Potentials Definition and 244 Threads

  1. olgerm

    Maxwell equations in terms of potentials

    These are Maxwell´s equations in potential formulation: ∇2φ = DIV(grad(φ)) . Am I right? ∇2A = ROT(ROT(A))=ROT(B)=grad(DIV(A))-Laplace(A) . Am I right? In coulomb gauge in every point and at any time DIV(A)=[PLAIN]https://upload.wikimedia.org/math/4/4/1/44131cc26bd9db464d0edb7459ccca84.png...
  2. S

    Finding velocity given potentials of two parallel plates

    Homework Statement A charged particle (either an electron or a proton) is moving rightward between two parallel charged plates separated by distance d=2.87mm. The plate potentials are V1=-75.8V and V2=-49V. The particle is slowing from an initial speed of 90.0 km/s at the left plate. What is...
  3. D

    Extremum of thermodynamic potentials: confusion

    An alternative formulation of the second law is that the energy of the system U is minimised if the temperature and entropy of the system are held constant. However, dU= TdS -pdV which means that U is presumably constant if the volume V and the entropy S are kept constant. How then can U...
  4. H

    Maxwell's Equations and Potentials

    I have an understanding of Maxwell's equations and a vague grasp on potentials. I'm trying to do something different with the potentials. I'm using the Feynman Lectures on physics, http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/II_21.html#mjx-eqn-EqII2113, using the equations an potentials in a box...
  5. sunrah

    Ratio of time dilation relation in different potentials

    In the weak field limit, we have dt = (1 + 2\phi)^{-\frac{1}{2}}d\tau where the usual meaning of the symbols applies. This means that in GR dτ < dt analogous to SR. Let suppose we measure the period dtS of a photon emitted at the surface of the Sun as well as the same photon, i.e. same atomic...
  6. V

    Discrepancies with Maxwell's Eqns - vector potentials

    Greetings all, Trying to resolve a discrepancy with vector and scalar potentials with Maxwell's Equations, specifically Ampere's law. In my E&M textbook (Balanis, 1989, Eqn 6-17), Ampere's law with a magnetic vector potential and electric scalar potential can be expressed as E=...
  7. muscaria

    Longitudinal waves and vector potentials.

    Hello, I was wondering if anybody knew of any material (books, papers etc..) which considers a possible connection between longitudinal waves and vector potentials, at least mathematically. I have been scouting about, but failed to find anything substantial. I understand that there seems to be...
  8. C

    Thermodynamic Potentials in Proper Variables

    Homework Statement A solid has energy (for one mole): ##U_1 =\frac{S^2}{a_1}+b_1V(V-2V_0)## Write H, F, and G in terms of their proper variables. Homework Equations Maxwell's relations and H=U+PV F=U-TS G=U-TS+PVThe Attempt at a Solution [/B] H, for example: I have tried writing dV as a...
  9. L

    Electric field from map of voltage potentials

    Homework Statement [/B] I recently retired and thought it would be fun to reread my old EM texts. I took Fields and Waves 35 years ago for my undergraduate electrical engineering degree, so I am more than a little rusty. This question is for my personal knowledge, not for a class, but seems to...
  10. applestrudle

    L = 0 (s) orbital potentials V(r) as n increases - why are...

    ... why are there more nodes/zeros? If l = 0 then the angular momentum contribution to the effective potential is zero, and there is the coublomb potential only. So shouldn't it always go as ~ -k/r^2 (k = constant) like the n=1 s orbital? Why is it that for n = 2 is there 1 zero, n= 3 there...
  11. G

    Leonard Wiechert Potential: Coulomb Law & Lorentz Transforms

    Do the lienard wiechert potentials always give the same result as coulumb law+lorentz transformations?
  12. P

    Energy Conservation and Time-Dependent Potentials

    In my intro to Quantum Mechanics course, my professor gave a little aside while exploring the analogy between the Schrodinger Equation and Newton's second law: in classical physics, energy is conserved when the potential energy is not a function of time. I wanted to try to answer this my self...
  13. H

    Calculating Electric Potential at the Center of a Half Spherical Shell

    Hey guys, I have a question regarding fields. I hope you guys can guide me to the right answer! :biggrin: The question states: A charge Q = 42 nC is uniformly distributed over a half spherical shell of radius R = 48 cm. What is the potential at the center? I didn't learn Gauss's Law in class...
  14. T

    How can potentials be well-defined without violating U.P.?

