Last Time…

•Electrostatic Phenomena
•Coulomb’s Law

 1 q1q2
F12  ˆ
r
4 o r12
2 12

q1
•Superposition F1
F
Ftotal = F1 + F2 + ... q
F2 q2
 Today...
•Define Electric Field in terms of force
on a test charge

•How to think about fields

•Electric Field Lines

•Example Calculation: Electric Dipoles

1
 Lecture 2, Act 1
Two balls of equal mass are suspended from the ceiling with
nonconducting wire. One ball is given a charge +3q and the
other is given a charge +q.

g
+3q +q

Which of the following best represents the equilibrium positions?

+3q +q
+q +3q +3q +q

(a) (b) (c)

 Lecture 2, Act 1
Which best represents the equilibrium position?

+3q +q
+q +3q +3q +q

(a) (b) (c)

•Remember Newton’s Third Law!
•The force on the +3q charge due to the +q charge must be equal
and opposite to the force of the +3q charge on the +q charge
•Amount of charge on each ball determines the magnitude of the
force, but each ball experiences the same magnitude of force
•Symmetry, therefore, demands (c)
P.S. Knowing the form of Coulomb’s law you can write two equations
with two unknowns (T and )
Preflight 2:

Two charges q = + 1 μC and Q = +10 μC are placed near each

other as shown in the figure.

6) Which of the following diagrams best describes the forces

acting on the charges:

+10 μC
+1 μC
a)
b)

c)
 The Electric Field
•A simple, yet profound observation
- The net Coulomb force on a given charge is always
proportional to the strength of that charge.
q1
F1 F = F1 + F2
F
q  q  q1rˆ1 q2 rˆ2 
F   2 
4 0  r12
r2 
F2 q2
test charge

- We can now define a quantity, the electric field, which

is independent of the test charge, q, and depends only on
position in space: 
 F The qi are the sources
E 
q of the electric field
 The Electric Field

 F
E 
q
With this concept, we can “map” the electric field
anywhere in space produced by any arbitrary:
Bunch of Charges Charge Distribution
F
 1 qi
E  2 rˆi  1 dq
4 0 ri E  rˆ
+ 4 0 r 2
+
- + + ++ + +
+ ++ + + +

+ +
+ -
- - +
- “Net” E at origin

These charges or this charge distribution

“source” the electric field throughout space
 Example: Electric Field
What is the electric field at the origin due to this set of charges?
y
1) Notice that the fields from the top-right a a
+q +q
and bottom left cancel at the origin?
a 2
a a
2) The electric field, then, is just the field
from the top -left charge. It points away  x
a
from the top-left charge as shown.
3) Magnitude of E-field at the origin is: +q

kq
E= 2
2a
The x and y components of the field at (0,0) are:
kq kq sin
Ex = 2 cos E = 
2a y
2a2
kq 1 kq 1
= 2 = 2
2a 2 2a 2
 Example: Electric Field
Now, a charge, Q, is placed at the origin. What is the net force
y
on that charge? a a
q 1 q 1 +q +q
Ex  k 2 E y  k 2 a 2
2a 2 2a 2 a a

Q x
a

+q

Qq Qq
Fx  QE x  k Fy  QE y  k
2 2a 2 2 2a 2

Note: If the charge Q is positive, the force will be in F is

the direction of the electric field
If the charge Q is negative, the force will be against
the direction of the electric field F is
 Let’s Try Some Numbers...
If q = 5C, a = 5cm, and Q = 15C.
y
Then Ex = 6.364  106 N/C +q
a a
+q
and Ey = -6.364  106 N/C a
a 2
a

x
Fx = QEx and Fy = QEy a

+q
So... Fx=95.5 N and Fy=-95.5 N

We also know that the magnitude of

E = 9.00  106 N/C

We can, therefore, calculate the magnitude of F

F = |Q| E = 135 N
2
 Lecture 2, Act 2
Two charges, Q1 and Q2, fixed along the x-axis as y
shown produce an electric field, E, at a point
(x,y)=(0,d) which is directed along the negative
y-axis. d E
- Which of the following is true?
(a) Both charges Q1 and Q2 are positive Q1 Q2 x
(b) Both charges Q1 and Q2 are negative
(c) The charges Q1 and Q2 have opposite signs
 Lecture 2, Act 2
Two charges, Q1 and Q2, fixed along the x-axis as y
shown produce an electric field, E, at a point
(x,y)=(0,d) which is directed along the negative
y-axis. d E
- Which of the following is true?
(a) Both charges Q1 and Q2 are positive Q1 Q2 x
(b) Both charges Q1 and Q2 are negative
(c) The charges Q1 and Q2 have opposite signs
E
E
E

Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2

(a) (b) (c)

 Reality of Electric Fields
•The electric field has been introduced as a mathematical
convenience, just as the gravitational field
•There is MUCH MORE to electric fields than this!

