ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD

WEEK 1

Lesson Contents
 Introduction  Properties of electric charges  Coulomb s Law  Electric field
Electric field lines

Lesson outcomes
At the end of this lesson students should be able to:  know the existence of two kinds of electric charge.  state Coulomb s law and apply its formula to solve problems involving electric forces (F).  define the electric field (E) and calculate electric field value (E) due to a point charge and several charges.

INTRODUCTION

Lightning is a powerful natural electrostatic discharge produced during a thunderstorm.

Properties of the electric charge

 Proton (positive

charge)
Charge value = 1.6 x 10-19 C

 Electron (negative

charge)
Charge value = -1.6 x 10-19 C

Charge for 1 proton/electron Total charge Number of charges

Lets try..
For each of these pair of charges, select whether the force is attractive or repulsive.

+ +

+ +

repulsion attraction repulsion attraction repulsion attraction repulsion attraction

What we conclude about the type of charge between like charges and unlike charges? Answer

Lets try..
For each of these pair of charges, select whether the force is attractive or repulsive.

+ +

+ +

attraction repulsion

attraction repulsion

What we conclude about the type of charge between like charges and unlike charges? Answer

Lets try..
For each of these pair of charges, select whether the force is attractive or repulsive.

+ +

+ +

attraction repulsion

attraction repulsion

Answer: The force between like charges is repulsive and the force between unlike charges is attractive.

Types of electric force

+
Repel Each other

+
Repulsive Force Occur

Attract Each other

+
Attractive Force Occur

Yes! We can calculate the forces value by using

Coulomb s Law
Experiment shows that the electric force between two charges is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square distance between them.

F!
1 4TQo

k Q1 Q2 r2

k!

k is proportionality constant = 9.0 x 109 N.m2 / C2

Exercise 1
Two isolated small objects have charges of 0.04 QC and 0.06 QC are 5cm apart. What is the vector component of electrostatic force acting on each object?
Q1 = +0.04 C Q2 = -0.06 C

r = 0.05 m Solution

Step 1 Draw the direction of the electric force on each object Q1 = +0.04 C Q2 = -0.06 C F12 F21 r = 0.05 m Q1 = +0.04 C St 2 Find the magnitude of force on Q1 Q1 F12 Q Q Q2 =I-0.06I C

F12 !

2 (0.05 m)2

(9 x

109

Nm2/C2)

2 12

F12 = 0.00864 N
next
Question

Step 3 Write the vector component

Q1
F12

Hence, the vector component:-

F12 = 0.00864 N

F12 = 0.00864 i

the force direction is to +x

Step 4 Calculate Force on Q2 F21 Q2 = -0.06 C

iI IF12I = IF21

F21 = -0.00864 i

previous

Exercise 2
Q1 = -4.2 C Q2 = +1.3 C Q3 = +1.1 C 1.0 cm

2.0 cm

Calculate the resultant force on the charge Q3 due to other two charges located as shown in figure above. Identify the direction of resultant/ net force on Q3 .
Solution

Step 1 Draw the direction of the electric force on Q3 due to Q1 and Q2

Q1 = -4.2 C Q2 = +1.3 C

Force Calculation

F31

Q3 = +1.1 C F32

Step Find the magnitude of force on Q3 due to Q1 and Q2

Method Value

F31

F32

Q3 Q1 r Q3 Q2
2

9 v10 9 (1.1v10 6 )(4.2 v10 6 ) 103.95 N 0.02 2 9 v109 (1.1v10 6 )(1.3 v10 6 ) 1 8.70 N 0.012
next
Question

Step 3 Write the vector component

F31 -103.95 i
Step 4 Total up all the forces

F3 1 8. 7 i

Fnet = F31 + F3 = (-103.95 i) + ( 1 8. 7 i) = 4.75 i

Hence, the MAGNITUDE of total Force = 4.75 N the DIRECTION of total Force = +x direction previous

Exercise 3
QA=+12 C

Three point charges are arranged as shown in Figure below. Find the magnitude and direction of the net force on charge QA
Solution

4m

QB=-16 C

3m

+
QC=+20 C

Step 1 Draw the direction of the electric force on QA due to QB and QC

FAC
Click on charge QC and QB to observe the direction of force experience by charge QA

