17.1 Concept of 17.

2 Uniform
an electric field electric fields

Electric Fields
17.3 Force
17.5 Electric
between point
potential
charges
Q
V 17.4 Electric field
4 o r of a point charge

kq
E 2
r
 Electric Fields
• Electric charges exert forces on each other
when they are a distance apart. The word
‘Electric field’ is used to explain this action at a
distance.
• An Electric field is defined as the region of
space where a stationary charge experiences
force.
 The direction of Electric Fields
• The direction of electric field is defined as the direction in
which a positive charge would move if it were free to do so.
So the lines of force can be drawn with arrows that go from
positive to negative.
• Electric field lines are also called force lines.
• The field lines are originated from the positive charge and
they end up at the negative charge.

Positive Charge Electric Field Negative Charge Electric Field

(animated demo) (animated demo)
Remember, for any ELECTRIC FIELD.....

 The lines of force starts

on a positive charge and
end on a negative charge.
 The lines of force never
touch or cross.
 The strength of the
electric field is indicated
by the closeness of the
lines; means the closer
they are, the stronger the
field.
 Electric Field Strength
• Electric field strength at a point is defined as
the force per unit charge acting on a small
positive charge placed at that point.
• If a force experienced by a positive charge +Q
placed in the field is F, then the field strength,
F
E is given by E  Q

Note : Remember, the symbol E is also used for ‘energy’.

 Unit of Electric Field Strength
• The unit of Electric field strength for the
F
equation E 
Q is given by N C⁻¹

where force is measured in Newtons and

charge in Coulombs.

Note : Remember, later we shall see that there is another

common SI unit for electric field strength, Vm⁻¹ . However the
2 units are equivalent.
 The field strength (E) of the uniform field
between charged parallel plates in terms of
potential difference (V) and separation (d)

Positive Charge Q

F
The field strength of the uniform field between charged parallel plates in terms
of potential difference and separation.

The figure illustrates parallel plates at a distance

d apart with a potential difference V between
them.
A charge +Q in the uniform field
between the plates has a force F
acting on it.
To move the charge towards the positive plate
would require work to be done on the charge.
Continued from previous slide…

Work done is given by the product of force and

distance.
To move the charge from one
plate to other requires work W
and is given by W = Fd,
where F is force and d is the distance.
Now lets see what is potential difference.
(see next slide)
Continued from previous slide…
So what is potential difference?
 If the electric field is NOT UNIFORM, it is not so simple to calculate
the energy change due to moving a charge in the field.

 It is therefore useful to define a quantity which describes the work

done in moving unit charge from one point in the field to another
point. We call this quantity the POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE between the
two points and is given by V  W
Q

• V is the symbol for potential difference, which has units of JOULES

PER COULOMB, (JC-1). As this is an important quantity, it is given its
own unit, the VOLT, (V).

• "One volt is the potential difference between two points in an

electric field such that one joule of work is done in moving one
coulomb of charge from one point to another."
Continued from previous slide…

By rearranging equation on potential

difference, work done W = VQ
 Thus W = Fd = VQ
 F V
Q d

F
But is the force per unit charge and this is
Q

the definition of electric field strength.

Thus, for a uniform field, the field strength E is
V
given by E =
d
Continued from previous slide…

For parallel plates separated by a distance d, with a

potential difference V, the uniform electric field
within the plates has strength:
V
E
d

We sometimes use an alternate unit for E.

Voltage
E
distance
Volts

metre
 Vm 1
Calculate the forces on charges in uniform
electric fields.
F V

Q d

V V
E  ,E 
d d
Sample problem 1 : Calculate E

Two parallel plates separated by 0.1m have a

potential difference ΔV = 100V. What is the Electric
Field strength between the plates?

V
E
d
100V

0.1m
 1000Vm 1
 Sample problem 2 : Calculate E and F
• Two metal plates 5.0cm apart have a potential
difference of 1000 V between them. Calculate :
(a) The strength of the electric field between plates.
(b) The force on a charge of 5.0 nC between the plates.

