Coloumb's Law Lecture

97.
315 Basic E&M and Power Engineering Topic: COULOMB FORCE
Lecture 1 TITLE
97.315 Basic E&M and Power Engineering Topic: COULOMB FORCE
• Theory
• Two point charges, N = 2
• Units
• Examples of calculation
• Two point charges on axis
• Two point charges, one off axis
• Theory
• Multiple point charges, N>2
• Examples of calculation
• Assignment
• Three point charges
• Force balancing • References
• Summary
Lecture 1 OUTLINE
- +
- -
+ +
Lecture 1 THEORY
Attractive
Repulsive
v r
F1 q1 v
r F1 v
q1 v F2
F2 q2
q2
- -
+ +
+
The force exerted by one point charge on another acts along the line joining the charges.
It varies inversely as the square of the distance separating the charges and is
proportional to the product of the charges. The force is repulsive if the charges have the
same sign and attractive if the charges have opposite signs.
Lecture 1 THEORY
v v v
q1 r12 = r2 - r1 Two point charges q1 and q2
v v
r1 q2 [F]-force; Newtons {N}
v F
r2
[q]-charge; Coulomb {C}
origin [r]-distance; meters {m}
[e]-permittivity; Farad/meter {F/m}
v kq1q2 ) Property of the medium

F12 = v 2 r12
r12
v v v
COULOMB FORCE ) r2 - r1 r12
r12 = v v = v UNIT VECTOR
r2 - r1 r12
Lecture 1 UNITS
Permittivity is a property of the medium.

eo Also known as the dielectric constant.
Permittivity of free space

e o = 8.854 ´ 10 -12 F / m
1
k= Coulomb’s constant
4pe o k = 8.98 ´ 10 9 m / F
v kq1q2 )
F12 = v 2 r12
r12
Lecture 1 THEORY
Permittivity of a medium e medium = e r e o

er Relative permittivity
For air e air = 1.0006 e o
e r > 1.0006
v kq1q2 )
1 F12 = v 2 r12
k= r12
4pe r e o
FORCE IN MEDIUM SMALLER
THAN FORCE IN VACUUM
Lecture 1 THEORY
Q
Insert oil drop
v
FE
V v
FG
Viewing
microscope
Eye
Metal plates
Q Q Millikan oil drop experiment

2 2
-19
Charging by contact e = 1.60217733 ´ 10 C
Lecture 1 THEORY
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY

1. Consistent units are essential. Distances must be in meters,
charge in coulombs and force in newtons. If you are given
distances in centimeters, inches, or furlongs, don’t forget to
convert! When a charge is given in microcoulombs, remember
that 1 mC = 1x10-6 C.
2. Remember that the electric force is a vector quantity. You
may want to go back and review vector algebra. It’s often
useful to use components in an (x, y, z) coordinate system. Be
sure to use the correct vector notation. If a symbol represents a
vector quantity, underline it or place an arrow over it. If you
get sloppy with your notation, you will get sloppy with your
thinking. It is essential to distinguish between vector quantities
and scalar quantities and to treat vectors properly as vectors.
Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT
Example (Question):
A negative point charge of 1mC is situated in air at the

origin of a rectangular coordinate system. A second negative
point charge of 100mC is situated on the positive x axis at the
distance of 500 mm from the origin. What is the force on the
second charge?
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution):
A negative point charge of 1mC is situated in air at the

origin of a rectangular coordinate system. A second negative
point charge of 100mC is situated on the positive x axis at the
distance of 500 mm from the origin. What is the force on the
second charge?
Y v
r12 = 500mm
v
q1 = -1 mC
F
origin X
q2= -100 mC
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution):
Y v
r12 = 500mm
v
q1 = -1 mC
F
origin X
q2= -100 mC
q1 = -1´ 10 -6 C
q2 = -1´ 10 - 4 C v q1q2 ) v
v
r12 = 0.5m F12 = v 2 r12 F12 = 3.59 Nxˆ
rˆ12 = xˆ
4peo r12
e » eo
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE END

Example (Question):
Two point charges of opposite sign are placed in air.

