SF027 1

UNIT 1:Electrostatics
The study of electric
charges at rest, the
forces between them
and the electric fields
associated with them.
SF027 2
1.1 COULOMBS LAW
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

a) State Coulombs Law


b) Sketch the force diagram and apply Coulombs Law for
a system of point charges
2 2
4 r
kQq
r
Qq
F
o
= =
tc
SF027 3
There are two kinds of charges in
nature positive and negative
charge.
Like charges repel.
Unlike charges attract.

The magnitude of the force, F
between two point charges is
given by Coulombs Law.
Coulombs Law
States the magnitude of the electrostatic
(Coulomb/electric) force between two point
charges is proportional to the product of the
charges and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.

+ +
r
2
q
1
q
F

SF027 5


Mathematically,






charges point o between tw distance : r
2
2 1
r
q kq
F =
2 - 2 9
C N m 10 x 0 . 9 k constant (Coulomb) tic electrosta : =
2
2 1
r
q q
F
where
force (Coulomb) tic electrosta of magnitude : F
charge of magnitude : ,
2 1
q q
+ +
r
2
q
1
q
F

Coulombs law
SF027 6


Since






0
4
1
k
tc
=
, hence the Coulombs law can be written as
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2 1
0
r
q q
4
1
F
tc
where
air) or (vacuum space free of ty permittivi :
0
c
) . (
2 1 2 12
0
m N C 10 x 85 8

= c
+
r
-
2
q
1
q
F

If q
1
and q
2
are charges of opposite sign, the
force (F) acting on each charge is attractive as
shown in figure below.
This mean that F is directed towards the
neighbouring charge and will result in both
charges moving towards each other.

If q
1
and q
2
are both positive or both negative
charges, the force (F) acting on each charge is
repulsive.
This mean that F is directed away from the
neighbouring charge and will result in a
separation of the two charges if they are
free to move.

SF027 8




The S.I. unit of charge is coulomb (C).


Note :

The sign of the charge can be ignored when substituting
into the Coulombs law equation.

The sign of the charges is important in distinguishing the
direction of the electric force .

Example 1 :

Two point charges, q
1
=-20 nC and q
2
=90 nC,
are separated by a distance of 4.0 cm as
shown in figure below.




Find the magnitude and direction of
a. the electric force that q
1
exerts on q
2
.
b. the electric force that q
2
exerts on q
1
.
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2

C
-2
)

-
cm 0 4 .
+ 2
q
1
q
SF027 10


Solution: q
1
=2.0 x 10
-8
C, q
2
=9.0 x 10
-8
C, r=4.0 x 10
-2
m



2 1 F
12
charge on charge by force :

-
cm 0 4 .
+ 2
q
1
q
12
F

21
F

where
1 2 F
21
charge on charge by force :

SF027 11
a. By applying the Coulombs law equation :






b. By using the Coulombs law equation :



Conclusion :
The magnitude of both forces is the same but opposite in direction
obey the Newtons third law.

The characteristic of electric force exert on both charges is
attractive force.
2 2
8 8 9
12
10 x 4
10 x 0 9 10 x 0 2 10 x 0 9
F
) (
) . )( . )( . (

21 12
F F

=
2
2 1
12
r
q kq
F =

N 10 x 0 1 F
2
12

= .

Direction : to the left (q1)

2
1 2
21
r
q kq
F =

N 10 x 0 1 F
2
21

= .

Direction : to the right (q2)

Example 2 :

Three point charges lie along the x-axis as
shown in figure below.




Calculate the magnitude and direction of the total
electric force exerted on q
2
.
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2

C
-2
)

C 4 q
2
=
C 2 q
1
=
-
+ +
C 6 q
3
=
cm 0 3 . cm 0 5 .
SF027 13
Solution: r
12
=3.0 x 10
-2
m, r
23
=5.0 x 10
-2
m

By applying the Coulombs law equation :
32
F

12
F

C 4 q
2
=
C 2 q
1
=
-
+ +
C 6 q
3
=
cm 0 3 . cm 0 5 .
2
12
2 1
12
r
q kq
F =

N 10 x 0 8 F
13
12
. =

Direction : to the right (q3)

SF027 14



And




Therefore, the total force exerted on q
2
is given by











2
23
3 2
32
r
q kq
F =

N 10 x 6 8 F
13
32
. =

Direction : to the right (q3)

32 12 2
F F F

+ =
N 10 x 6 16 F
13
2
. =

32 12 2
F F F

+ =
13 13
2
10 x 6 8 10 x 0 8 F . . + =

Direction : to the right (q3)

Example 3 :

Figure below shows the three point charges are
placed in the shape of triangular.





Determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant electric force exerted on q
1
. Given q
1
=-
1.2 C, q
2
=+3.7 C, q
3
=-2.3 C, r
12
=15 cm,
r
13
=10 cm, u=32 and k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2
C
-2
.

2
q
1
q
+
3
q
-
-
12
r
13
r
u
SF027 16
2
12
2 1
21
r
q kq
F =

Solution: q
1
=1.2x10
-6
C, q
2
=3.7x10
-6
C, q
3
=2.3x10
-6
C,
r
12
=15x10
-2
m, r
13
=10x10
-2
m






By applying the Coulombs law equation :
Magnitude of F
21
:
N 78 1 F
21
. =

31
F

21
F

58
2
q
1
q
+
3
q
-
-
12
r
13
r
u
2 2
6 6 9
21
10 x 15
10 x 7 3 10 x 2 1 10 x 0 9
F
) (
) . )( . )( . (

SF027 17
Magnitude of F
31
:



Construct a table to represents x and y-component for all
forces exerted on q
1
.







Vector sum the x-comp. and y-comp. :


2
13
3 1
31
r
q kq
F =

N 48 2 F
31
. =

Force x-component(N) y-component(N)

21
F

21
F

0
31
F

58 F
31
cos

58 F
31
sin
N 09 3 58 F F F
31 21 x 1
. cos = + =

N 10 2 58 F 0 F
31 y 1
. sin = =

SF027 18
=
= =

8 . 325
2 . 34 tan
1
1
F
F
x
y
u
from the x-axis anticlockwise
N 78 3 F
1
. =

( ) ( )
2
y 1
2
x 1 1
F F F

+ =

The magnitude of resultant electric force exerted on q
1
:
SF027 19


1. Two point charges are placed on the x-axis as follows :
Charge q
1
= +4.00 nC is located at x = 0.200 m, charge q
2
= +5.00 nC
is at x = -0.300 m. Find the magnitude and direction of the total
electric force exerted by these two charges on a negative point charge
q
3
= -6.00 nC that is placed at the origin. (Young & freedman,pg.829,no.21.20)
(Given c
0
=8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
Ans. : 2.4 N to the right

EXERCISE
SF027 20
2. Four identical point charges (q = +10.0 C) are located on the corners
of a rectangle as shown in figure below.







The dimension of the rectangle are l = 60.0 cm and w = 15.0 cm.
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant electric force
exerted on the charge at the lower left corner by the other three
charges. (Serway & Jewett, pg. 735, no. 57)
(Given c
0
=8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
Ans. : 40.9 N at 263 from positive x-axis.
q
l
+ +
+
+
w
q
q
q
EXERCISE
SF027 21
1.2 ELECTRIC FIELD
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
a) Define Electric Field
b) Define and use Electric Field Strength

c) Sketch the electric field lines of isolated point charge,
two charges and uniformly charged parallel plates
d) Sketch the electric field strength diagram and
determine electric field strength E for a system of
charges
o
q
F
E

=
1.2.1 Electric Field
Definition is defined as a region of
space around isolated charge
where an electric force is experienced if
a positive test charge placed in the
region.
Electric field around charges can be
represented by drawing a series of lines.
These lines are called electric field lines
(lines of force).
The direction of electric field is tangent to
the electric field line at each point.

SF027 23

The electric field strength at a point,

Definition is defined as the electric (electrostatic) force per unit
positive test charge that acts at that point in the same
direction as the force.