Solution :
V 1000
(a) E = , E = 0.05
= 2.0 x 10⁴ Vm⁻¹
d

(b) F = EQ, F = 2.0 x 10⁴ x 5.0 x 10⁻⁹ = 1.0 x 10⁻⁴ N

 The effect of a uniform
electric field on the motion of
charged particles
 Energy Changes in Electric Fields
Consider the movement of a charge in a uniform electric field ;

To lift a charge towards the top (positive) plate we

exert an external force;
Therefore, Work Done by external Force is :

A
B W = Fext x d
= EQ. d (since F = EQ)

= V xQxd (since E =
V )
10 m
d d

q = +2 C q = +4 C W = QV
E = 10 N C-1
Sample problem 3 : Calculate the Work done

The work done on each charges are :

B
A

E = 10 N C-1 10 m

q = +2 C q = +4 C

w  QEd w  QEd
 2 10 10  4 10 10
 200 J  400 J
 Sample problem 3 : Calculate V

We define the Work done (in moving charge from one

position to another) per unit charge as the change in
potential or potential difference, V.
W
V
q

Taking the data of W from previous sample problem,

calculate V.

+2C Charge, +4C Charge,

200 J 400 J
V V
2C 4C
 100 JC 1  100 JC 1
 Electron Volt

Work done when a charge of one electron moves through a

potential difference of 1 V is one electron volt (e.V).
The equivalent energy is:
Since W = QV
Q = 1.6 x 10-19C, and 1 V = 1 J C-1

hence 1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19C x 1 J C-1

1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the velocity using Equations of Motion
(with sample problem)

Consider a positive charge placed in a uniform electric field,

as shown in the diagram below.

Electric Field
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
1000V

+
q=10μC
0.1m
FE m=0.1g
0V
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Find the velocity of the charge after it has travelled a distance of

5 cm. Use the following information:
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the velocity using Equations of Motion
(with sample problem)
(continued from previous slide)

Electric Field
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
1000V

+
Q=10μC
V 0.1m
E m=0.1g
d
0V
1000
  1 10 4 Vm 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -

0 .1
 1 10 4 NC 1
F
F  QE a
m
 10  10 6  1 10 4 10 1
  4  103 ms  2
 10 1 N 10
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the velocity using Equations of Motion
(with sample problem)
(continued from previous slide)

Can use the equations of motion to determine the speed of

particle after travelling for 5cm.

v1  0ms 1 d  0.05m a  103 ms 2 v2  ?

v 22  v12  2as
v22  2as (v1  0ms 1 )
v2  2as
v2  2 103  0.05
v2  10ms 1 towards the -' ve plate
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the velocity using Change in K.E
(with sample problem)

Can also determine the velocity by using the change in kinetic

energy of the particle.
Electric Field
+ + + + + + + + + + + +

1000 V

A
V
E 0.05 m
Q=10μC
d 0.1 m
m=0.1g
 10000Vm 1 B

0V
- - - - - - - - - - - -
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the velocity using Change in K.E
(with sample problem)
(Continued )

Electric Field
To find the potential difference + + + + + + + + + + + +
1000 V

between A and B, rearrange the A

0.05 m
equation, 0.1 m
B

V
E
0V
- - - - - - - - - - - -
s
Q=10μC
 V  Es
1 m=0.1g
 V  10000Vm  0.05m
 V  500V
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the velocity using Change in K.E
(with sample problem)
(Continued )

Now calculate the kinetic energy at point B. If the charge is

released at rest, Electric Field
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
1000 V
K.E at B (Gain in K.E) = P.E lost
A Q=10μC
1
2 mv 2
 qV 0.1 m
0.05 m
m=0.1g
B
2qV
v  - - - - - - - - - - - -
0V


 
2  10 10 6  500
10  4
 10ms 1 towards the -' ve plate
 Motion in an Electric Field
Find the K.E from the work done
(with sample problem, data from previous slide)

The work done by the field on the charge can be calculated

easily because it is equal to the gain in kinetic energy by the
charge.

