JIT TERM 3: PHYSICAL SCIENCES

ELECTROSTATICS
REVISION: GRADE 10 WORK
Static electricity is stationary electricity i.e there is no continuous movement of electrical
charges.
Electrostatics is the study of static electricity where we try to find out what effect do
charges at rest have on one another.

TYPES OF CHARGES:
1. Positive charge – A positive charge on an object originates with the removal or
shortage of electrons
2. Negative charge – A negative charge on an object originates with the addition or
surplus of electrons.

N.B . Neutral object - when the number of electrons (negative charges) is equal to the
number of protons (positive charges).
Charged objects exert forces on each other:
 Like charges repel each other – Repulsion

 Unlike charges attract each other – Attraction

Objects can be charged by

 Friction:
 A plastic ruler becomes positively charged when it is rubbed with a dry cloth
because the plastic ruler transfers electrons to the cloth
 A glass rod becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a dry cloth because
the dry cloth transfers electrons to the glass rod.
 Touch:
 When a charged object touches an uncharged object, then both objects
obtain the same charge if they are identical.

The law of conservation of charge

The algebraic sum of the charges remains constant in a closed system.

Unit of charge
 Charge is measured in units called coulombs (C).
 A coulomb of charge is a very large charge.
 In electrostatics we therefore often work with charge in micro coulombs
(1 μC = 1 × 10−6 C) and nano coulombs (1 nC = 1 × 10−9 C).

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Coulomb’s law
The force of attraction or repulsion that two charges at rest exert on each other is directly
proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between their centres.
KQ1 Q2
F net = 2
r
Where:
F is the force in Newtons (N)
Q1 and Q2 are charges in coulombs (C)
r is the distance between the two charges in metres (m)
k is proportionality constant (Coulombs Law constant) with the value of
9x109N∙m2.C-2
Worked Example 1
Two point-like charges carrying charges of +3 nC and −5 nC are 2m apart. Determine the
magnitude of the force between them and state whether it is attractive or repulsive.
Solution 1
Step 1: Data
F =
Q1 = +3 nC = +3 × 10−9C
Q2 = -5 nC = −5 × 10−9C
r =2m
k = 9x109N∙m2.C-2
Step 2: Suitable Equation

F = kQ1Q2
r2
Step 3: Determine the magnitude of the force
F = kQ1Q2
r2
= (9, 0 × 109)(3 × 10−9)(5 × 10−9)
(2)2
= 3, 38 × 10−8N
Thus the magnitude of the force is 3, 38 × 10−8N. However since both point charges have
opposite signs, the force will be attractive.

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Worked example 2
Two tiny spheres A and B with charges – 4 nC and +4 nC respectively, are placed as in
the sketch. They are fixed while a third charge C of + 4 nC has its centre placed at at a
distance of 40 mm from the centres of both A and B. 1 nC = 1 nano coulomb = 1 x 10 – 9 C.
(frictionless)

(a) Calculate the magnitude of the Coulombic force that exists between charge A of – 4 nC
and the charge C of +4 nC charge.
(b) In which direction will the sphere C move?
(c) Calculate the magnitude of the acceleration with which the sphere C will start moving
from its position as indicated, if it has a mass of 200 g.

Solution 2
Draw a free body diagram showing the forces on C. For C, take as positive the direction to
the left.
Let C react with A first, and then with B

kQ1 Q2 9 −9
9∗10 x 4∗10 x 4∗10
−9
−5
F AC = 2
= −3
= 9∗10 N to the left (Attractive)
r (40∗10 )
(b) FAB = 9x10-5N to the left (Repulsive)
F res 18x10-5 -4
(c) a = = -3
= 9x10 m.s-2
m 200x10

ELECTRIC FIELD AROUND CHARGES

Electric field
An electric field is a region around a charge where any other charge experiences a force.
The direction of the electric field at a point is the direction that a positive test charge would
move if placed at that point.

Some important points to remember about electric fields:

 They originate and end perpendicularly to the surface of the charged objects.
 Field lines never cross.
 They are most dense (closer to each other) where the field is the strongest and is
least dense (further from each other) where the field is the weakest.
 They surround the charged object in three dimensions. We only draw a few lines in
one plane
 There is a uniform field (except at the end points) between two oppositely charged
parallel plates.