Mathematically,




E

0
q
F
E =
force electric the of magnitude : F
where
charge test of magnitude :
0
q
strength field electric the of magnitude : E
1.2.2 Electric Field strength
Electric field strength
is a vector quantity.
Its units are N C
-1
or V m
-1
.
Since

2
0
r
kqq
F =
, then the equation above can be written as
|
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
0
2
0
q
r
kqq
E
2
r
kq
E =
or
2
0
r 4
q
E
tc
=
charge point isolated of magnitude : q
charge point isolated and point e between th distance : r
where
SF027 25
1.2.3 Electric field lines

i. Single positive charge



ii. Single negative charge
(the lines point radially outward from
the charge)
(the lines point radially inward
toward the charge)
+q
-q
Field
direction
(a) Isolated point charge
(b) Two charges
i.) Two equal point charges of opposite sign, +q and -q
Field direction
(the lines are curved
and they are directed
from the positive
charge to the
negative charge.
+q +q
X
Field direction
(point X is neutral point )
is defined as a point
(region) where the total
electric force is zero.
It lies along the vertical
dash line.
ii.) Two equal positive charges, +q and + q
SF027 28
+2q -q
iii.) Two opposite unequal charges, +2q and q












(note that twice as many lines
leave +2q as there are lines
entering q, number of lines is
proportional to magnitude of
charge.)
Field direction
(iv) Uniformly charged parallel
plates
The lines go directly from
positive plate to the negative
plate.
The field lines are parallel
and equally spaced in the
central region far from the
edges but fringe outward
near the edges. Thus, in the
central region, the electric
field has the same magnitude
at all points.
The fringing of the field near
the edges can be ignored
because the separation of the
plates is small compared to
their size.
Two opposite charged parallel metal plates

The rules of drawing electric
field lines:

The field lines indicate the direction of the electric
field (the field points in the direction tangent to
the field line at any point).
The lines are drawn so that the magnitude of electric
field is proportional to the number of lines crossing
unit area perpendicular to the lines. The closer the
lines, the stronger the field.
Electric field lines start on positive charges and
end on negative charges, and the number starting
or ending is proportional to the magnitude of the
charge.
The field lines never cross because the electric field
dont have two value at the same point.

SF027 31






(a) Two equal negative charges, -q and -q .






(b) Two unequal negative charges, -2q and -q.




-q
-q
-q
-2q
Exercise
1. Sketch electric field lines for the diagrams below:
SF027 32
Note :
The direction of electric field strength, E depends on sign of
isolated point charge.
The direction of the electric force, F depends on the sign of
isolated point charge and test charge. For example
A positive isolated point charge.
a. positive test charge







b. negative test charge



q
) ( ve q
0
+
E

r
q
) ( ve q
0

E

r
SF027 33
A negative isolated point charge.
a. positive test charge







b. negative test charge







In the calculation of magnitude E, substitute the magnitude of
the charge only.
q
) ( ve q
0
+
E

r
q
) ( ve q
0

E

r
Example 4 :

Two point charges, q
1
=1 C and q
2
=-4 C, are
placed 2 cm and 3 cm from the point A
respectively as shown in figure below.



Find
a. the magnitude and direction of the electric
field intensity at point A.
b. the total electric force exerted on q
0
=-4 C if
it is placed at point A.
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N
m
2
C
-2
)

+ - 2
q
1
q
cm 2 cm 3
A
SF027 35
Solution: q
1
=1 C, q
2
=4 C, q
0
=4 C, r
1
=2x10
-2
m, r
2
=3x10
-2
m


a. By applying the equation of electric field strength, the magnitude of
E at point A.
Due to q
1
:

+ - 2
q
1
q
cm 2 cm 3
A
1 A
E

2 A
E

2 2
9
2
1
1
1 A
10 x 2
1 10 x 0 9
r
kq
E
) (
) )( . (

= =
1 13
1 A
C N 10 x 25 2 E

= .
Direction : to the right (q2)
SF027 36
Due to q
2
:



therefore the electric field strength at point A due to the charges is
given by





b. From the definition of the electric field strength,


thus the total electric force exerted on q
0
is given by
2 2
9
2
2
2
2 A
10 x 3
4 10 x 0 9
r
kq
E
) (
) )( . (

= =
1 13
2 A
C N 10 x 4 E

=
Direction : to the right (q2)
2 A 1 A A
E E E

+ =
0
A
A
q
F
E =
13 13
A
10 x 4 10 x 25 2 E + = .

1 13
A
C N 10 x 25 6 E

= .

Direction : to the right (q2)

A 0 A
E q F =
N 10 x 5 2 F
14
A
. =
) . )( (
13
A
10 x 25 6 4 F =
Direction : to the left (q1)
SF027 37
EXERCISE
1. Find the magnitude of the electric field at point P due to the four
point charges as shown in the figure below if q=1 nC and d=1 cm.







2. Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the centre of
the square in figure below if q=1.0x10
-8
C and a= 5cm.
(Given c
0
=8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
Ans. : zero.
(Given c
0
=8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
(HRW. pg. 540.13)
Ans. : 1.02x10
5
N C
-1
,

upwards.
SF027 38
1.3 CHARGE IN A UNIFORM
ELECTRIC FIELD
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

a) Explain quantitatively with the aid of a
diagram the motion of charge in a uniform
electric field
SF027 39
Consider a stationary particle of charge q
0
and mass m is placed in a
uniform electric field E, the electric force F
e
exerted on the charge is
given by

Since only electric force exerted on the particle, thus this force
contributes the net force, F and causes the particle to accelerate.
According to Newtons second law, then the magnitude of the
acceleration of the particle is






Because the electric field is uniform (constant in magnitude and
direction) then the acceleration of the particle is constant.
1.3. Motion of Charged Particles in a Uniform
Electric Field
E q F
0 e
=
ma F F
e
= =
ma E q
0
=
m
E q
a
0
=
(a) Stationary Charge
Positive stationary charge
E

e
F

-Consider a stationary particle of charge q0 and mass m is placed in a

uniform electric field E,

- Electric force F
e
exerted on the point charge, q0 is given by
E q F
0 e
=
Force experienced by charge is in the same direction as electric field,
E.
- q0 can be either positive or negative charge.

For positive charge:
= ma
E

e
F

For negative charge:
Force experienced by charge is in the opposite direction as
electric field, E.
Negative stationary charge
Consider a charge +q enters the uniform electric field with a velocity
perpendicular to direction of electric field lines.


The positive charge will be deflected and moves along a parabolic path towards
the negative plate . If the upper plate is positively-charged and the lower is
negatively-charged, then the electric field E will be directed downward.
The positive charge moves under the influence of the electric force which is at the
same direction as electric field lines

(b) Charge moving
perpendicularly to the field
E q F
0
=
F
e
= ma
y
SF027 43





The negative charge will deflected and moves along a parabolic
path towards the positive plate. The negative charge moves
under the influence of the electric force which is opposite
direction to the electric field lines.

E q F
0 e
=
Consider a charge -q enters the uniform electric field with a
velocity perpendicular to direction of electric field lines.
F
e
= ma
y
The electric force on the positive
charge is in the same direction as to
its motion.
The positive charge accelerates along
a straight line.
(c) Charge moving parallel to
the field
v
How about negative charge?
The electric force on the negative
charge (eg. electron) is in the
opposite direction to its motion.
The negative charge decelerates
along a straight line.
F
e
v
SF027 46










Dynamic equilibrium means the charge moves with constant velocity.
The positive charged particle will experiences the electric force F
E which

is downwards with magnitude qE and the magnetic force F
B which
is
upwards with magnitude Bqv (see fig. above).
If the particle travels in a straight line with constant velocity hence the
electric and magnetic forces are equal in magnitude.

Only particles with this constant speed can pass through without being
deflected by the fields.
E

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

X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
B

+
v

+
B
F

E
F

(d) Charge in dynamic equilibrium

positive charged particle
for negative charged
particles.(eg:electron)
Dynamic equilibrium for negative charged particle
E

-
++++++++++++++++++

X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
B

-
v

-
B
F

E
F

F
E
F
B
SF027 48
1.4 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
OBJECTIVES:
a. Define Electric Potential
b. Define and sketch equipotential lines and surfaces of an isolated charge and a uniform
electric field
c. Use for a point charge and a system of charges.


d. Calculate potential difference between two points



e. Use for uniform E.

f. Deduce the change in potential energy between two points in electric field

g. Calculate potential energy of a system of point charges
r
Q
V
o
tc 4
=
d
V
E =
U A
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + =
23
3 2
13
3 1
12
2 1
r
q q
r
q q
r
q q
k U
V q U A = A
0
BA
AB A B
W
V V V
q
= =
SF027 49
Electric potential, V of a point in the electric field
Definition is defined as the work done in bringing positive test
charge from infinity to that point in the electric field.
or



Since
0
q
W
V

=
then the equation above can be written as
done work :

W
charge test :
0
q
where
0
0
q
r
kqq
V
|
.
|

\
|
=
or
r
q
V
o
tc 4
=
r
kq
V =
r
kqq
W
0
=

charge point : q
charge point the point with e between th distance : r
where
space free of ty permittivi :
0
c
) . (
2 1 2 12
0
m N C 10 x 85 8

= c
SF027 50
Electric potential is a scalar quantity, so the resultant electric potential
is equal to the algebraic sum of the individual potential.