EK  W  qV Electric Field

+ + + + + + + + + + + +
1000 V
5
 10  500 A
0.05 m
Q=10μC
 5 10 3 0.1 m
B m=0.1g
 5mJ - - - - - - - - - - - -
0V
 For a charge that enters the Electric Field...

Straight line parabola

+q Straight line

Horizontal Component of the velocity (H component)

vh  v1h  v2 h horizontal velocity is constant

L L
vh  so t 
t vh
a0 as v  0
For a charge that enters the Electric Field...
(continued from previous slide)

Vertical Component of the velocity (v

component)
F QE
As it is initially travelling horizontally,
Now av  
m m
vy1 = 0 m/s
Where vy1 is initial vertical velocity And , v y2  at v = u + at
and vy2 is final vertical velocity
QE L
 S = ut + ½ at
m vx
2
L
So, s v  2 av  
1

 vx 
Straight parabol
line a
+ Straight
2
q line L
 s v  1 2 a v 2
vx
The direction of the force in an electric field

Electric Field
+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Direction of F on +

Direction of F on -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The direction of the force depends on the charge

on the particle.
Assumptions
(just for your info only)

Assumptions
- ignore fringe effects (ie. assume that the field is completely uniform)

- ignore gravity (the acceleration due to gravity is insignificant compared with

the acceleration caused by the electric field).

> For a charge that enters the field :

-Before entering electric field, the charge follows a straight line path
(no net force)

-As soon as it enters the field, the charge begins to follow a parabolic
path (constant force always in the same direction)

- As soon as it leaves the field, the charge follows a straight line

path (no net force)
Electric field strength (definition)

• force per unit charge.

• If the electric field
strength is denoted by
the symbol E, then the
equation can be
rewritten in symbolic
form.
• Unit: N Cˉ¹ or V mˉ¹
 Parallel Conducting Plates - Recall
d = separation between
V1 plates
+++++++++ V1> V2
V
E • Edge effect. At the
V2 edges between the
ˉ ˉ ˉ ˉˉˉˉˉˉ
plates the electric field is
non-uniform.
• We normally take the
• Magnitude of electric field electric field between the
strength plates as uniform in
V calculation and neglect
E
d the edge effect.
where V = potential • E points towards lower
difference = V1 – V2 potential.
 Equations of uniform acceleration - Recall
Where:
u – initial velocity
There are four equations v – final velocity
for uniform acceleration a – acceleration
(also known as the t – time taken
kinematic equations)
which are used to s – displacement
describe the motion of These are vector
an object: equations.

v=u+at Assumptions
v² = u² + 2as • acceleration is
s = ½ (u + v) t constant
s = ut + ½ a t² • air resistance
negligible
4
17.3 Force between point charges
Coulomb's law Meaning of point charge
The force between two • The separation must
point charges is be larger than the
directly proportional to size of the charge.
the product of the
charges and inversely
proportional to the
square of their
distance apart.
17.3 Force between point charges
Like charges
repulsive force
r
F F
 
q1 q2
point charge point charge

attractive force
F F
 Θ
q1 -q2
 q1q2
o 
4r 2 F
Permittivity of free space
 Coulomb’s Law

www.wikipremed.com/01physicscards.php?card=628
Force between charges as separation increases
Torsion balance (info)
 Example 17.5 Example 17.6
Two charges of 8.0 mC and Find the force of
- 6.0 mC attract each repulsion between two
other with a force of 3.0 x small positive charges 8.0
103 N in vacuum.
Calculate the distance nC and 40 nC
between them. respectively at a distance
(Ans. 12 m) apart in air of 10.0 cm.
Solution (Ans 2.9 x 10-4 )
8 x10 3
( 6 x10 3
) Solution
9 9
 3 x10 3  9 x10 9 9 8 x10 ( 40 x10 )
r2 F  9 x10 x
r = 12 m 0.12
[attractive force then it is = 2.9x10ˉ⁴ N [repulsive]
negative sign]
 Example 17.7 Solution
Two charges 4.0 C and F = force of 16 C on Q
16.0 C are separated by k16Q
a distance of 8.0 cm in 
vacuum. Find a point (8  x ) 2
P = force of 4 C on Q
where the net force on a
charge is zero from the k 4(Q)