    Tried searching for equivalent question but couldn't find it. Presumably, a potential (like a Coulomb one) comes from another particle, which has its own momentum/position uncertainty, but in the Schroedinger equation the potential is well-defined either in terms of some coordinate system or...
  15. srmico

    Simple circuit. Doubt with potentials

    Hey everyone! I'm doing this simple exercice from Halliday's book, where I have to find some intensities at some points... anyway after solving it, I realized that only looking at point b,and using Kirchoffs loop rule, the voltage at the negative of E1 and the voltage at the negative of...
  16. I

    Quark confinement potentials -- Feedback requested

    Hello, everyone... I'm starting a new thread (among numerous others) regarding quark confinement and propose a discussion (in case anyone finds it interesting) on some of my considerations. As we all know, the idea of confinement consists in forbidding free propagation of free color-chagres...
  17. P

    How to derive U(S(V,T),V) from U(S,V,N)?

    Homework Statement My question is how can one derive U(S(V,T),V) from the relation U(S,V,N).This is the beginning of a given solution which is not explained in more detail. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I can understand U(S,V,N) as dU=TdS-pdV+μdN but not the transition...
  18. D

    Why can't there be an antisymmetric excited state in a delta function potential?

    I have a potential which is zero everywhere except at -2a , -a , 0 , a , 2a on the x-axis where there is an attractive delta potential at each of the 5 points. I know there is a maximum of 5 bound states. I know there can be no nodes for |x| > 2a and a maximum of one node between each delta...
  19. U

    Fermi Surface squashed by potentials

    Taken from my textbook: My understanding is that: One valence electron, 2 spin states -> Half-filled Brillouin zone Seeking inspiration from "Nearly Free Electron Model": gaps open up at zone boundaries States nearer to zone boundaries get pushed down in energy further Since a fermi...
  20. DivergentSpectrum

    Weird idea (gradients and potentials)

    So, a while back i read about this idea, but i can't find it anymore, so i was wondering if anybody else knows about it. here it is: We know that if a vector field is conservative, then there exists some surface whos level curves are perpendicular to the vector field. or inversely, that the...
  21. J

    Why do big neurons have lower threshold potentials than small neurons?

    Why is that large neurons have smaller threshold potentials than small neurons during external stimulation? My confusion is because the time constant should be larger, right? tau = (r_m) * (c_m). where r_m is membrane resistance and c_m is membrane capacitance Capacitance increases...
  22. G

    Bound state negative potentials into harmonic oscillator basis

    Hello readers, Given the potential V(x) = - 1/ sqrt(1+x^2) I have found numerically 12 negative energy solutions Now I want to try to solve for these using matrix mechanics I know the matrix form of the harmonic oscillator operators X_ho, P_ho. I believe I need to perform the...
  23. JonnyMaddox

    Velocity dependent potentials in the Lagrangian(Goldstein)

    Hi, I'm studying classical mechanics via Goldstein's book, but I don't get the chapter about velocity dependent potentials. He writes: 'Lagrange's equations can be put in the form \frac{d}{dt}(\frac{\partial{L}}{\partial{\dot{q}}})-\frac{\partial{L}}{\partial{q}}=0(eq. 1.57) even if there is...
  24. U

    Delta wall and infinite square well potentials ,and 2 other questions

    Consider the following potential function: V=αδ(x) for x=0 and V=∞ for x>a and x<-a , solve the shroedinger equation for the odd and even solutions. solving the shroedinger equation I get ψ(x)=Asin(kx) +Bcos(kx) for -a<x<0 and ψ(x)=Asin(kx) +Bcos(kx) for 0<x<a is it...
  25. H

    Interatomic potentials for diatomic systems

    I have a molecular dynamics code and I want to model the reaction of O with Mg to form MgO at arbitrary temperatures. I am a little confused, however, because oxygen will exist as the diatomic molecule O2. This seems to mean that O2 molecules will have one type of interaction with a bonded...
  26. A

    Can you add potentials if charge redistributes?