The S.I. unit for electric potential is the Volt (V) or J C
-1
.


Note :
The electric potential of a charge at infinity is ZERO .
The electric potential energy of a positively charged particle
increases when it moves to a point of higher potential.

The electric potential energy of a negatively charged particle
increases when it moves to a point of lower potential.


Since charge q can be positive or negative, the
electric potential can also be positive or
negative.

If the value of work done is negative work
done by the electric force (system).

If the value of work done is positive work
done by the external force or on the
system.

In the calculation of V, the sign of the charge
must be substituted in the equation of V.

SF027 52
1.4.2 Equipotential Surface
Definition is defined as a surface where all points on the surface
that have the same electric potential.
Figures 3.9a and 3.9b are example of the equipotential surface.













The dashed lines represent the equipotential surface (line).
The equipotential surfaces (lines) always perpendicular to the
electric field lines passing through them.

Fig. 3.9a : a uniform electric field
produced by an infinite sheet of
charge
E

C
A
B
Fig. 3.9b:a point charge
E

C
A
B
SF027 53
From the figures,
then the work done to bring a test charge from B to A is given by







EXERCISE:
At a certain distance from a point charge, the magnitude of the electric
field is 500 V m
-1
and the electric potential is -3.00 kV. Calculate
a. the distance to the charge.
b. the value of the charge. (Serway & Jewett,pg.788,no.17)
(Given c
0
=8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
Ans. : 6.00 m, -2.00 C
C B A
V V V = =
0 W
BA
=
No work is done in moving a charge
along an equipotential surface.
0 0
( )
BA AB A B
W q V q V V = =
SF027 54
1.4.3 Potential Difference
Potential difference between two points in an electric field,
Definition is defined as the work done in bringing a positive test
charge from a point to another point in the electric
field.
From the figure 3.8a, the potential difference between point A and B,
V
AB
is given by
and
or
A. point to B point from
charge test positive bringing in done work :
BA
W
where
state) A(final point at potential electric :
A
V
state) B(initial point at potential electric :
B
V
charge test :
0
q
0
BA
AB
W
V
q
=
AB A B
V V V =
0 0 0 0
( )
BA AB A B A B A B
W q V q V V q V q V U U = = = =
SF027 55
Note :
If the positive test charge moving from point A to point B, thus the
potential difference between this points is given by








therefore

B. point A to point from
charge test positive bringing in done work :
AB
W
where
A point and B point between difference potential :
AB
V
BA AB
V V =
0
AB
BA B A
W
V V V
q
= =
BA
V
Example 5 :

Figure below shows a point A at distance 10 m
from the positive point charge, q=5C.



Calculate the electric potential at point A and
describe the meaning of the answer.
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2

C
-2
)

+
q
A
m 10
SF027 57

Solution: q=5 C, r=10 m
By applying the equation of the electric potential at a point,
) (
) )( . (
10
5 10 x 0 9
r
kq
V
9
A
= =
1 9
A
C J V 10 x 5 4 V

= @ .
Meaning : 4.5 x 10
9
joule of work is done in bringing 1 C positive
charge from infinity to the point A.
Example 6 :

Two point charges, q
1
=+0.3 C and q
2
=-0.4 C are
separated by a distance of 6 m as shown in
figure below.