One charge (q1 = +1 C) is located at the origin while the other
(q2 = -1 C) is at x = 1.0 cm, y = 3.0 cm. What is the magnitude
and direction of the attractive force for each charge?
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution):
Two point charges of opposite sign are placed in air.

One charge (q1 = +1 C) is located at the origin while the other
(q2 = -1 C) is at x = 3.0 cm, y = 1.0 cm. What is the magnitude
and direction of the attractive force for each charge?
Y
3 cm q2= -1 C
1 cm
X
q1 = +1 C
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution): Y
3 cm q2= -1 C
r̂12
v
Force on q2 F12 1 cm
X
q1 = +1C q1 = +1 C
q2 = -1C v q1q2 )
v F12 = v 2 r12
r12 = .012 + .032 m = 0.0316m 4peo r12
.01 .03
ˆr12 = v xˆ + v yˆ v
r12 r12 F12 = Fx xˆ + Fy yˆ
e » eo
v 10 11
F12 = -8.99 ´10 Nx - 2.69 ´10 Nyˆ
ˆ
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution): Y
3 cm q2= -1 C
v
Force on q1 F21 1 cm
v v q1 = +1 C
X
F21 = -F12
v q1q2 )
F21 = v 2 r21
4peo r21
v
F21 = 8.99 ´1010 Nxˆ + 2.69 ´1011 Nyˆ
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
END
Example (Question)
A hydrogen atom consists of an electron of mass me =
9.1094 X 10-31 kg, moving about a proton of mass mp =
1.6726 X 10-27 kg at an average distance of 0.53 X 10-10 m.
Determine the ratio of the electrical and gravitational forces
acting between the two particles.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
A hydrogen atom consists of an electron of mass me =
9.1094 X 10-31 kg, moving about a proton of mass mp =
1.6726 X 10-27 kg at an average distance of 0.53 X 10-10 m.
Determine the ratio of the electrical and gravitational force
acting between the two particles.
Given: ± qe = ±1.602 X 10-19 C, me = 9.1094 X 10-31 kg, mp

= 1.6726 X 10-27 kg and r = 0.53 X 10 -10 m. Find Fe and Fg.
qe q p
From Coulomb’s law: Fe = k
r2
me m p
From Newton’s law: Fg = -G
r2
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
Given: ± qe = ±1.602 X 10-19 C, me = 9.1094 X 10-31 kg, mp
= 1.6726 X 10-27 kg and r = 0.53 X 10 -10 m. Find Fe and Fg.
qe q p
From Coulomb’s law: Fe = k
r2
Fe = -8.2 ´ 10 -8 N
From Newton’s law: me m p
Fg = -G
r2
Fg = -3.6 ´ 10 -47 N
So Fe/Fg = 2.3 X 10 39 The electric force is far stronger than the

gravitational force.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
END
Multiple point charges
It has been confirmed experimentally that when several

charges are present, each exerts a force given by
q1q2
F =k 2
r
on every other charge. The interaction between any two charges
is independent of the presence of all other charges.
The net force on any one charge is the vector sum off all
the forces exerted on it due to each of the other charges
interacting with it independently.
Lecture 1 THEORY
5 point charges: Net force on q5