4.0 C charge. (Ans. x2
2.67 cm) For net force equals zero,
F= P
16x² = 4(8-x)²
4.0 C Q 16.0 C
F Taking square root,
  P  4x = ± 2(8-x)
x
8.0 cm x= 2.67 cm
or – 8 cm (impossible)
 Example 17.8
-10 C +10C Three point charges are
 
placed at the corner of an
equilateral triangle. Draw
lines to represent force
vectors to show the
 +5C resultant force acting on 5
resultant force C charge.

force due to
+10C on
+5C
17.4 Electric field of a point charge
equipotential
surfaces.
E

q
r

• Non-uniform field. point P

• field strength
decreases with
Electric field of a point charge q at a
distance from the Point P a distance r from the charge.
charge.
 Electric Field and Potential
• The electric field is radially outward from the
point charge in all directions. The circles
represent spherical equipotential surfaces.
• The electric field lines are at right angle to the
equipotential surfaces.
• The electric field from any number of point
charges can be obtained from a vector sum of
the individual fields. A positive number is taken
to be an outward field; the field of a negative
charge is toward it.
 Q
E
Derivation of 4 o r 2
Show that the electric field Suppose a test charge q is
strength due to a point placed a distance r from
charge q a distance r charge Q.
away is given by Force on charge q,
Q Qq
E F
4 o r 2
4 o r 2
Electric field strength = F/q
Steps: (definition)
Consider a charge Q
establishing an electric Q
E
field around itself. 4 o r 2
Example 17.11 Solution
Calculate the electric q
E
field strength at a 4 o r 2
distance of 8.0 mm
from a 40 C charged 40 x10 6

particle. 4 (8.85 x10 12 )(8 x10 3 ) 2
(Ans. 5.62 x 109 N C-1)
= 5.62 x 109 N C-1
 Example 17.12 Take direction to the right as
Two point charges 4.0 C positive.
and 6.0 C are 20 mm Electric field due 4.0 C
apart. Calculate the kq 4 x10 6
E1  2 
electric field strength at r 4 (8.85 x10 12 )(0.01) 2
the mid-point between the = 3.596 x108 N/C
two charges. Electric field due 6.0 C
6
8 -1
(Ans. 1.8 x10 N C towards E   kq  6 x10
4.0 C)  12
2 2 2
r 4 (8.85 x10 )( 0.01)
kq
E 2 = -5.395 x108 N/C
r [negative shows opp. in
4.0 C 6.0 C direction
E2 E1
 x  E = E1 + E2
= - 1.8x108 N/C
20 mm
www.berkeleyscience.com/maxwells.htm
 Electric field and potential
Quantity New quantity
Force electric field strength =
F force acting on unit
charge. E = F/Q
E
Work Potential = work per unit
W charge, V = W/Q
V
work = F x x potential = E x x
or F = rate of or E = rate of change in
change in energy potential with distance
with distance. E = - dV/dx
F = dW/dx
 Direction of field

• A test positive charge place near a fixed

positive charge is repelled i.e. it accelerate to a
place where the resultant force is zero.
• Or we can say that the fixed positive charge
creates en electric field round itself. When a
test positive charge is place in the electric field
it accelerate in the direction of the field to a
place where the field is zero.
 Action at points.
The point of a pin is highly curved i.e. small radius
of curvature, and if it is charged an intense
electric field arises near the point. Background
ionizing radiation produces electrons in the air
which are accelerated by the intense field and
cause ionization of the air by collision. Ions
having the same sign as the charge of the pin
are strongly repelled from it to create an
electric ‘wind’. Ions with charges opposite to
the pin are attracted to the point and neutralize
its charge. The net result of the ‘action at
points’ is the apparent loss of charge from the
pin to the surrounding air by what is termed a
point or corona discharge.
Lightning conductor.
The safe discharge of a
thunder cloud by a
lightning conductor on a
tall building depends on
action at points. It
occurs at the tip of the
metal spike (at the top of
the building) which is
connected by a thick
copper conductor to a
plate in the ground. As
well as losing charge a
sharp point can also
collect it.
 17.4 Electric potential
• Field strength is a vector and addition by the
parallelogram law is more complex.
• When describing a field, potential is usually a
more useful quantity than field strength
because, it is a scalar and can be added
directly when more than one field is
concerned.
• When a test positive charge is place near a
fixed point charge it experiences a force that
accelerates it to infinity (far away) where the
force between the charges are zero.
 Electric Potential Energy
• We can also think in terms of potential energy. When
the test positive charge is place near a fixed charge it
had high potential energy, thus it would want to move
to a place of zero potential energy where the force is
zero.
• The potential difference (V, or V) between two
points in an electric field is the work done in moving a
point positive charge, q from one point to the other.
Usually from a higher to a lower potential.
V = W/q
• When the point positive charge moved from a higher
potential to a lower potential the work done by the field
can be thought as a transformation of electric potential
energy to a gain in kinetic energy.
 Definition.
The potential at a point is the work done per unit
charge in bringing a positive charge from
infinity to the point.
• Potential at infinity is zero (V = 0). The force
on a charge far away from another charge is
zero.
• To calculate the potential at a point we first
calculate the work done in moving a point
positive charge, q from infinity to the point.
r
• W =  F.dr


 Derivation: (for info)
• Suppose the potential • the work done on the
V due to a charge Q at charge q in bringing it
P a distance r away is from point P to infinity
 
required. If the charge is W   F .dr  kqQ  1 dr
r2
Q creates an electric r r

field around itself, then  1  kQq
 kqQ   
the force on a point r r r
positive charge q place • Potential at P is
at point P a distance r V = W/q (definition)
from the charge is Q
V
Q1Q2
F k 2 
Q1Q2
4 o r
r 4 o r 2
 Potential at a point
Potential V at a point P a
distance r from a point
positive charge Q is (no
derivation but know how
to use). Q
V
4 o r r
point P

• Potential is more useful charge Q E
than potential energy. It
is the potential energy per
unit coulomb of test
positive charge place in
an electric field.
• Ep = Vq
 Example 17.14
Sketch the graph of potential V Potential
at a point at a distance r from
a point positive charge.

Question: What does the

gradient of tangent to graph
represent?
It is the electric field strength i.e.
electric field strength equals Distance from charge
potential gradient.
dV
E
dr
 Potential
• A positive charge is at a high potential as V is
positive.
• The potential near a positive point charge is
higher than further away.
• Another positive charge place near the charge
Q would experience a repulsive force or
accelerated away.
• Another way of thinking is to say that the
positive charge moves from a high to a low
potential along an electric field line.
• Point at equal distance from the charge are at
the same potential
 Potential
• Equipotential surface is a surface where the
potential is constant. No work is done moving
on the surface at constant speed.
• The equipotential surfaces of a point positive
charge are spherical surfaces with the charge
at the centre.
• The potential at infinity is zero.
• The electric field line is the direction of
acceleration of a positive test charge. It is
always perpendicular to the equipotential
surfaces and points towards lower potential.
 Complete the sentences:
A negative point charge place in the electric
field would experience an attractive
force. It would thus move towards the
positive charge along an electric field
lines. We can think of this as a negative
charge moves from a lower to a higher
potential.
 True or false? Correct the false statement.
1. The potential due to a 1) False, potential is
point charge is directly inversely proportional to
proportional to the the distance from the
distance from the charge. charge.
2. If the potential of a point 2) False, Since V.r=
charge at a distance r constant, then the
potential is [1/3] V.
away is V then the
potential at tripled the 3) False
Q
distance is 3V. V
4 o r
3. The potential at a
50 x10 6
distance of 0.10 mm from 
a point charge of 50 C is 4 (8.85 x10 12 )(0.1x10 3 )
0.5 V. = 4.5x109 V
 Negative charge
Potential
Potential due to a point
negative charge –Q at
a distance r away. Distance from charge
Q
V 
4 o r