Calculate
a. the electric field strength and
b. the electric potential
at point A ( 3 m from the charge q
1
).
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2
C
-2
)

+ - 2
q
1
q
A
m 6
SF027 59


Solution: q
1
=+0.3 C, q
2
=-0.4 C



a. By applying the equation of electric field strength, the magnitude of
E at point A.
Due to q
1
:
+ - 2
q
1
q
A
m 3 r
1
= m 3 r
2
=
1 A
E

2 A
E

2
9
2
1
1
1 A
3
3 0 10 x 0 9
r
kq
E
) (
) . )( . (
= =
1 8
1 A
C N 10 x 3 E

=
Direction : to the right (q2)
SF027 60
Due to q
2
:



therefore the electric field strength at point A due to the charges is
given by




b. By applying the equation of electric potential, the value of V at point
A is

2
9
2
2
2
2 A
3
4 0 10 x 0 9
r
kq
E
) (
) . )( . (
= =
1 8
2 A
C N 10 x 4 E

=
Direction : to the right (q2)
2 A 1 A A
E E E

+ =
2 A 1 A A
V V V + =
8 8
A
10 x 4 10 x 3 E + =

1 8
A
C N 10 x 7 E

=

Direction : to the right (q2)

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = + =
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
A
r
q
r
q
k
r
kq
r
kq
V
( )
(

|
.
|

\
|

+
|
.
|

\
|
=
3
4 0
3
3 0
10 x 0 9 V
9
A
. .
.
V 10 x 3 V
8
A
=
Example 7 :

Two point charges, q
1
=+12 nC and q
2
=-12 nC
are separated by a distance of 8 cm as shown in
figure below.






Determine the electric potential at point P( 6 cm
from the charge q
2
).
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2
C
-2
)

1
q
+ -
2
q
P
m 8 c
m 6 c
SF027 62
Solution: q
1
=+12x10
-9
C, q
2
=-12x10
-9
C

1
q
+ -
2
q
P
m 10 x 8
2

m 10 x 6 r
2
2

=
m 10 x 10 r
2
1

=
By applying the equation of electric potential, the value of
V at point P is




2 P 1 P P
V V V + =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = + =
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
P
r
q
r
q
k
r
kq
r
kq
V
V 720 V
P
=
SF027 63

Exercise:
1. Four point charges are located at the corners of a square that is 8.0 cm
on a side. The charges, going in rotation around the square, are q, 2q, -
3q and 2q, where q = 4.8 C as shown in figure below.

q
q 2
q 2
q 3
cm 8
Find the electric potential at the centre of the square.
(Given c0=8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
Ans. : 1.53 x 10
6
V.
Example 8 :

Two point charges q
1
=+2.40 nC and q
2
=-6.50 nC are
0.100 m apart. Point A is midway between them,
point B is 0.080 m from q
1
and 0.060 m from q
2
as
shown in figure below.

Find
a. the electric potential at point A,
b. the electric potential at point B,
c. the work done by the electric field on a charge of 2.5 nC that
travels from point B to point A.
(Young & freedman,pg.900,no.23.21)
1
q
+ -
2
q
B
A
m 060 . 0
m 080 . 0
m 050 . 0 m 050 . 0
SF027 65










(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2
C
-2
)
Solution: q
1
=+2.40x10
-9
C, q
2
=-6.50x10
-9
C,
r
1A
=r
2A
=0.050 m, r
1B
=0.080 m , r
2B
=0.060 m
a. By applying the equation of electric potential, the value of V at point
A is

A 2 A 1 A
V V V + =
V 738 V
A
=
A 2
2
A 1
1
A
r
kq
r
kq
V + =
1
q
+ -
2
q
B
A
m 060 . 0
m 080 . 0
m 050 . 0 m 050 . 0
SF027 66
b. By applying the equation of electric potential, the value of V at point
B is




c. Given q
0
=2.50x10
-9
C
The work done in bringing charge, q
0
from point B to point A is
given by


B 2 B 1 B
V V V + =
V 705 V
B
=
B 2
2
B 1
1
B
r
kq
r
kq
V + =
J 10 x 25 8 W
8
BA

= .
) (
B A 0 BA
V V q W =
0 BA AB
W q V =
Example 9 :

A test charge q
0
=+2.3x10
-4
C is 5 cm from a point
charge q. A work done of +4 J is required to
overcome the electrostatic force to bring the test
charge q
0
to a distance 8 cm from charge q.
Calculate :
a. the potential difference between point 8 cm
and 5 cm from the point charge, q.
b. the value of charge q.
c. the magnitude of the electric field strength for
charge q
0
at point 5 cm from the charge q.
(Given Coulombs constant, k = 9.0 x 10
9
N m
2
C
-2
)


SF027 68
Solution: q
0
=+2.30x10
-4
C





a. Given W
AB
= +4J,
From the figure above, r
A
= 5x10
-2
m, r
B
= 8x10
-2
m
By applying the equation of potential difference, the value of V
BA
is





b. The electric potential at point A due to point charge, q :