v v
F25
Fnet
q1 v
F35 v v v
F15 F35 F45
q4 v v v v v
q5 Fnet = F15 + F25 + F35 + F45
v
v F45
F25
v
q2 F15
The fact that the electric forces
q3 add vectorially is called the
SUPERPOSITION PRINCIPLE
Lecture 1 THEORY
Example (Question)
The charging of individual raindrops is ultimately
responsible for the electrical activity in thunderstorms.
Suppose two drops with equal charge q are located on the x
axis at ± a. Find the electric force on a third drop with
charge Q located at an arbitrary point on the y axis.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
The charging of individual raindrops is ultimately
responsible for the electrical activity in thunderstorms.
Suppose two drops with equal charge q are located on the x
axis at ± a. Find the electric force on a third drop with
charge Q located at an arbitrary point on the y axis.
Y
Q
r = a2 + y2
q y
q q
X
a a
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
Y
Q
r = a2 + y2
q y
q q
X
a a
Charge Q is the same distance r from the two other charges,
so the force from each has the same magnitude:
qQ
F =k 2
r
The direction of the two forces are different.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Y
Example (Solution)
Fy v
Fnet
v Fy
Fnet
qQ
F =k 2 Fx Fx
r q
The x components cancel,
Q while the y components add.
qQ
2
r= a +y 2
q y Fy = 2k 2 cos(q )
r
q q
X
a a
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Question)
A positive charge +2q lies on the x axis at x = -a, and a
charge -q lies at x = +a. Find the point where the electric force on
a third charge Q would be zero.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
Q Y
2q -q
a a X
The point must lie on the x axis since off axis points cannot have
force vectors which point in opposite directions.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
Y
2q Q -q
a a X
Between the two charges the repulsion from one and the
attraction of the other would add and give a non-zero effect.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
Y
Q 2q -q
a a X
On the left of 2q, the Q charge would be closer to the 2q charge than
the -q charge. The force from 2q on Q would be larger partially
because it is closer and partially because it is a greater charge.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Example (Solution)
Y
2q -q Q
a a X
x
So the only location where the two forces might cancel is to the right
of both charges.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Y
Example (Solution)
2q -q Q
a a X
x
Q
v v v
v v Net force on charge Q Fnet = F2 qQ + FqQ
F- qQ F2 qQ
v (2q )Q
F2 qQ = k xˆ
( x + a) 2
For the net electric
v (- q )Q xˆ force to cancel, these
FqQ = k must have the same
( x - a) 2
magnitude but different
directions.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Y
Example (Solution)
2q -q Q
v (2q )Q a a X
F2 qQ = k 2
xˆ x
( x + a)
v
FqQ = k
(- q )Q xˆ (2q )Q (- q )Q
k xˆ + k xˆ = 0
( x - a) 2 ( x + a) 2
( x - a) 2
2 1
Simplifying gives: =
(x + a ) (x - a )2
2
x+a
Inverting and taking square roots gives = ±(x - a )
2
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Y
Example (Solution)
2q -q Q
a a X
x+a x
= ±(x - a )
2
Solving for + sign: x=a

2 +1
=a
( 2 +1 )
2
2 -1 ( )(
2 -1 2 + 1 )
( )
x = a 3 + 2 2 = 5.83a
Since x > a, this point is to the right of the -q and 2q charges and
therefore is indeed a point of zero force.
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Y Consider x - a » 0. Force
Example (Solution)
from -q charge dominates.
v
Fnet
2q
-q X
a a Q
x
Consider x - a >> 0. Force appears v

Fnet
to originate from one charge q only.
(2q-q) X
x Q
(q)
v
Fnet
At x= 5.83 a =0 END
Lecture 1 EXAMPLE
Coulomb’s law: Two point charges

• Questions (1-15)
Coulomb’s Law: Multiple point charges
• Questions (16-30)
Assignment goal:
Be able to solve the 75% and 100% questions
without making reference to your notes.
Start with the 25% questions and work your way up.
These questions are straight forward. Plug in the numbers and get your answer. Being able to
25 solve this type of question ensures you of at least a grade of 25% on a quiz or final exam
containing questions related to this lecture.
These questions require a few manipulations of equations or numbers before the answer can be
50 obtained. Being able to solve this type of question ensures you of at least a grade of 50% on a
quiz or final exam containing questions related to this lecture.
These question are quite involved and requires a thorough understanding of the topic material.
75 Being able to solve this type of question ensures you of at least a grade of 75% on a quiz or final
exam containing questions related to this lecture.
These questions are the most difficult and require a thorough understanding of the topic material
and also pull in topics from other lectures and disciplines. Being able to solve this type of
100 question ensures you an A grade on a quiz or final exam containing questions related to this
lecture.
75 100 These form excellent review questions when preparing for the quiz and final exam.
25 50 75 100
SELL EVALUATION SCALE

