on the left has a net charge of ##+Q## and the disk on the right has a net charge of ##-Q##. Calculate...
  43. K

    Find Velocity of Particle for System of Charges

    Homework Statement Two charges, ##-q_1## and ##q_2## are fixed in the vacuum and separated by a distance ##a##. What should be the velocity ##v## of a particle with mass ##m## and charge ##q##, traveling from an infinitely far point along the line which unites ##q_1## and ##q_2## in order to...
  44. Yourong Zang

    Eigensolution of the wave function in a potential field.

    1. Homework Statement Consider a potential field $$V(r)=\begin{cases}\infty, &x\in(-\infty,0]\\\frac{\hslash^2}{m}\Omega\delta(x-a), &x\in(0,\infty)\end{cases}$$ The eigenfunction of the wave function in this field suffices...
  45. S

    I Relativistic mass and gravitational potential

    Hello everyone, Any object has a gravitational potential energy as a function of the distance from the Earth (R). Does this energy depend only on the rest mass of the object; or one must take into account it's relativistic mass? In other words, if we imagine two identical bullets on the top...
  46. Bheshaj

    Potential Energy Explained: In-Depth Guide

    Can someone please explain me the concept of potential energy correctly and in detail.
  47. D

    Calculate Electric Potential from Non-uniform Linear Charge

    Homework Statement "A rod of length L lies along the x-axis with its left end at the origin. It has a non-uniform charge density λ=αx where α is a positive constant. a) What are the units of α? b) Calculate the electric potential at A. Homework Equations Linear charge density: λ = Q/L where Q...
  48. T

    What is the potential at point D in the circuit

    Homework Statement I've attached a picture of the circuit below for reference, but the question is asking what the potential is at point D.Homework Equations V = IR[/B]The Attempt at a Solution I was told that the answer was 9V, but I'm a little confused because I thought if I looked at the...
  49. majormuss

    Finding the electrostatic potential of a square sheet.

    Homework Statement Consider a uniform surface charge density σ on a square of unit area. (a) Compute the electrostatic potential Φ along the line normal to the center of the square. My current attempt at a solution (image attached) is either incomplete or is simply wrong but I am unable to...
  50. CharlieCW

    Finding electric potential using Green's function

    Homework Statement We have two semi-infinite coplanar planes defined by z=0, one corresponding to x<0 set at potential zero, and one corresponding to x> set to potential ##V_0##. a) Find the Green function for the potential in this region b) Find the potential ##\Phi(r)## for all points in...
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