) (
) (
2
9
A
A
10 x 5
q 10 x 9
r
kq
V

= =
q 10 x 8 1 V
11
A
. =
q
B
A
m 10 x 5
2
m 10 x 8
2

e
F

0
AB
BA
W
V
q
=
4
1.74 10
BA
V V =
SF027 69
The electric potential at point B due to point charge, q :



The potential difference between point A and B is






c. By using the equation of electric field strength, thus

C 10 x 58 2 q
7
= .
q q x
11 11 4
10 8 . 1 10 125 . 1 10 74 . 1 =
2
A
A
r
kq
E =
and
1 5
A
C N 10 x 29 9 E

= .
q 10 x 125 1
10 x 8
q 10 x 9
r
kq
V
11
2
9
B
B
.
) (
) (
= = =

4
1.74 10
BA
V V =
BA B A
V V V =
SF027 70
1.4.5 Relation Between V and E
Consider a positive test charge, q
0
placed near a positive point
charge, q. To move q
0
towards q by a small displacement (Ar), work
done (AW) must be expended as shown in figure below .




The work done by the external force F is given by
and

0 r F W cos A = A
V q W
0
A = A
e
F

r
q
+
0
q +
r
q
F
V
0
e
A = A
e
F F =
r F W
e
A = A
Since
then
r
V
E
A
A
=
and E
q
F
0
e
=
r E V A = A
or
difference potential : V A
where
e) nt(distanc displaceme in change : r A
strength field electric : E
SF027 71
In the limit when Ar approaches zero,





The negative sign indicates that the value of electric potential
decreases in the direction of electric field.

is known as the electric potential gradient. It can be obtained
from the gradient of a V against r graph.

An alternative unit for electric field strength, E is volts per meter where

. The electric field produced by a pair of flat metal plates, one of which
is earthed and the other is at a potential of V is uniform. This can be
shown by equally spaced lines of force in figure 1.



dr
dV
E =
1 1
m V 1 C N 1

=
dr
dV
|
.
|

\
|
A
A
=
A
r
V
E
0 r
limit
SF027 72












The V against r graph for pair of flat metal plates can be shown in
figure 2.
From the figure 2,
The graph is a straight line with negative constant gradient,
thus
V +
Fig.1
d
0 V =
r
V
0
V
d
Fig. 2
) (
) (
0 d
V 0
r
V
E

= =
d
V
E = or
Ed V =
Uniform E
1.4.6 Changes in potential
energy , U
Electric potential energy, U of a point
charge, q which is at a distance of r
from point charge,q is
U = qV
If there is changes in potential energy
between 2 points in electric field,
U = q V
SF027 74
1.4.7 Electric Potential Energy of System of
point charges
The electric potential energy of the system of point charges is the work
done to bring all the charges from infinity to the points where the
charges are placed.








In the system of charges, suppose there were originally no charges at the
points A, B and C as in the figure above.
C
q3
B
q2
A
q1
r12
r23
r13
SF027 75
To set up the system,
- The charge q
1
is brought from infinity and placed at point A. Since there
where originally no charges, the charge q
1
doesnt experience any electric
force when it is brought from infinity, F
e
= 0
Work done,

- With the charge q
1
fixed at the point A, an electric field is produced. Hence
the work done to bring the charge q
2
from infinity to the point B which is at
the distance of r
12
from charge q
1
is,

Work done,

- With the charge q
1
fixed at point A and q
2
fixed at point B, the electric
potential at point C,

0 = =
A A
U W
12
2 1
r
q kq
U W
B B
= =
23
2
13
1
r
kq
r
kq
V
C
+ =
SF027 76
- Hence the work done to bring charge q
3
from infinity to the point C is

Work done,


- Therefore, the electric potential energy of the system,



|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = = =
23
2
13
1
3 3
r
kq
r
kq
q V q U W
C C C
3 2 1
U U U U + + =
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + + =
23
2
13
1
3
12
2 1
0
r
q
r
q
kq
r
q kq
23
3 2
13
3 1
12
2 1
r
q kq
r
q kq
r
q kq
+ + =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + =
23
3 2
13
3 1
12
2 1
r
q q
r
q q
r
q q
k U