Chapter 21-3

Coulombs Law

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 1
Objective
Calculate the net electric force on a point
charge exerted by a system of point charges.

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 2
 Coulombs Law

French physicist
Famous for developing
Coulombs Law
Also did important work on
friction

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
(1736-1806)
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 3
Coulombs Law
|1 2 |
=
2

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 4
Coulombs Law
Force between two point charges
|1 2 |
=
2
where

o : permittivity of free space

SI unit of electric charge : Coulomb (C)
SI unit of force: Newton (N)
SI unit of length : meter (m)

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 5
Example
y
Both q1 and q2 are positive
charges. What is the
magnitude and direction of
the force exerted by q1 on q2?
By q2 on q1?
q1 q2
What if q2 is negative?
x
a

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 6
 Example
y Both q1 and q2 are positive
charges. What is the
magnitude and direction of
the force exerted by q1 on q2?
By q2 on q1?

What if q2 is negative?
21 q1 q2 12
x
a
If both charges are positive.

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 7
Example
y
Both q1 and q2 are positive
charges. What is the
magnitude and direction of
the force exerted by q1 on q2?
By q2 on q1?
21 12
What if q2 is negative?
q1 q2 x
a
If q2 is negative.

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 8
 Example
y
23 Now, we have a third charge, q3
13
which is also positive. What is
the magnitude and direction of
q3 the net force exerted by q1 and
2 q2 on q3?
a
q1 q2
x
a

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 9
 Example
Three charged particles of the Solution:
same magnitude Q are arranged Let the x-axis point to the
as shown. What is the net force right.
on the middle particle?
,2 = 12 + 32
2 2
= 2 + 2

32 2
= 2 2
12

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 10
ConcepTest!
Given that the blue and red charges are fixed, which
of the following labeled vectors correctly describes
the net force on the yellow charge?
-
E
A
+ D -

C B
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 11
ConcepTest!
Given that the blue and red charges are fixed, which
of the following labeled vectors correctly describes
the net force on the yellow charge?
-
E
A
+ D -

C B
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 12
Exercise!
Three charged particles of the same magnitude Q
are arranged as shown. What is the net force on the
rightmost particle?

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 13
 Exercise!
Three charged particles of the Solution:
same magnitude Q are arranged Let the +x-axis point to the
as shown. What is the net force right.
on the rightmost particle?
,3 = 23 + 13
2 2
= 2 2

(2)
23
5 2
13
= 2
4

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 14
Exercise!
Two identical spheres possess the same electric charge Q,
and are separated by some distance D. The spheres each
experience a force with magnitude F. If one of the spheres is
then charged to 2Q, and if their separation distance is
increased to 2D, what is the force between the spheres?

(A) 4F (D) F
(B) 2F (E) F
(C) F

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 15
Exercise!
Two identical spheres possess the same electric charge Q,
and are separated by some distance D. The spheres each
experience a force with magnitude F. If one of the spheres is
then charged to 2Q, and if their separation distance is
increased to 2D, what is the force between the spheres?

(A) 4F (D) F
(B) 2F (E) F
(C) F

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 16
Attendance Quiz
Three +1.00-C spheres are located at distances d1 = 0.300
m andd2 = 0.400 m. What is the magnitude of the net
electrostatic force on sphere B due to spheres A and C?

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 17
Attendance Quiz
Three +1.00-C spheres are located at distances d1 = 0.300
m andd2 = 0.400 m. What is the magnitude of the net
electrostatic force on sphere B due to spheres A and C?

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 18
Attendance Quiz
Solution:
Let the +x-axis point to the right.
net,B = A on B + C on B
m2 (1.00 C) 2 m2 1.00 C 2
= 9 x 109 N 2 2
9 x 109N
2 2

c (0.300 m) c (0.400 m)
= 1 x 1011 N 5.625 1010 N
= 11011 2 + 5.625 1010 2 = .

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 19
Objective
Calculate the net electric force on a point charge
exerted by a system of point charges.

|1 2 |
= 2

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 20
Sign of Charges
Same sign charges: Repulsion

Fe Fe Fe Fe
+ + OR
A B A B

Opposite sign charges: Attraction

Fe Fe
+
A B

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 21
Chapter 21-4
Electric Field &
Electric Forces

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 22
Objectives
Determine the electric field due to a point
charge
Establish the relationship between the
electric field and the electric force on a test
charge
Predict the trajectory of a massive point
charge in a uniform electric field

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 23
What is a field?