IMPORTANT FEATURE: E field propagates at speed of light

• NO instantaneous action at a distance (we will explain this when
we discuss electromagnetic waves)
• i.e., as charge moves, resultant E-field at time t depends upon
where charge was at time t - dt
• For now, we avoid these complications by restricting ourselves
to situations in which the source of the E-field is at rest.
(electrostatics)
 Ways to Visualize the E Field
Consider the E-field of a positive point charge at the origin

vector map field lines

+ chg + chg

+
+
 Rules for Vector Maps

+ chg

•Direction of arrow indicates direction of field

•Length of arrows  local magnitude of E
 Rules for Field Lines

+ -

•Lines leave (+) charges and return to (-) charges

•Number of lines leaving/entering charge  amount
of charge
•Tangent of line = direction of E
•Local density of field lines  local magnitude of E
• Field at two white dots differs by a factor of 4 since r
differs by a factor of 2
•Local density of field lines also differs by a factor of 4
(in 3D) 3
 Preflight 2:

6) A negative charge is placed in a region of electric field

as shown in the picture. Which way does it move ?

a) up c) left e) it doesn't move

b) down d) right
7) Compare the field strengths at points A and B.

a) EA > EB
b) EA = EB
c) EA < EB
 Lecture 2, Act 3
y
•Consider a dipole (2 separated equal and 2a
+Q
opposite charges) with the y-axis as
a a
shown.
-Which of the following statements a x
about Ex(2a,a) is true? -Q

(a) Ex(2a,a) < 0 (b) Ex(2a,a) = 0 (c) Ex(2a,a) > 0

 Lecture 2, Act 3
y
•Consider a dipole (2 separated equal and 2a
+Q
opposite charges) with the y-axis as
a a
shown.
-Which of the following statements a x
about Ex(2a,a) is true? -Q

(a) Ex(2a,a) < 0 (b) Ex(2a,a) = 0 (c) Ex(2a,a) > 0

Ex Solution: Draw
some field lines
according to
our rules.
 Preflight 2:

Two equal, but opposite charges are placed on the x axis. The
positive charge is placed at x = -5 m and the negative charge is
placed at x = +5m as shown in the figure above.

3) What is the direction of the electric field at point A?

a) up b) down c) left d) right e) zero

4) What is the direction of the electric field at point B?

a) up b) down c) left d) right e) zero
 Field Lines From Two Opposite Charges
Dipole

Dipoles are central to our

existence!
 y
The Electric Dipole
+Q see the appendix for further information
a
 x What is the E-field generated by
a
E E this arrangement of charges?
-Q r
Calculate for a point along x-axis: (x, 0)

Ex = ?? Ey = ??
Symmetry

Ex(x,0) = 0
Electric Dipole Field Lines

• Lines leave positive charge

and return to negative charge

What can we observe about E?

• Ex(x,0) = 0 • Ex(0,y) = 0

• Field largest in space between two

charges
• We derived:

... for r >> a,

Field Lines From Two Like Charges

• There is a zero halfway

between the two charges

• r >> a: looks like the field

of point charge (+2q) at origin

4
 Lecture 2, ACT 4 y
• Consider a circular ring with total charge +Q. + +++
The charge is spread uniformly around the ++ +
+
+ R
ring, as shown, so there is λ = Q/2R charge + +
per unit length. + + x
+ +
+
• The electric field at the origin is ++
++ ++

1 2
(a) zero (b) (c)
4 0 R
 Lecture 2, ACT 4 y
• Consider a circular ring with total charge +Q. + +++
The charge is spread uniformly around the ++ +
+
+ R
ring, as shown, so there is λ = Q/2R charge + +
per unit length. + + x
+ +
+
• The electric field at the origin is ++
++ ++

1 2
(a) zero (b) (c)
4 0 R

• The key thing to remember here is that the total field at the origin is
given by the VECTOR SUM of the contributions from all bits of charge.
• If the total field were given by the ALGEBRAIC SUM, then (b) would be
correct. (exercise for the student).
• Note that the electric field at the origin produced by one bit of charge
is exactly cancelled by that produced by the bit of charge diametrically
opposite!!

• Therefore, the VECTOR SUM of all these contributions is ZERO!!

 Electric Field inside a Conductor
• A two electron atom, e.g., Ca
– heavy ion core 2+
– two valence electrons

• An array of these atoms

2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
– microscopically crystalline
– ions are immobile 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
– electrons can move easily 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+

• Viewed macroscopically: 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
– neutral

There is never a net electric field inside

a conductor – the free charges always
move to exactly cancel it out.
 Summary

• Define E-Field in terms of force

on “test charge”
• How to think about fields
• Electric Field Lines
• Example Calculation: Electric Dipole
 Appendix A:
Other ways to Visualize the E Field

Consider a point charge at the origin

Field Lines Graphs

+ chg
Ex, Ey, Ez as a function of (x, y, z)
Er, E, E as a function of (r, , )
Ex(x,0,0)
+

x
 Appendix A- “ACT” y
Consider a point charge fixed at the origin of r
a coordinate system as shown.

–Which of the following graphs best
x
represent the functional dependence of Q
the Electric Field for fixed radius r?

3A Er Er Er

Fixed
r>0
0 2 0 0  2
  2

(a) (b) (c)

Ex Ex Ex
3B
Fixed
r>0
0 0 0 
 2  2 2
 Appendix A “ACT” y
Consider a point charge fixed at the origin of r
a coordinate system as shown.

– Which of the following graphs best
x
represent the functional dependence of Q
the Electric Field for fixed radius r?

3A Er Er Er

Fixed
r>0
0 2 0 0  2
  2

(a) (b) (c)

• At fixed r, the radial component of the field is a constant,

independent of !!
• For r>0, this constant is > 0. (note: the azimuthal component
E is, however, zero)
 Appendix A “ACT” y
Consider a point charge fixed at the origin of r
a coordinate system as shown.

–Which of the following graphs best
x
represent the functional dependence of Q
the Electric Field for fixed radius r?

Ex Ex Ex
3B
Fixed
r>0
0 0 0 
 2  2 2
(a) (b) (c)

• At fixed r, the horizontal component of the field Ex is given by: