Chapter 18

Electric Forces and

Electric Fields

These materials are copyrighted to WILEY are restricted to personal use only 1
18.1 The Origin of Electricity

The electrical nature of matter is inherent

in atomic structure.

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mp 1.673 10 kg

27
mn 1.675 10 kg

31
me 9.11 10 kg

19
e 1.60 10 C
coulombs
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18.1 The Origin of Electricity

In nature, atoms are normally

found with equal numbers of protons
and electrons, so they are electrically
neutral.

By adding or removing electrons

from matter it will acquire a net
electric charge with magnitude equal
to e times the number of electrons
added or removed, N.

q Ne

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18.1 The Origin of Electricity

Example 1 A Lot of Electrons

How many electrons are there in one coulomb of negative charge?

q Ne

q 1.00 C 18
N 6.25 10
e 1.60 10-19 C

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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

It is possible to transfer electric charge from one object to another.

The body that loses electrons has an excess of positive charge, while
the body that gains electrons has an excess of negative charge.

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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ELECTRIC CHARGE

During any process, the net electric charge of an isolated system remains
constant (is conserved).

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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

Like charges repel and unlike

charges attract each other.

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18.3 Conductors and Insulators

Not only can electric charge exist on an object, but it can also move
through and object.

Substances that readily conduct electric charge are called electrical

conductors.

Materials that conduct electric charge poorly are called electrical

insulators.

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18.4 Charging by Contact and by Induction

Charging by contact.

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18.4 Charging by Contact and by Induction

Charging by induction.

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18.4 Charging by Contact and by Induction

The negatively charged rod induces a slight positive surface charge

on the plastic.
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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Figure 18.9 Each point charge exerts a force on the other. Regardless of
whether the forces are (a) attractive or (b) repulsive, they are directed
along the line between the charges and have equal magnitudes. 12
18.5 Coulomb’s Law

COULOMB’S LAW

The magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by one point charge

on another point charge is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them.
q1 q2 8.85 10 12
C2 N m 2
F k
r2
k 1 4 o 8.99 109 N m2 C2
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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Example 3 A Model of the Hydrogen Atom

In the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, the electron is in orbit about the
nuclear proton at a radius of 5.29x10-11m. Determine the force adding on the
electron, assuming the orbit to be circular.

q1 q2
F k
r2
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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

9 2 2 19 2
q1 q2 8.99 10 N m C 1.60 10 C
F k 2
8.22 10 8 N
r2 5.29 10 11 m

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Example 4 Three Charges on a Line

Determine the magnitude and direction of the net force on q1.

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

q1 q2 8.99 109 N m 2 C 2 3.0 10 6 C 4.0 10 6 C

F12 k 2 2
2.7 N
r 0.20m

q1 q3 8.99 109 N m 2 C2 3.0 10 6 C 7.0 10 6 C

F13 k 2
8.4 N
r2 0.15m

F F12 F13 2.7 N 8.4N 5.7N

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Three charges lie along the x -axis as in Figure. The

positive charge q1=15 C is at x = 2.0 m, and the positive
charge q2 = 6.0 C is at the origin.
Where must a negative charge q3 be placed on the x-axis
so that the resultant electric force on it is zero?

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

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 q1 q2 8.99 109 N m 2 C 2 4.0 10 6 C 6.0 10 6 C
F12 k 2 2
9.6 N
r 0.15m

q1 q3 8.99 109 N m 2 C 2 4.0 10 6 C 5.0 10 6 C

F13 k 2
18 N
r2 0.10m

F= 𝐹𝑥2 + 𝐹𝑦2 = 21𝑁 2 + 9.2𝑁 2= 23N

𝐹𝑦 9.2
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 =24o
𝐹𝑥 21
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18.6 The Electric Field

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18.6 The Electric Field

Example 6 A Test Charge

The positive test charge has a magnitude of

3.0x10-8C and experiences a force of 6.0x10-8N.

(a) Find the force per coulomb that the test charge
experiences.

(b) Predict the force that a charge of +12x10-8C

would experience if it replaced the test charge.

F 6.0 10 8 N
(a) 2.0 N C
qo 3.0 10 8 C

(b) F 2.0 N C 12.0 10 8 C 24 10 8 N

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18.6 The Electric Field

DEFINITION OF ELECRIC FIELD

The electric field that exists at a point is the electrostatic force experienced
by a small test charge placed at that point divided by the charge itself:

F
E
qo

SI Units of Electric Field: newton per coulomb (N/C)

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18.6 The Electric Field

(a) The electric field at A due to the negatively charged

sphere is downward, toward the negative charge.
(b) The electric field at P due to the positively charged
conducting sphere is upward, away from the
positive charge.

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18.6 The Electric Field

Example 7 An Electric Field Leads to a Force

The charges on the two metal spheres and the ebonite rod create an electric
field at the spot indicated. The field has a magnitude of 2.0 N/C. Determine
the force on the charges in (a) and (b)

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18.6 The Electric Field

(a) F qo E 2.0 N C 18.0 10 8 C 36 10 8 N

(b) F qo E 2.0 N C 24.0 10 8 C 48 10 8 N

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18.6 The Electric Field

Electric fields from different sources

add as vectors.

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18.6 The Electric Field

Example 10 The Electric Field of a Point Charge

The isolated point charge of q=+15μC is

in a vacuum. The test charge is 0.20m
to the right and has a charge qo=+0.80μC.

Determine the electric field at point P.

F
E
qo

q1 q2
F k
r2

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18.6 The Electric Field

q qo
F k
r2
8.99 109 N m 2 C 2 15 10 6 C 0.80 10 6 C
2
2.7N
0.20m

F 2.7 N
E 3.4 106 N C
qo 0.80 10-6 C

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18.6 The Electric Field

F q qo 1
E k 2
qo r qo

The electric field does not depend on the test charge.

q
Point charge q: E k
r2

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18.6 The Electric Field

Example 11 The Electric Fields from Separate Charges May Cancel

Two positive point charges, q1=+16μC and q2=+4.0μC are separated in a

vacuum by a distance of 3.0m. Find the spot on the line between the charges
where the net electric field is zero.

q
E k
r2
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18.6 The Electric Field

q E1 E 2
E k
r2
16 10 6 C 4.0 10 6 C
k k 2
d2 3.0m d
2
2.0 3.0m d d2

d 2.0 m
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18.7 Electric Field Lines

Electric field lines or lines of force provide a map of the electric field
in the space surrounding electric charges.

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18.7 Electric Field Lines

Electric field lines are always directed away from positive charges and
toward negative charges.

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18.7 Electric Field Lines

Electric field lines always begin on a positive charge

and end on a negative charge and do not stop in
midspace.

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18.7 Electric Field Lines

The number of lines leaving a positive charge or entering a

negative charge is proportional to the magnitude of the charge.

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18.7 Electric Field Lines

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18.7 Electric Field Lines

Conceptual Example 13 Drawing Electric Field Lines

There are three things wrong with part (a) of the drawing.
What are they?

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