(1) A typical lightning flash delivers about 25

25 Coulombs of negative charge from clouds to ground.
How many electrons are involved?
(2) How many electrons are needed to produce a

25 charge of -1.0C?
(3) The electron and proton in a hydrogen atom are

25 52.9 pm apart. What is the magnitude of the electric
force between them?
(4) Two protons are fired directly at each other in a
25 vacuum chamber. What is the force of repulsion at
the instant 1.1 X 10-14 m apart?
(5) Two point-charges of +0.50 mC are 0.10 m apart.
25 Determine the electric force they each experience in
air.
(6) Two charges, one twice as large as the other, are
50 located 15 cm apart and experience a repulsive force
of 95 N. What is the magnitude of the larger charge.
ans : 1.259 ´ 10 -5 C
(7) How many excess electrons must be present on
50 each of two small spheres spaced 15.0 cm apart if the
spheres have equal charge and if the magnitude of the
force of repulsion between them is 5.00 X 10-9 N?
Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : 698 ´ 10 6

(8) A proton is at the origin and an electron is at the
50 point x = 0.41 nm, y = 0.36 nm. Find the electric
force on the proton.
( )
ans : - 5.83 ´1010 xˆ - 5.114 ´10 -10 yˆ N
(9) Two tiny spheres carrying the same charge are 1.0
50 m apart in vacuum and experience an electrical
repulsion of 1.0 N. What is their charge?
ans : 1.055 ´ 10 -5 C
(10) A very small conducting sphere in air carries a
75 charge of 5.0 picocoulombs and is 0.20 m from
another such sphere carrying a charge Q. If each
sphere experiences a mutual electrical repulsion of 2.0
mN, find Q.
ans : 1.78nC
(11) Two equally charged small spheres repel each
75 other with an electric force of 1.0 N when 0.50 m
apart, center-to-center, in air. What is the charge on
each sphere.
Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : 5.27 ´ 10 -6 C

(12) A 9.5 mC charge is at x = 16 cm, y = 5.0 cm, and
75 a -3.2 mC charge is at x = 4.4 cm, y = 11 cm. Find the
force on the negative charge.
ans : (14.24 xˆ - 7.36 yˆ )N
(13) Earth caries a net charge of -4.3 X 105 C. The
100 force due to this charge is the same as if it were
concentrated at earth’s center. How much charge
would you have to place on a 1.0 g mass in order for
the electrical and gravitation forces on it to balance?
(14) Compute the gravitational attraction between two
100 electrons separated by 1.0 mm in vacuum, and
compare that with the electrical repulsion they
experience.
(15) Two small spheres with the same mass m and
100 charge q are suspended from massless strings of
length l , as shown in the figure. Each string makes
and angle q with the vertical. Show that the charge on
each sphere is
q = ±2l sin (q ) mg tan (q )

k
l q q l
m, q m, q
(16) Three small negatively charged spheres in

25 vacuum are fixed on a horizontal straight line, the x
axis. One (-12.5 mC) is at the origin, another (-5.0
mC) is at x = 2.0 m, and the third (-10.0 mC) is 1.0 m
beyond that at 3.0 m. Compute the net electric force
on the last sphere due to the other two.
(17) Two charges +q and -q reside in vacuum on the y

50 axis at location of -1/2 d and +1/2 d respectively.
Determine the force on a third charge +Q located at a
distance of +x from the origin on the x axis.
qQd
ans : Ftot = 3
æ 2 d2 ö 2
4pe o çç x + ÷÷
è 4 ø
(18) The figure shows three tiny uniformly charged