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Electric field lines around a positive point charge:
 For a positive point charge, field lines are drawn away from the charge.

Electric field lines around a negative point charge:

 For a negative charge, field lines are drawn towards the charge.

Electric field lines of two equal but opposite charges:

Electric field lines of two equal positive charges:

Electric field lines of two equal negative charges:

Electric fields lines between two oppositely charged parallel plates:

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Strength of an electric field
The test charge placed at a point in electric field will experience a force; the magnitude of
the force experienced will depend on the distance of the test charge(q) away from the
charge(Q) setting the field.

The magnitude of the electric field (electric field strength) at a point in an electric field is
the force per positive unit charge (thus + 1C) at that point.
force
Electric field strength=
charge

F
E=
Or in symbols, q
Unit: if the electrostatic force F acts on the charge in Newton (N), the charge q is in
coulomb (C), then the electric field strength (E) is in N∙C-1 (Newton per Coulomb). As we
will see later, the electric field strength can also be measured in Volt per metre (V∙m -1).
Direction: electric field strength is a vector quantity because it has magnitude and
direction. A direction of electric field strength E at a specific point in an electric field is the
same as the direction of the electrostatic force that a positively charged particle will
experience at that point. The positively charged particle will thus move in the direction of
the field and a negatively charged particle will move against the field.

The force experienced by a test charge when placed in an electric field is given by;
F= qE

Worked example 3
If the magnitude of the electric field strength (intensity) is 3 x 10 6 N • C–1 at a point,
calculate the magnitude of the force acting on a charge of – 7 nC placed at that point.

F=qE

= 7 × 10 -9 × 3 × 106

= 0.021 N

Electric field strength at a point due to a number of point charges

The force between two electric charges is given by:

kQq
F= 2 (If we make the one charge Q and the other q.)
r
Therefore, the electric field can be written as
kQ
E= 2 (where Q is the charge setting the field)
r

N. B. As with Coulomb’s law calculations, do not substitute the sign of the charge into the
equation for electric field. Instead, choose a positive direction, and then either add or
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subtract the contribution to the electric field due to each charge depending upon whether it
points in the positive or negative direction, respectively.

Worked Example 4
Question: Calculate the electric field strength 30cm from a 5nC charge.

Solution 4
Step 1: Data.
Q = +5nc = +5 × 10-9 C
r = 30 cm = 0.30 m
k = 9x109N∙m2•C-2
Step 2: Select a suitable equation

kQ
E= 2
r

Step 3: substitute into equation:

kQ
E= 2
r

= (9 x 10-9) (5 x 10-9
(0, 3) 2
=
5 × 10-16 N∙C-1

Worked example 5
R and S are two points in the electric field of a small negatively charged sphere Q, Two
charges of Q1 = +3nC and Q2 = −4nC are separated by a distance of 40cm. What is the
electric field strength at a point that is10cm from Q1 and 30cm from Q2? The point lies
between Q1 and Q2.

Solution 5
Step 1: Determine what is required:
We need to calculate the electric field a distance from two given charges.

Step 2: Determine what is given:

We are given the magnitude of the charges and the distances from the charges.

Step 3: Determine how to approach the problem:

We will use the equation:
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kQ
E= 2
r

We need to work out the electric field for each charge separately and then add them to get
the resultant field.

Step 4: Substitute into an equation:

We first calculate E at x due to Q1:
kQ
E= 2
r

= (9 × 109) (3 × 10−9)
(0, 1)2

= 2, 70 × 103 N∙C−1
Then for Q2:
kQ
E= 2
r

= (9 × 109) (4 × 10−9)
(0.3) 2

= 4,00 × 102 N∙C−1

We need to add the two electric fields because both are in the same direction.
The field is away from Q1 and towards Q2.
Therefore,
Etotal = 2,70 × 103 + 4,00× 102 = 3,10 × 103N∙C−1

Electrical potential energy and Electric potential

The electrical potential energy of a charge is the energy it has because of its position
relative to other charges that it interacts with. The potential energy of a charge Q1 relative
to a charge Q2 a distance r away is calculated by:

Worked example 6
What is the electric potential energy of a 7nC charge that is 2 cm from a 20nC?

