Chapter 23

Electric Field
Calculations for a
Uniform Charge
Distribution
Figures in this presentation are taken from: University Physics by Young and Freedman, 11 th Ed, Physics for Scientists
and Engineers by Serway, 5th Ed & 6th Ed, Physics for Scientists and engineers by Giancoli 3rd Ed, and many websites
like physicsclassroom.com and HyperPhysics.com
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Uniform Linear Charge Distribution
 When the finite size of the space
occupied by a collection of charges
must be considered, it is useful to
consider the density of charge:
(Lambda) for the charge per unit length,
the linear density in (C/m).

dq

dl
 dq   dl
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Uniform Surface Charge Distribution
 When the finite size of the space
occupied by a collection of charges
must be considered, it is useful to
consider the density of charge:
(Sigma)  for the charge per unit area,
the area density in C/m2.

dq

dA
 dq  dA
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Uniform Charge Distribution
 When the finite size of the space
occupied by a collection of charges
must be considered, it is useful to
consider the density of charge:
(Rho)  for the charge per unit volume,
the volume density in C/m3.

dq

dV
 dq  dV
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example
A rod of length ℓ carries
a uniform linear charge
density + is placed as
shown in the figure.
What is The magnitude
of electric field at point
P?
Solution
a l
dq  dx dx
dE  k
x 2
k
x 2
 E   k x 2
a
a l a l
dx  1 kQ
 E  k  x 2
 k    
 x a

a (a  l )
a
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Quiz
A rod of length L carries a uniform linear charge density + is
placed as shown in the figure. The magnitude of electric field at
point A is obtained by solving the following integral:
y
A dq
 + + + + + + + + + x
b + + L
k  dx k  dx k  dx k  xd
L L L L

(A)  2 (B)  2 (C)  (D) 

0
( x  b 2 3/ 2
) 0
( x  b 2
) 0
( x  b ) 2
0
(x  b

b L
k  xdx k  dx
L

(D)  (E) 
0
( x  b ) 2
b
( x  b) 2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example
Find the electric field vector at the field point P due to charged
ring of radius a.
Solution Q
dQ  ds ,with   , and ds  a d  , 0    2
2 a
x x
cos   
r x 2  a2
1   ds 
 dE  dE x   2  cos 
4 0  r 

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

   ds 
 dE  dE x  k  2  cos 
 r 
  ax  2
2 3 / 2  0
E  k 2 d
 (x  a ) 
( 2 a ) x Qx
E  k k
(x  a )
2 2 3/ 2
(x  a )
2 2 3/ 2

If a x
Q
Ek 2
i
x
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example
Find the electric field vector at the field point P due to charged
ring of radius a.
Solution Q
dQ  ds ,with   , and ds  a d  , 0    2
2 a
x x
cos   
r x 2  a2
1  dQ 
 dE  dE x   2  cos 
4 0  r 

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

  dQ   x dQ 
 dE  dE x  k  2  cos   k  2 2 3/ 2 
 r   (x  a ) 
 x  Q
2 3 / 2  0
E  k 2 dQ
 (x  a ) 

Qx
E  k
(x  a )
2 2 3/ 2

If a x
Q
Ek 2
i
x
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Quiz
Find the electric field vector at the field point O (the origin) if
the charge on each ring is Q.

Qx
Ek
( x 2  R 2 )3 / 2

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

 Q
Example a

A semicircular thin wire of radius R is uniformly
charged with linear charge density +Q as shown in  dQ   ds   ad
the figure. The electric field at the canter “O’ is:

dQ

Due to symmetry the x-components of E cancel each other.

dQ a
dEnet  2 dE sin   2 k 2
sin   2 k 2
sin  d 
a a
2k  2k  2k  ˆ
90

 sin  d     cos  0
90
 Enet    j
a 0
a a
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example
A semicircular thin wire of radius R is uniformly charged with
linear charge density + as shown in the figure. The electric field
at the canter “O’ is:
y
+
2 k 
a)  i
R
R
2 k 
b)  j O x
R
2 k 
c)  i
R
k 
d)  2 j
R
e ) Zero
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
Example Find the electric field vector at the field point O (the
origin) if the rode has a total charge -Q and 0= 600.

dQ

Q

2 R / 3
 dQ   ds   Rd 
dQ R
dEnet  2 dE cos   2 k 2
cos   2 k 2
cos  d
R R
2k  2k  k
60

 cos  d  sin  0
60
 Enet   1.73
R 0
R R
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example
Two semicircular thin wires of radii R1 and R2 having same origin “O”
are uniformly charged with charge density +1 and –2, as shown in the
figure. If the net electric field at “O” is zero when R2 = 2R1, then

(A) 2 = 21 y
(B) 1 = 22
(C) 2 = 1 R2 +1
R1 -2
(D) 1 = 42
(E) 2 = 0 O x

2 k 2 k1 2 k2
E    E net  0  E1  E 2    2  21
R R1 2 R1
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Find the electric field vector at the field
Example point P due to a charged circular disc of
radius R.