50 spheres. Determine the net force on the middle sphere
due to the other two. Take q1 = +5 mC, q2 = -4.0 mC
and q3 = +10.0 mC.
q1 q2 q3
2.0 cm 6.0 cm
Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : -350 Nxˆ

(19) A 60 mC charge is at the origin, and a second

50 charge in on the positive x axis at x = 75 cm. If a
third charge placed at x = 50 cm experiences no net
force, what is the second charge?
Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : 15mC

(20) A charge 3q is at the origin, and a charge -2q is

50 on the positive x axis at x = a. Where would you
place a third charge so it would experience no electric
force.
Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : x = 5.45a

(21) In the figure take q1 = 68 mC, q2 = -34 mC, and

50 q3 = 15 mC. Find the electric force on q3.
Y (m)
4
3
q3
2
q1
1
q2
X (m)
1 2 3 4
ans : (1.642 xˆ - 1.474 yˆ )N

(22) The figure depicts three small charged spheres at

75 the vertices of a 3-4-5 right triangle. Calculate the
force exerted on q3 by the other two charges. Take q1
= +50 mC, q2 = -80 mC and q3 = +10 mC. Express the
forces using the (xˆ , yˆ ) unit vectors.
q3
X
40 cm
30 cm
q2
q1 50 cm
ans : (65.49 xˆ + 12.99 yˆ )N
(23) Two point charges are located on the y axis as

75 follows: Charge q1 = +3.80 nC is at y = 0.600 m, and
charge q2 = -2.50 nC is at the origin (y = 0). What is
the total force (magnitude and direction) exerted by
these two charges on a third point charge q3 = +5.00
nC located at y = -0.400 m?
ans : 531´10 -9 Nyˆ

(24) You have two charges +4q and one charge -q.
75 (a) How would you place them along a line so there’s
no net force on any of the three? (b) Is this
equilibrium stable or unstable?
(25) Two point charges are placed on the x axis as

75 follows: Charge q1 = +3.00 nC is located at x = 0.400
m, and charge q2 = +5.00 nC is at x = -0.200 m. What
are the magnitude and direction of the total force
exerted by these two charges on a negative point
charge q3 = -8.00 nC at the origin?
ans : 7.64 ´ 10 -6 N [- xˆ ]
(26) Four identical charges q form a square of side a.

75 Find the magnitude of the electric force on any of the
charges.
q2 æ 1ö
ans : ç 2 + ÷
4pe o a 2 è 2ø
(27) Three identical charges +q and a fourth charge -q

75 form a square of side a. (a) Find the magnitude of the
electric force on a charge Q placed at the center of the
square. (b) Describe the direction of this force.
(28) Two identical small metal spheres initially carry

100 charges q1 and q2, respectively. When they’re 1.0 m
apart they experience a 2.5 N attractive force. Then
they’re brought together so charge moves from one to
the other until they have the same net charge. They’re
again placed 1.0 m apart, and now they repel with a
2.5 N force. What were the original values of q1 and
q2?
(29) A shown in the figure a positive charge +Q is

100 located at the origin and an array of equally spaced
negative charges (-q) are placed along the x axis.
Obtain a compact expression for the total force on the
charge +Q due to all the other charges when: (a) N =
1, (b) N = 2, (c) N = 10, (d) N = 100, (e) N = 1000, (f)
N = infinity. You may find it instructive to plot total
force versus charge number N.
+Q -q -q -q -q -q -q -q
a a a a a a a X
(30) A shown in the figure a positive charge +Q is

100 located at the origin and an array of equally spaced
alternating sigh charges (±q) are placed along the x
axis. Obtain a compact expression for the total force
on the charge +Q due to all the other charges when:
(a) N = 1, (b) N = 2, (c) N = 10, (d) N = 100, (e) N =
1000, (f) N = infinity. You may find it instructive to
plot total force versus charge number N.
+Q -q +q -q +q -q +q -q
a a a a a a a X
(0) Textbook: U. S. Inan, A. S. Inan