Vector field: ocean current map

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 24
Electric Field
The electric field is the intermediary
through which A communicates its
presence to B (qo).

The electric force on a charged

body is exerted by the electric
field created by other charged
bodies.

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 25
Electric Field
Electric force Fo experienced by a test charge qo at a certain point, divided by the
charge qo .

SI unit of electric field magnitude : N/C

(for a point charge only)

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 26
Electric Field of a Point Charge

Positive charge Negative charge

(magnitude only)

(magnitude + direction)

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 27
Trajectory of a charged particle
Trajectory of charged particle in an electric field due to another
particle
IF SAME SIGN CHARGES

Direction of
Q + + acceleration
of positive charge

Electric Field
created by Particle Q

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 28
Trajectory of a charged particle
Trajectory of charged particle in an electric field due to another
particle

IF OPPOSITE SIGN CHARGES

Direction of
Q + acceleration
of negative charge

Electric Field
created by Particle Q

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 29
Response to an electric field

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 30
Uniform Electric Field
Uniform electric field: vectors are parallel with each other with
equal vector lengths.

Positively Charged Plate

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Negatively Charged Plate

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 31
 Trajectory in uniform
PARALLEL CASE

NEGATIVE CHARGE

Direction of acceleration of the

Direction of negatively charged particle
Electric Field +

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 32
 Trajectory in uniform
PARALLEL CASE

POSITIVE CHARGE

Direction of acceleration of the

Direction of positively charged particle
Electric Field +

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 33
Trajectory in uniform
PERPENDICULAR CASE
NEGATIVE CHARGE

Direction of Direction of
Electric Field acceleration
of the negatively
charged particle

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 34
Trajectory in uniform
PERPENDICULAR CASE
POSITIVE CHARGE

Direction of
Direction of acceleration
of the positively
Electric Field +
charged particle

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 35
Trajectory in uniform

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 36
 DID YOU KNOW?...

Sharks can locate prey that are completely hidden beneath

the ocean sand by sensing weak electric fields produced by
the muscle contractions in their prey.

Their sensitivity to electric fields are derived from jelly-filled

canals in their bodies.
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 37
Analogy: Gravity vs Electrostatics
Newtonian Electrostatics
Gravitation
Force law between point
1 2 1 2
= =
objects* 2 2

Intrinsic property of Gravitational mass Electric charge

interacting objects
Field strength
= =
0 0

Relation between force = 0 = 0

and field strength on a
point test object
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 38
 ConcepTest!
Two positively charged spheres are firmly fastened to insulating
stands. The charge on sphere 2 is three times the charge on
sphere 1. Which force diagram correctly shows the magnitude
and direction of the electrostatic forces?

A B

C D
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 39
 ConcepTest!
Two positively charged spheres are firmly fastened to insulating
stands. The charge on sphere 2 is three times the charge on
sphere 1. Which force diagram correctly shows the magnitude
and direction of the electrostatic forces?

A B

C D
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 40
 ConcepTest!
Two positively charged spheres are firmly fastened to insulating
stands. The charge on sphere 2 is three times the charge on
sphere 1. Which diagram correctly shows the magnitude and
direction of the electric field for each sphere?

A B

C D
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 41
 ConcepTest!
Two positively charged spheres are firmly fastened to insulating
stands. The charge on sphere 2 is three times the charge on
sphere 1. Which diagram correctly shows the magnitude and
direction of the electric field for each sphere?

A B

C D
AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 42
Example
An electron (q = 1.6 1019 C; m = 9.1 1031 kg) is released from
rest in a region where the electric field uniformly points upward with
magnitude 1.0 104 N/C. What is its acceleration in this region?

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 43
Example
Let the +y-direction point upward. Solve for the
force.
= 0 = 1.6 1019 C +1.0 104 N/C
= 1.6 1015 N

Solve for the acceleration using Newtons 2nd law.

1.6 1015 N 15 m
= = = = 1.8 10 2
9.11031 kg s

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 44
Objectives
Determine the electric field due to a point
charge
Establish the relationship between the
electric field and the electric force on a test
charge
Predict the trajectory of a massive point
charge in a uniform electric field

AGUILAR PHYSICS 72 45