Solution 6
Step 1: Data.
Q1 = 7nC = 7 ×10-9 C
Q2 = 2OnC = 20 × 10-9 C
r = 2cm = 2 × 10-2 m

Step 2: Suitable equation:

Step 3: Substitute into an equation

= 9 × 109 (7 × 10ˉ9) ( 20 × 10
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2 × 10-2
= 6,30 × 10 -5 J

Electric potential
The electric potential at a point is the electrical potential energy per unit charge, i.e. the
potential energy a +1C test charge would have if it were placed at that point.
Consider a positive test charge +q that is free to move, placed at A in the electric field of
another positive point charge.

The test charge moves towards B under the influence of the electric field of the other
charge.
In the process the test charge loses electrical potential energy and gains kinetic energy.
Thus, at A, the test charge has more potential energy than at B – A is said to have a
higher electrical potential than B. to move the charge from B back to A EXTERNAL WORK
MUST BE DONE.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
 The potential difference between two points in an electric field is defined as the work
required to move a unit positive test charge from the point of lower potential to that of
higher potential.
OR
 The electrical potential difference is the difference in electrical potential energy per unit
W
charge between two points ( V = ).
Q
W
Unit: The electrical potential difference is measured in volts (V). Using the equation V =
Q
-1
the unit will be joule per coulomb (J∙C ) which is the same as volt, thus electrical potential
difference is also called voltage.

Worked example 7:
What is the potential difference between two points in an electric field if it takes 600J of
energy to move a charge of 2C between these two points?

Solution 7
Step 1: Data.

Step 2: Suitable equation:

W
V=
Q
Step 3: Substitution:
W
V=
Q
= 600
2
= 300V

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QUESTION 1 GP 2015
Two identical conducting spheres A and B with charges of Q1 and Q2 respectively are
placed in fixed positions along the same straight line as shown in the diagram below.
Spheres A and B are placed 30 cm from each other. Point P is positioned 30 cm to the
right of sphere B on the same straight line.

The charge on sphere B is positive. The net electric field Enet at point P as a result of the
two charges Q1 and Q2 is towards the right as shown in the diagram below.

1.1 What is the sign of the charge on sphere A? Give a reason for the answer. (3)

1.2 The net electric field at point P is 1 600 N⋅C-1 to the right and the charge on (7)
sphere B has a magnitude of +12 nC.
Calculate the magnitude of the charge on sphere A.
A proton is placed at point P without changing the charges and positions of spheres A and
B.
1.3 Calculate the net electrostatic force experienced by the proton. (4)
[15]

QUESTION 2 DBE JUNE 2015

Two identical neutral spheres, M and N, are placed on insulating stands. They are brought
into contact and a charged rod is brought near sphere M.

When the spheres are separated it is found that 5 x 106 electrons were transferred from
sphere M to sphere N.
2.1 What is the net charge on sphere N after separation? (3)
2.2 Write down the net charge on sphere M after separation. (2)
The charged spheres, M and N, are now arranged along a straight line, in space, such that
the distance between their centres is 15 cm. A point P lies 10 cm to the right of N as
shown in the diagram below.
2.3 Define the electric field at a point. (2)

2.4 Calculate the net electric field at point P due to M and N. (6)
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QUESTION 3 DOE FEB/MAR 2016

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A sphere Q1, with a charge of -2,5 μC, is placed 1 m away from a second sphere Q2, with
a charge +6 μC. The spheres lie along a straight line, as shown in the diagram below.
Point P is located a distance of 0,3 m to the left of sphere Q1, while point X is located
between Q1 and Q2 . The diagram is not drawn to scale.

3.1 Show, with the aid of a VECTOR DIAGRAM, why the net electric field at (4)
point X cannot be zero.
3.2 Calculate the net electric field at point P, due to the two charged spheres Q1 (6)
and Q2.
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QUESTION 4: DOE NOVEMBER 2009

Two metal spheres on insulated stands carry charges of +4 uC and -6 uC respectively. The
spheres are arranged with their centres 40 cm apart, as shown below.

4.1 Calculate the magnitude of the force exerted by each sphere on the other. (4)
4.2 By what factor will the magnitude of the force in QUESTION 4.1 change if the distance
between the spheres is halved? (Do not calculate the new value of the force.) (1)
4.3 Calculate the net electric field at point P as shown in the diagram above. (6)
4.4 The spheres are now brought into contact with each other and then returned to their
original positions. Now calculate the potential energy of the system of two charges. (5)
[16]

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