Q
dQ   dA, with  
R 2

and , dA  2 r dr , 0  r  R
 dQ  2 rdr
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 dQ x ( 2 rdr ) x
 dE  dE x  k k
(x  r )
2 2 3/ 2
( x 2  r 2 )3 / 2
R
2 rdr
E  k (  ) x 
0
( x 2  r 2 )3 / 2

 
σx  1 1  σ  1 
E      1
2 ε0  x R  x  2 ε0 
2 2 
( R / x )  1 
2



As R x , E 
2 0
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Quiz
An infinite uniformly charged sheet. If the sheet’s surface charge
density is +σ and the sheet is placed in the x-y plane as shown, then
the direction of electric field above the sheet (region where z >0) is
along;

(A) Positive z-axis

(B) Negative z-axis 
E
(C) Negative x-axis 2 0
(D) Positive x-axis
(E) None of them
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example Two infinite sheets carry charge densities as shown in
the figure. Determine the net electric field at a point
between and then outsides the plates


E
2 0

E  E1  E2  ....

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

 Example
Two parallel infinite plates are oppositely charged as shown in
the figure. If the plates’ surface charge density is  then the
electric field between the two plates is:
 
a)  i y
2 -
  x
b)  j z
0 +
 0 
c) i
2
 
d) j
2 0
 
e)  j
0
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Two infinite sheets carry charge densities as shown in
Quiz the figure. The net electric field at point A is:
 4   4 
a ) Zero

b)
0 E2 A E1
2 A
c)
0

d)
2 0  E1 
 4 1
& E2 

2 0 2 0
3
e) 4    3
2 0  E net  E1  E 2    
2 0  2 0
 
 2 0
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Example
Three parallel infinite charged sheets with surface charge densities:
σ1 = +2.5 nC/m2, σ2 = +4.5 nC/m2 and σ3 = + 2.25 nC/m2. The
magnitude of the electric field ( in N/C) at point (P) is:
σ1 σ1
A) 212
B) 268 E3
C) 325 σ2 σ2
D) 381
E) 400 p p
σ3 σ3
   E2 E1
 E1  1 , E 2  2 & E3  3
2 0 2 0 2 0
1  2  3 4.75  10  9
 E net  E1  E 2  E3      268 .4 N / C
2 0 2 0 2 0 2  8.85  10 12

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

Extra Examples
&
Quizzes
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Quiz
A rod of length L = 0.5 m lies along the x-axis and has a uniform charge density
λ=100 nC/m. Calculate:
(a) The total charge on the rod.
(b) The electric field (give its magnitude and direction) at the origin if a = 0.1m.
(c) The electric force (give its magnitude and direction) on an electron placed at
the origin.
(d) The magnitude of the electron’s initial acceleration at the origin.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

Example Find the electric field vector at the field point
P due to the shown charged rode.
Solution
It is advantageous to chop the Q
line up into symmetrically dQ   dy , with  
placed pairs (at  y). 2a
x x
cos   
r x2  y2

1   dy 
 dE  2 dE x  2  2  cos 
4 o  r 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 1 dy
( 2 x ) 0
a
E 
4 o (x )
3/ 2
2
y 2

1 2 a 1 Q
E  E  i
4 o x x  a 2 2
4 0 x x 2  a 2

1 2a
As x  a  E  i
4 0 x 2


As y    E  i

dx

1 x 2 0 r
(z 2
x )
2 3/ 2 z2 x2  z2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 A positive charge Q is uniformly distributed on a thin rod of length
Quiz 2L. If the rod is placed as shown in the figure then find the
magnitude and direction of the electric field at point P that is
located on the bisector line.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

 Example Find the electric field vector at
the field point P.

q  L
xL
1 dx  2 z
Ez   cos  ;  r  z  x ; cos   
2 2
4 0 x0 r2  r
L
1 1
 z  dx
4 0 0 (z 2  x )2 3/ 2

xL
1 1 x  1  L
 z   
4 0  z 2 z 2  x 2  x  0 4 0 z z 2  L2

1 L
dx 1 L
xdx
Ex    sin    
4 0 0 r2 4 0 0 (z 2  x 2 )3 / 2
xL
1  1  1 1 1
         
4 0  2 2
z  x  x0 4 0  z 2 2
z L 
For z >> L
Net electric field E = Ex + Ez
      1 L
E
1

z 
1 x 
ˆ  L  zˆ  E ẑ
4 0 
z  z  L
2 2 

 2
 z L
2 
  4 0 z 2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 Quiz ∞ y
+
An infinite rod carries uniform linear +
charge density + is placed as shown dq
in the figure. The correct integration +
for the x- component of electric field +
+ A x
(Ex) at point A is: 
+
b
+
   
bk  dy k  ydy bk  dy k  ydy (E) Zero
(A)  (B)  (C)  (D) 
(y ) (y ) (y ) (y )
3/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2
0
2
b 2
0
2
b 2

2
b 2

2
b 2

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

 Quiz A small sphere with mass m carries charge +q. It hangs from
a silk thread that makes an angle θ with a large positively
charged non-conducting thin sheet as shown. If the sheet’s
surface charge density is σ, then the magnitude of electric
force on the small sphere is:

(A) qσ/2ε0
(B) qσε0
(C) 2qσ/ε0
(D) qσ/(4πε0d2)
(E) Zero

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012

 Quiz Find the electric field vector at the field points P, R, S,
and T .


E
2 0

E  E1  E2  ....
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012
 A positive charge Q is uniformly distributed on a thin
Quiz rod of length L. The rod is placed x as shown in the
figure.
(a) Show that the magnitude of electric field at point P is given by;

(b) Find the electric field (magnitude

and direction) at point P if Q = 10
nC, L = 1 m and d = 0.5 m

(c) In addition to the charged thin rod,

two uniformly and oppositely charged
large parallel plates are placed a
distance d above and below point P as
shown in the figure. Find the net
electric field (magnitude and
direction) if σ = 885 pC/m2.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 102, Summer 2012