    Let say we have charged conductor M and we know its potential energy function Vm(r) when M is isolated from any charges. We also have charged conductor N with potential energy function Vn(r) when it is isolated. Now we put objects M and N close together, the charges on their surfaces...
  27. H

    Conceptual question help-Electric fields, potentials, etc.

    Conceptual question help--Electric fields, potentials, etc. Homework Statement 1) Assume that the electric field E is equal to zero at a given point. Does it mean the electric potential V must also be equal to zero at this point? If not, provide an example to prove your answer. if you think...
  28. H

    Charge density of some potentials

    Suppose that we have the potential V=\frac{exp(-\lambda r)}{r} that \lambda is a constant. To calculate the charge density we have to calculate the \nabla^2V. We can calculate directly by the formula \nabla^2 V =1/r^2 \frac{\partial (r^2 \frac{\partial V}{\partial r})}{\partial r}without...
  29. L

    Solving Griffiths' Electrodynamics Ex. 10.2

    Homework Statement I'm working through the 3rd edition of Griffiths' Electrodynamics book and have gotten stuck on some details in example 10.2, which describes an infinite straight wire carrying a current I0 for t>0. The figure included with the example illustrates a wire in the vertical...
  30. G

    Simple harmonic potentials & classical waves

    Homework Statement It's not a direct question, but it's an implied part of a larger question: can classical waves experience simple harmonic oscillator potentials, like a mass on a spring does? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I'm thinking no, since I can't come up...
  31. S

    Find Potential Difference Between 2 Points: Electric Fields Approach

    Problem - Find the potential difference between 2 pts given the electric fields at all points in the surroundings. Approach- Let one point be A and one point be B. Thus, Va - Vb=- integral from b to a(E vector. dr vector) Also I can write the opposite equation, that is Vb -Va = -integral from a...
  32. N

    Lienard-Wiechert potentials

    I recently got a copy of Purcell's very excellent Electricity and Magetism book. In the chapter about moving charge, he states without proof that the electric field due to a moving charge points at where the charge is now, as if there is instantaneous action at a distance. This is of course...
  33. L

    How Is Equation (3.102) Derived in Electromagnetism?

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22024273/vectorpotential.png In the above passage, can someone explain to me where (3.102) comes from?
  34. B

    Electric circuit question -- Battery terminal potentials

    Hi. So we all know that electricity requires a complete circuit in order for electrons to flow in a wire. It's my understanding that this is due to the charge differential at the positive and negative, creating an electric potential. So, given that (or correct me if my understanding is wrong)...
  35. B

    Chemistry Electrode potentials question

    Am I right to think that the potential established at an electrode immediately when placed in solution is given by E = E° - R \cdot T \cdot log_e(Q_{surface}) where the potential E of the electrode results from the standard electrode potential (E°) of the reaction and the reaction quotient...
  36. S

    Potentials in Pourbaix Diagrams

    Hi guys, I'm having a bit of difficulty understanding Pourboix diagrams. The biggest problem at the moment is that I don't clearly understand what exactly the E° values on the y-axis are of. All the resources I've consulted haven't been especially clear about this. Sometimes they make it...
  37. H

    Expanding the periodic potentials

    Could one always write the periodic potentials in the form: v(r)=Ʃf(r-G) where the sum is over G (reciprocal lattice vectors)?
  38. C

    Thermodynamics: determining potentials

    Homework Statement Consider an imaginary substance which is characterized by thermal energy U=\frac{NS^2}{V^2} (a) Determine the Helmholtz free energy F(T, V). (b) Determine the Gibbs free energy G(T, p). (c) Determine the enthalpy H(S, p) Homework Equations F=U-TS (maybe dF = dU - sdT = -pdV...
  39. A