• Sketch the graph of

potential at a point a
distance from the
negative charge.
 Fill in the blank.
• A negative charge is at a low potential.
• Another negative point charge (test
charge) places in the field of this
negative charge, would move to a higher
potential.
• The potential becomes lower as one
approaches the negative fixed charge,
i.e. potential decreases as distance
decreases.
 Example 17.16
Triangle ABC is a right- Q
angled triangle with angle V
B 4 o r
C at 90o. If AC = 8.0 cm
and AB = 10.0 cm, find,
a) the potential at B due to
the charge at A, C A
b) the potential at B due to +5.0 nC - 4.0 nC
the charge at C
c) the potential at B due to
both charges.
(Ans. a) -360 V b) 750 V
c) 390 V)
a) the potential at B due to the Solution
charge at A,
Q  4 x10 9
VA  
4 o r 4 (8.85 x10 12 )(0.1)
B
= -360 V
10.0 cm
b) the potential at B due to the 6.0 cm
charge at C
Q 5 x10 9 C  8.0 cm A
VC  
4 o r 4 (8.85 x10 12 )(0.06) +5.0 nC - 4.0 nC
= 750 V
a) the potential at B due to both
charges = -360 + 750
= 390 V
 Gravitational and Electric fields
Gravitational Electric
Field A mass A charge
created by M Q (can be positive or negative)
Strength g = F/m E = F/q
force on test Force on test charge q.
mass m
Direction Towards the Away from the charge.
mass E
g
+ + + + + +
Earth Infinitely long plane charged
conductor.
Field attractive Repulsive on positive charge and
attractive on negative charge
 Electric field
Coulomb’s law F  Qq
4 o r 2

Q kQ
V E 2
4 o r  test charge r
q
dV Q
E  r
dr
Potential gradient

Effect of a medium is to reduce the electric force or field

(replace o with , the permittivity ofmedium).
 Self test 17.2
1) the force of attraction
1) State Coulomb’s
between two point charges
law.
is proportional to the
2) Define the potential product of the charges and
at a point. inversely proportional to the
3) How is the electric separation square.
field strength related 2) Potential at a point is the
to the potential work done per unit charge in
gradient? bring the charge from infinity
4) What is the electric to the point.
field strength and 3) Electric field strength equals
potential of a charge the potential gradient.
Q at a distance r
4) E and V
away? Q Q
E V
4 o r 2
4 o r
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 Example 17.17

A 1.19 g charged balloon hangs from a 1.99-m string which is

attached to the ceiling. A Van de Graaff generator is located
directly below the location where the string attaches to the ceiling
and is at the same height as the balloon. The string is deflected
at an angle of 320 from the vertical due to the presence of the
electric field. Determine the charge on the Van de Graaff
generator if the charge on the balloon is 2.27x10-12 C.
Ans. Q2 = 0.397 C
gbs.glenbrook.k12.il.us/.../u10ans3.html
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• The use of Gauss' law to examine the
electric field of a charged sphere
shows that the electric field
environment outside the sphere is
identical to that of a point charge.
Therefore the potential is the same as
that of a point charge:
•
• The electric field inside a conducting
sphere is zero, so the potential
remains constant at the value it
reaches at the surface:
•
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Consider three point
charges q1 = q2 = 2.0
C and q3 = -3 C which
are placed as shown.
Calculate the net force
on q1 and q3.
Ans. 16.2 x10ˉ³ N, 56.3º

scitec.uwichill.edu.bb/.../Electric%20fields.htm
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