Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Calculations of Electric Potential II01:27

Calculations of Electric Potential II

2.1K
An electric dipole is a system of two equal but opposite charges, separated by a fixed distance. This system is used to model many real-world systems, including atomic and molecular interactions. One of these systems is the water molecule, but only under certain circumstances. These circumstances are met inside a microwave oven, where electric fields with alternating directions make the water molecules change orientation. This vibration is equivalent to heat at the molecular level.
Consider a...
2.1K
Potential Due to a Polarized Object01:29

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

638
A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
638
Electric Potential Energy of Two Point Charges01:12

Electric Potential Energy of Two Point Charges

6.8K
The electric potential energy of a test charge in a uniform eclectic field can be generalized to any electric field produced by static charge distribution. Consider a positive test charge in an electric field produced by another static positive charge. If the test charge is moved away from the static charge, then the electric field does the positive work on the test charge, and the electric potential energy of the test charge decreases as it moves away from the static charge. Here the electric...
6.8K
Electric Potential Energy in a Uniform Electric Field01:09

Electric Potential Energy in a Uniform Electric Field

6.0K
When an electric field accelerates a free positive charge, it acquires kinetic energy. This process is analogous to an object being accelerated by a gravitational field as if the charge were going down an electrical hill where its electric potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, although, of course, the sources of the forces are very different. The electrostatic or Coulomb force acting on the positive test charge is conservative, which means that the work done on a test charge is...
6.0K
Electric Field of Two Equal and Opposite Charges01:30

Electric Field of Two Equal and Opposite Charges

6.8K
Atoms generally contain the same number of positively and negatively charged particles, protons, and electrons. Hence, they are electrically neutral. However, the centers of the positive and negative charges do not always coincide. In such a scenario, the electric field of an atom may not be zero.
A separation of the positive and negative charges can lead to a weak, remnant effect of the positive and negative charges. The expectation is that the more the distance between the positive and...
6.8K
Electric Potential Energy01:20

Electric Potential Energy

7.0K
When an electric field accelerates a free positive charge q, it is given kinetic energy. The process is analogous to an object accelerated by a gravitational field as if the charge were going down an electrical hill where its electric potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Of course, the sources of the forces are very different. The work done on a charge q by the electric field in this process helps to develop a definition of electric potential energy.
The electrostatic or Coulomb...
7.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Active biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles mediated by obligate methylotrophic bacteria <i>Methylophilus</i> sp.

Frontiers in microbiology·2026
Same author

Particle sizing in milk by combined differential dynamic microscopy and cryo-FIB-SEM tomography.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Field-induced phase transitions in ferro-antiferromagnetic diblock copolymers.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Supercoiling DNA with a free end.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Nonequilibrium polymer models for chromatin.

Current opinion in genetics & development·2026
Same author

Bridging-Induced Phase Separation and Loop Extrusion Drive Noise in Chromatin Transcription.

Physical review letters·2025
Same journal

Erratum: Low-dimensional model for adaptive networks of spiking neurons [Phys. Rev. E 111, 014422 (2025)].

Physical review. E·2026
Same journal

Disentangling the effects of many-body forces on depletion interactions.

Physical review. E·2026
Same journal

Charge transport and mode transition in dual-energy electron beam diodes.

Physical review. E·2026
Same journal

Optimization of multisite reactions in complex compartmentalized media.

Physical review. E·2026
Same journal

Origin of geometric cohesion in nonconvex granular materials: Interplay between interdigitation and rotational constraints enhancing frictional stability.

Physical review. E·2026
Same journal

Interaction of walkers with a standing Faraday wave.

Physical review. E·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 8, 2025

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures
20:38

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures

Published on: July 28, 2008

11.8K

Electrostatic potential between charged particles at an oil-water interface.

Alexander Morozov1, Iain Muntz1, Job H J Thijssen1

  • 1SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Physical Review. E
|September 18, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electrostatic interactions at interfaces differ from bulk behavior. This study reveals a unique potential decay at liquid-liquid interfaces, crucial for understanding soft matter systems.

More Related Videos

The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids
10:03

The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids

Published on: September 30, 2014

26.9K
Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions
08:41

Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Published on: September 7, 2018

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 8, 2025

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures
20:38

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures

Published on: July 28, 2008

11.8K
The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids
10:03

The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids

Published on: September 30, 2014

26.9K
Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions
08:41

Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Published on: September 7, 2018

9.3K

Area of Science:

  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Colloid Science

Background:

  • Electrostatic interactions are key to soft matter stability, but interfacial behavior deviates from bulk predictions.
  • Point charges at air-water interfaces exhibit dipolar potential decay (r^{-3}), a commonly assumed generic behavior.
  • Understanding interfacial electrostatics is vital for applications in biofilms and emulsions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explicitly calculate the in-plane electrostatic potential of a point charge at a liquid-liquid interface.
  • To determine the asymptotic behavior of this potential for interfaces between two electrolyte solutions.
  • To explore the influence of dielectric permittivities and Debye screening lengths on interfacial potentials.

Main Methods:

  • Analytical calculation of the in-plane electrostatic potential for a point charge at an interface.
  • Investigation of the potential's asymptotic behavior under varying dielectric properties and screening lengths.
  • Extension of the analysis to arbitrary dimensions to understand the underlying physics.

Main Results:

  • The potential at a liquid-liquid interface does not follow a simple dipole (air-water) or screened monopole (bulk) decay.
  • A novel asymptotic behavior is identified for the electrostatic potential at interfaces between two electrolyte solutions.
  • The difference in potential behavior is attributed to asymmetric interaction propagation across the two media.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a more accurate model for electrostatic interactions at liquid-liquid interfaces.
  • Findings challenge the generic assumption of dipolar behavior for interfacial point charges.
  • Results are relevant for understanding protein interactions in biofilms and colloid self-assembly in emulsions.