“Engineering Electromagnetics”
(0) Inan p. 246 - 255
(1) J.D. Kraus, K. R. Carver “Electromagnetics” 2nd (1) Kraus p. 12 - 15
(2) Reitz, Milford, Christy “Foundations of Electromagnetic
theory” 4th
(2) Reitz p. 27 - 31
(3) M. Plonus “Applied Electromagnetics” (3) Plonus p. 2 - 4
(4) R. P. Winch “Electricity and Magnetism”
(4) Winch p. 258 - 266
(5) P. Lorrain, D. Corson “Electromagnetic fields and Waves”
2nd (5) Lorrain p. 40 - 42
(6) Duckworth “Electricity and Magnetism”
(6) Duckworth p. 5 - 8
(7) J.D. Jackson “Classical Electrodynamics” 2nd
(8) F. Ulaby, “Fundamentals of applied Electromagnetics” (7) Jackson p. 27 - 28
(8) Ulaby p. 7, 143 - 144
Lecture 1 REFERENCES
v
F1 q1 v
r F35
q1 v
F2
q2 q4
r q5
q1 v v v
F1 v F45
F2
q2 F25
v
v q1q2 q2 F15
F = k 2 rˆ
r v
F25 v
Fnet q3
v v v v v v v v
F15 F35 F45 Fnet = F15 + F25 + F35 + F45
Lecture 1 SUMMARY
SUPERPOSITION PRINCIPLE
Lecture 1 END

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97.

315 Basic E&M and Power Engineering Topic: COULOMB FORCE

v kq1q2 ) Property of the medium

Permittivity is a property of the medium.

Permittivity of free space

Permittivity of a medium e medium = e r e o

For air e air = 1.0006 e o

Q Q Millikan oil drop experiment

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY

A negative point charge of 1mC is situated in air at the

A negative point charge of 1mC is situated in air at the

Lecture 1 EXAMPLE END

Two point charges of opposite sign are placed in air.

Two point charges of opposite sign are placed in air.

Given: ± qe = ±1.602 X 10-19 C, me = 9.1094 X 10-31 kg, mp

So Fe/Fg = 2.3 X 10 39 The electric force is far stronger than the

Multiple point charges

It has been confirmed experimentally that when several

5 point charges: Net force on q5

Solving for + sign: x=a

Consider x - a >> 0. Force appears v

Coulomb’s law: Two point charges

Coulomb’s Law: Multiple point charges

SELL EVALUATION SCALE

(1) A typical lightning flash delivers about 25

(2) How many electrons are needed to produce a

(3) The electron and proton in a hydrogen atom are

Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : 698 ´ 10 6

Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : 5.27 ´ 10 -6 C

q = ±2l sin (q ) mg tan (q )

(16) Three small negatively charged spheres in

(17) Two charges +q and -q reside in vacuum on the y

(18) The figure shows three tiny uniformly charged

Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : -350 Nxˆ

(19) A 60 mC charge is at the origin, and a second

Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : 15mC

(20) A charge 3q is at the origin, and a charge -2q is

Lecture 1 ASSIGNMENT ans : x = 5.45a

(21) In the figure take q1 = 68 mC, q2 = -34 mC, and

ans : (1.642 xˆ - 1.474 yˆ )N

(22) The figure depicts three small charged spheres at

(23) Two point charges are located on the y axis as

ans : 531´10 -9 Nyˆ

(25) Two point charges are placed on the x axis as

(26) Four identical charges q form a square of side a.

(27) Three identical charges +q and a fourth charge -q

(28) Two identical small metal spheres initially carry

(29) A shown in the figure a positive charge +Q is

(30) A shown in the figure a positive charge +Q is

(0) Textbook: U. S. Inan, A. S. Inan

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