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Chapter 17 Electric Fields (A2)

This document provides an overview of key concepts in electric fields, including: 1) Coulomb's law and how it relates the electric force between two charges to their separation distance and magnitudes. 2) How electric field lines represent the direction and strength of electric fields around point charges. 3) The relationship between electric potential, potential gradient, and electric field strength. 4) Similarities and differences between electric and gravitational fields. 5) Examples of calculations applying these concepts.

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Pathmanathan Nadeson
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297 views45 pages

Chapter 17 Electric Fields (A2)

This document provides an overview of key concepts in electric fields, including: 1) Coulomb's law and how it relates the electric force between two charges to their separation distance and magnitudes. 2) How electric field lines represent the direction and strength of electric fields around point charges. 3) The relationship between electric potential, potential gradient, and electric field strength. 4) Similarities and differences between electric and gravitational fields. 5) Examples of calculations applying these concepts.

Uploaded by

Pathmanathan Nadeson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CAMBRIDGE A LEVEL PHYSICS

ELECTRIC FIELDS (A2)

L E A R N I N G O U TC O M E S
NUMBER i ii.

LEARNING OUTCOME
U n d e r s t a n d C o u l o m b s L a w Learn about electric fields around point charges and how to calculate the electric field strength at a point What is meant by the term electric potential? Understand the relationship betwe en the potential gradient and electric field strength, and electric force Look at the similarities and differences between electric fields and gravitational fields

ii iii

iv

COULOMBS LAW
Charged particles are capable of exerting an electric force on one another. Like charges repel each other, while unlike charges attract each other. We can use Coulombs Law to calculate the magnitude of the electric force that one charged particle exerts on another. Coulombs Law is applicable only when the two charges are in free space or air.

COULOMBS LAW
Coulombs Law states that the electric force that a charged particle exerts on another charged particle is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of their distance of separation. The direction of this electric force is also along the line joining these particles.

COULOMBS LAW
Mathematically, the electric force, F is given by = where = = . and are the magnitude of the point charges, in C and is the separation between the point charges, m. is known as the relative permittivity of free space and has a value of 8.85 10 .

COULOMBS LAW
The direction of the force would be along the line joining both charges and would:
point away from both charges if both charges have the same (repulsive),and towards both charges if they have opposite signs (attractive).

COULOMBS LAW

Examples 21.1 and 21.2, pages 696 and 697, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


Electric fields exist around every charged particle. To find out how the electric field around a charged particles look, we use two fundamental charges, positive and negative point charges and look at the direction of forces they exert on a positive test charge.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


We place the positive test charge around the positive charge. The arrows show the direction of the force that the positive charge will exert on the positive test charge (repulsive). Two points to note: I. The direction of the arrows, all away from the positive charge. II. The lengths of the arrows decrease as the distance from the charge increases.
Diagram 21.18(a), page 701, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


If we draw more vectors, and connect the heads and tails of vectors that radially adjacent, we obtain the shape as seen on the diagram on the left. These lines around the positive point charge are known as the electric field lines.
Source: http://demo.webassign.net/ebooks/cj6demo/art/images/c18/nw0736n.gif.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


The field lines are radially symmetrical, and are spaced further apart as we move away from the charge, and are directed away from the positive charge.
Source: http://demo.webassign.net/ebooks/cj6demo/art/images/c18/nw0736n.gif.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


We place the positive test charge around the negative charge. The arrows show the direction of the force that the negative charge will exert on the positive test charge (attractive). Two points to note: I. The direction of the arrows, all towards the negative charge. II. The lengths of the arrows decrease as the distance from the charge increases.
Diagram 21.18(b), page 701, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


If we draw more vectors, and connect the heads and tails of vectors that radially adjacent, we obtain the shape as seen on the diagram on the left. These lines around the negative point charge are known as the electric field lines.
Source: http://demo.webassign.net/ebooks/cj6demo/art/images/c18/nw0737n.gif

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


The field lines are radially symmetrical, and are spaced further apart as we move away from the charge, and are directed towards the negative charge.
Source: http://demo.webassign.net/ebooks/cj6demo/art/images/c18/nw0737n.gif

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


The electric field strength, E at a point in space is defined as the magnitude of electric force acting on per unit of positive test charge. We can use Coulombs Law and the definition of the E field strength at a point to derive an equation for the E field strength.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


For a field around a point charge (positive or negative) in free space, we can use Coulombs Law to derive = . Units of E is / . = magnitude of the point charge, C and = distance between the point charge and the point, m.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S


The direction of the electric field would be along the line joining the charge and point and:

away from the charge if the charge is positive, towards the charge if the charge is negative.

ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND C H A R G E D PA R T I C L E S

Examples 21.5 and Exercise 21.26, pages 701 and 716, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL
The electric potential, at point in space is defined as the work done in bringing per unit of positive charge from infinity to that point. In equation form, The units of V is J C-1 . = =

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL
A few points to note: The sign of the electric potential around a point charge depends on the sign of the charge. It will be positive if the point charge is positive, and negative if the charge is negative. The electric potential increases if the point is nearer to a positive point charge. The electric potential decreases if the point is nearer to a negative point charge.

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL
A few points to note (contd): If the electric potential at a point is due to more than one point charge, we find the algebraic sum of the electric potential due to the individual point charges. The electric potential, =

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL

Example 23.3, page 764, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL

Example 23.4, page 765, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL
How do we relate electric potential, V to electric potential energy, U? We can calculate the U of a charge placed in an electric field by using = where q = magnitude of the charged particle, in C. Note that a change in potential results in a change in potential energy; i.e. work done by or against the electric field.

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL

Example 23.5, page 766, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

ELEC TR IC POTENTIAL

Exercise 23.19, page 780, Sears and Zemanskys University Physics, Young and Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson Education, San Francisco, 2012.

P OT E N T I A L G R A D I E N T
The potential gradient is the derivative of the electric potential function, ( ). The negative of the potential gradient at a point gives the magnitude of the electric field strength, at that particular point. Mathematically, = . This equation is not necessary to be remembered.

P OT E N T I A L G R A D I E N T
Let us analyse the potential for a positive point charge. This function is = .
Where is the gradient highest? Where is the gradient lowest? What does the two answers above tell us about the E field strength around a positive point charge?

G R AV I TAT I O N A L F I E L D S v s . ELECTRIC FIELDS

G R AV I TAT I O N A L F I E L D S v s . ELECTRIC FIELDS


Gravitational field Potential in a radial field = kg-1 Electric field = 4 1 Units : J Scalar Always negative ( <0) Units: J C-1 Scalar Can be either positive or negative (depending on the sign of Q). Work done in bringing per unit of positive charge from infinity to that point =

Definition of potential (at a Work done in bringing per point) unit of mass from infinity to that point Potential energy =

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2008, Paper 4, Question 4.

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2008, Paper 4, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2008, Paper 4, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2008, Paper 4, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2008, Paper 4, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2010, Paper 42, Question 4.

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2010, Paper 42, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2010, Paper 42, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2011, Paper 41, Question 4.

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2011, Paper 41, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2011, Paper 41, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2011, Paper 41, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2011, Paper 41, Question 4 (contd).

EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2011, Paper 41, Question 4 (contd).

HOMEWORK
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Winter 09, Paper 41, question 5. Summer 10, Paper 41, question 4. Summer 11, Paper 41, question 1. Summer 11, Paper 41, question 1. Winter 11, Paper 41, question 4.

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