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Q.Deduce E=−dVdxE=-\dfrac{dV}{dx} where, the terms have usual meaning.

Karnataka PUCKarnataka II PUC Board 2024Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Equating the electrical work per unit charge across a small displacement to the potential difference gives E=−dVdxE = -\dfrac{dV}{dx}: the field is the negative gradient of potential.

Consider a uniform electric field EE along the x-axis. Let AA and BB be two points separated by a small distance dxdx, with AA at potential VV and BB at potential V+dVV + dV.

The force on a positive test charge q0q_0 is F=q0EF = q_0 E. To move the charge through dxdx towards higher potential (against the field), the work done is

dW=−q0E dxdW = -q_0 E\,dx

By the definition of potential difference, the work done per unit charge equals the change in potential:

dV=dWq0=−E dxdV = \dfrac{dW}{q_0} = -E\,dx

Rearranging,

E=−dVdxE = -\dfrac{dV}{dx} …

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