Name: Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution
Uploaded: 2023-09-18T17:11:18
Description: Learn by watching this video about Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution at JoVE.com

Consider a continuous charge distribution enclosed in a volume. The total charge inside an infinitesimal charge element can be written in terms of the volume charge density.
The work done or the energy stored in this configuration of continuous charge distribution is given by the integration of volume charge density and the corresponding potential.
Using Gauss&#39;s law and applying the product rule, the equation is rewritten in terms of electric field.
By applying the divergence theorem and replacing the potential gradient with the electric field, the energy stored is expressed as the sum of the surface and volume integrals.
Even if the integration volume is extended, the flux remains the same over any large distance, as the charge density in the extra volume is zero. However, the surface integral decreases inversely with distance, increasing the volume integral to conserve the total energy.
Eventually, integrating all over the space makes the surface integral zero, implying that the total energy stored can solely be calculated from the magnitude of the electric field.

<ol>
	<li>David J. Griffiths (2013) Introduction to Electrodynamics, Fourth Edition: Pearson. Pp. 91-95.</li>
</ol>

energy associated with a charge distribution

The work done to bring a charge through a distance r is given by the potential difference between the initial and the final position. To assemble a collection of point charges, the total work done can be expressed in terms of the product of each pair of charges divided by their separation distance, defined with respect to a suitable origin. Solving this expression gives the energy stored in a point charge distribution.
<img alt="Equation1" src="/files/ftp_upload/14180/14180_Equation_1.png" style="text-align: center; height: 42px;" />
Consider an infinitesimal charge element in a configuration of continuous charge distribution enclosed in a definite volume. The product of the volume charge density and the volume of the element gives the total charge in this element. The energy stored in this configuration of continuous charge distribution is given by integrating volume charge density and the corresponding potential.&#160;&#160;&#160;
Applying Gauss&#39;s law in its differential form, the volume charge density can be written in terms of the electric field. Using the product rule in this expression gives the divergence of the electric field. The volume integral can be written as a surface integral using Gauss&#39;s divergence theorem. Rewriting the potential in terms of the electric field gives the energy stored in this configuration.
<img alt="Equation2" src="/files/ftp_upload/14180/14180_Equation_2.png" style="text-align: center; height: 40px;" />
Recall that to obtain the expression for work done, the integration must be performed over the region where the charge is located. Even if the integration is performed over a larger volume, the work done remains conserved as the charge density in the extra volume is zero.
The surface integral of an electric field, which relates to electric potential energy, depends on factors beyond distance, such as charge distribution and system geometry. To calculate total energy, integration over all space, considering the entire volume, is necessary, as the electric field alone at the surface does not provide the complete picture.
<img alt="Equation3" src="/files/ftp_upload/14180/14180_Equation_3.png" style="text-align: center; height: 42px;" />

Learn by watching this video about Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution at JoVE.com

Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution

The work done to bring a charge through a distance r is given by the potential difference between the initial and the final position. To assemble a ...