+
FAB

QA=+12 C

4m

QB=-16 C

3m

QC=+20 C
next
Question

Step 2
Find the magnitude of force on QA due to QB and QC

FAC

+
FAB

QA=+12 C

Force

Calculation

Method

Value

FAC

FAB

QA QC r QA QB r
2 2

9 v 09 ( 2v 106 )(2 v 106 ) 0 42 9 v 109 (12 v 106 )(16 v 106 ) 52

0.135 N 0.069 N
next previous

Step 3
Write the vector component

FAC = 0.135 N
53.13o

QA

FAB = 0.069 N
Magnitude FAC = 0.135 N FAB = 0.069 N Total up X - component 0.135 cos 90o= 0 i 0.069 cos 233.13o= -0.04 i = - 0.04 i Y - component 0.135 sin 90o = 0.135 j 0.069 sin 233.13o = - 0.055 j = 0.08 j next previous

Step 4
Find the magnitude from the vector component calculated Vector component = - 0.04 i + 0.08 j
Hence,
Magnitude =

(0.04)  (0.08)
= 0.089 N

next

previous

Step 5
Calculate the direction of the total force Vector component = - 0.04 i + 0.08 j
Hence,

(0.08) U ! tan ! 63.43o (0.04)

1

63.43o

Ans : 0.089 N, (116.570)

previous

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge Increase charge

An electric field is a region where a charge experience a force.

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge Increase charge

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge

What is the effect of the increasing the charge of the field lines? Answer

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge

Answer: Increasing the charge increases the number of the field lines and squeezes them closer together

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge Increase charge

What is the difference between the electric field due to positive and negative charge? Answer

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge Increase charge

Answer: The directions of the field lines are opposite. Electric field experienced by the positive charge is radially outward while electric field experienced by the negative charge is radially inward.

Electric field lines

Positive charge Negative charge

Answer: The directions of the field lines are opposite. Electric field experienced by the positive charge is radially outward while electric field experienced by the negative charge is radially inward.

Electric field
Positive charge C + Negative charge

Q A +

+ B

Direction of electric field around the charge Q can be visualized by placing small positive charge into the field and displaying the force vector acting on each.

Electric field
A + Q Positive charge

Negative charge C +

B +

Direction of electric field around the charge Q can be visualized by placing small positive charge into the field and displaying the force vector acting on each.

Electric field strength

 Electric field strength E
Derivation Force on test charge Q2 at a distance r from a point charge Q1 is

at a point is defined as the force acting on a unit positive charge at that point.
+ Q1 r + Q2

k Q1 Q2 r2

Electric field strength

k Q1 Q2 r2

F kQ1Q2 1 E! ! Q2 r 2 Q2
Hence,

E!

k Q1 r2

Example 1
Calculate the magnitude and direction of Electric Field at point P in Figure below which is 30 cm to the right of a point charge Q = -3.0 x 10-6 C.
Q = -3.0 x 10-6 C

P
Solution

Step 1 Draw the direction of the electric field on P due to Q

Q = -3.0 x 10-6 C

EP

P
+

Imagine there is a +ve charge here

Step Calculate the magnitude of the electric field on P

EP

P
+

9 x 109 Nm2 / C2

Q = -3.0 x 10-6 C

kQ Ep ! 2 r

Ep = 3.0 x 105 N/C

0.3 m next
Question

Step 3 Write the vector component

EP
The irection of E is to -X

P
+
Ep = 3. x 1
5

/ /

Hence, the vector Ep = -3. x 1 5 i component is

Final Answer

Magnitude = 3.0 x 105 N/C and direction = to X axis (to the left)
previous

Summary
 The force between like charges is repulsive and the force between unlike charges is attractive.  Coulomb s law states that the electric force between two charges is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square distance between them.
! k Q1 Q2 r2

 Electric field strength E at a point is defined as the force acting on a unit positive charge at that point.
E! F kQ ! 2 q r

Summary
 Electric field is a vector quantity. Its direction

is the direction of force on a positive charge.  Unit for electric field is N/C or V/m.