    Potentials of a charge moving with uniform velocity

    Homework Statement A point charge q, moving with uniform velocity \vec{v} = v \hat{z}, in the laboratory frame called \cal{K}. The charge is in the origin of the system at time t=0. Homework Equations Find scalar potential \Phi and vector potential \vec{A} both in the frame in which the...
  40. P

    Electrostatics and Coulumb's law, potentials and test charges

    I am given 4 potential charges, 1V, 3V, -6V, and 5V, all arranged randomly around each other. There is a test charge located at infinity. No distances are given between the potentials.1. Where will a test charge of 2*10^-6 C travel? 2. What is its kinetic energy? 3. Find the capatinance of a...
  41. H

    Electrode Potentials and Redox reactions

    What is the relation between Electrode Potentials and Redox reactions ? Can we determine the relative strength of reduction of a metal by looking just at the electrode potentials ? Here is a particular thing that confuses me : We know that the standard electrode potential of Lithium is...
  42. A

    Derivation of the thermodynamic potentials using Legendre transformations

    Hello guys, I'm studying Thermodynamics and I don't totally see how you introduce the potencials using Legendre transformations. I have seen a non formal explanation showing how you can interpret them, but not a rigorous demonstration of how you get them via the Legendre transformations...
  43. P

    Vector Potential Function: Exploring c & \nabla

    It's not hard to show that the function: g = \frac{1}{2} (c \times r) is a "vector potential" function for the constant vector "c". That is, that: \nabla \times g = c The calculation is straightforward to carry out in Cartesian coordinates, and I won't reproduce it here. However...
  44. S

    Finding potentials given potentials at other points

    Homework Statement I have four questions based on this principal that I'm struggling with. 1. The Potential at the surface of a sphere of radius R is given by V = kcos(3θ). K is a constant. (Assume no charge inside or outside the sphere). a) Find the potential inside and outside the...
  45. C

    Electrode potentials and Bond energy

    Homework Statement 1st question:A voltaic cell is made up of mg2+/mg half-cell and fe3+/fe2+ half-cell. Which of the following statement are correct? a.addition of water to the fe3+/fe2+ half-cell has no effect on cell emf. b.increasing the temperature has no effect on the cell emf...
  46. L

    Potentials and Poynting Conservation Theorem

    Homework Statement I have to find the Lienard-Wiechert potentials \vec{A}=\frac{\vec{qv}}{R-\vec{R}\vec{v}/c} \phi=\frac{q}{R-\vec{R}\vec{v}/c} (both evaluated in t_r) with \vec{R}=\vec{r}-\vec{x}(t_r). \vec{r}=x\hat{x}+y\hat{y}+z\hat{z} is the vector asociated to the...
  47. L

    Lienard-Wiechert potentials. To solve an equation.

    Hi, I have a doubt about a problem of classical electrodynamics (specifically for calculating the Lienard-Wiechert potentials). (t_r is the retarded time, and t the time). The position that has a particle is given by: x (t_r) = e cos (w t_r). The squared modulus of the relative position...
  48. H

    Understanding Buckingham Potentials for MgO Molecular Dynamics Simulation

    I'm trying to investigate molecular dynamics simulation for MgO, although this research is somewhat new to me. For those of you with university access, one of the papers I am following is Shukla et al. (2008, J. Nuclear Materials) here...
  49. A

    Ionization Potentials for Protactinium

    I'm trying to compile the first five IP's for Protactinium. I was able to find 1-3 on these two sites http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/~cowley/ionen.htm http://www.gordonengland.co.uk/elements/pa.htm But am coming up with nothing for the 4th or 5th IP. Does anyone have any possible...
  50. H

    Step up and Step down Potentials

    Homework Statement What fraction of a beam of 8 eV electrons is reflected by a potential step up of height 6 eV? What fraction is reflected from a step down of 6eV? Homework Equations R=(\frac{k_{1}-k_{2}}{k_{1}+k_{2}})^{2} Exchange k_{1} and k_{2} for the step down potential...
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