Electric Fields

At the end of this topic, the student should be able to:-

 describe the charge distribution on a particle
 model a uniformly charged sphere as a point charge in space with a charge at its centre
 distinguish between a point charge and a positive test charge, both in space
 draw and describe the electric field patterns due to a circular point charge; between two
point charges and between a positive test charge and a point charge
 describe the electric field directions between two charged flat plates in parallel
 understand and define coulomb’s law
 understand the use of permittivity of free space, Ɛ0
 calculate the force on a charge in an electric field
 calculate the electric potential in an electric field
 calculate the energy of a charged particle in an electric field
 compare gravitational and electric fields
 Modelling a Uniform Point Charge
• Properties of a charged material
• A material can hold two types of charges – a positive charge and a negative charge. Most materials hold charge in
which the positive and negative elements of the charge are spread almost evenly across the material to make the
net charge neutral. The material appears uncharged.
• However, in some materials, it is possible to have it hold a net positive charge or a net negative charge. In the
model of an atom, we envisage the positively charged particle within the nucleus and the negatively charged
electrons moving in a circular motion outside the nucleus.
• Once a material develops a net charge, the rule of attraction and repulsions in an electric field applies to it. The
material will repel all other materials near it having the same charge and will attract a material of opposite charge.
• These electric fields of attraction and repulsion are due to the charges on the material. So a material without a
charge cannot experience an electric field of force.
• If the material is a uniformly charged sphere, it is possible to model it as a point in space with a charge at its
centre.

• A model of a large uniformly charged sphere represented as a single point charge in space
 Charge Transfer

• When two particles are very close to or touch each other and move
relative to each other, charge is transferred from one particle to
the other. This is caused by electrons jumping from the surface of
one particle to the other. This could result in the objects possessing
net charges:
• The object that gains electrons gains a net negative charge
• the object that loses electrons gains a net positive charge.
• Electrostatic phenomena such as attraction and repulsion are due to
the forces between two charged objects. Similar charges repel and
opposite charges attract.
• The smallest unit of charge is that carried by an electron and is
called the quantum. These are discreet values, meaning that all
quanta of charge must be a whole number multiple of e = 1.6 × 10–
19 C.
 Conservation of Charge
• The total charge in a closed system is conserved.
• Charge can be moved around (transferred from one body to
another) but cannot be created nor destroyed
• The unit of electrical charge is the Coulomb (often used as
micro-coulomb μC = 10-6 C)
• 1 Coulomb is a lot of charge
• The charge of a proton (or electron) is the minimum
allowed unit of “free” charge in nature. It is known as the
Quantum of charge, e = 1.602x10-19 C.
• Quantum charges must be whole numbers of this unit
charge – they are therefore discrete charges.
• Charges on a particle produce electric fields which are felt
by other charges nearby.
 Electric Field Lines
• Electric field lines can be generated from two sources: a point charge and a pair of
parallel plates.

• From a point charge

• Electric field lines go from the positive charge to a negative charge. In a point Each
field line has the same intensity and strength.

• From parallel plates

• When a positively charged plate is brought close to a negatively charged one, an
electric field is induced. The field lines move from the positive plate to the
negative plate.
 Electric Field Lines of two Point Charges

• When two point charges with the same charge

are placed near each other, they repel.
• When two point charges with opposite charge
are paced next to each other, they attract
 Electric Field Density
• The arrows show direction of E-field (from the
positive charge to the negative charge. The
density of lines shows magnitude of E-field
 Electric Field Strength, E
• The Electric field strength, E, is defined as the
force per unit positive charge acting on a small
charge placed within the field. It is measured
in N C–1, where N is Newton and C is the test
Charge in Coulomb, C. The test charge must be
positive and has to be small enough to have
no effect on the electric field.
 Electric Field Strength of two charged bodies

• Electric Force fields of two charged particles

near each other
• If two charged particles are placed near each other, then if both
particles have the same charge, their force fields will repel each
other. Otherwise their force fields will run from the positively
charged particle to the negatively charged particle.
•
• The field due to the point charge is radial; it decreases in strength
with increasing distance from the charge. That between the parallel
plates is uniform; it maintains a constant strength at all points
between the plates.
• The force acting on charged particles is a vector, with both
magnitude and direction.
 The Properties of a Wandering Point Charge
A positive point charge, with charge magnitude Qt is wandering alone in space. It then
suddenly comes into the vicinity (i.e. a known distance, r) of the electric field lines
another point charge whose charge magnitude, for the purpose of this discussion may
be temporarily ignored. According to magnetic field laws, the point charge will
experiences a force (of attraction if the source point charge has an opposite charge to
it or force of repulsion, if the charge on both point charges is the same). The electric
field strength, E, experienced by the wandering point charge (now called the positive
test charge), is given by
𝑄𝑡 kQ
• E = 4πε 𝑟2 = 𝑟2 t
0
Where Qt is the charge on the test charge, k is a constant, and r is the distance
between the source charge and the test charge.
Note that, by definition of an electric field, the properties of the test charge are
insignificant (i.e. too small to influence the electric field effect of the source charge).
Now if the magnitude of the source point charge, i.e. whose electric field is being
experienced by the test charge is known, and denoted as Qs, the force between the
charges can be calculated.
The Force experienced by the test charge is equal to and opposite to the force
experienced by the source charge
• F = kQsQt/r2
 Coulomb’s Law
• Coulomb investigated the size of the force between two point charges and concluded that the force
is:
• proportional to each of the charges, Q1 and Q2
• inversely proportional to the square of their distances apart.
• Coulomb’s law states that ‘the electrical force between two point charges is directly proportional to
the product of their strengths and is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them’. Using Coulomb’s law, the force between two point charges in space is given by

𝑲𝑸𝟏𝑸𝟐 1
• F= where k =
𝒓𝟐 4πε0
• Where Q1 and Q2 represent the value of the charges (in C), r is the distance between the charges (in
m) and k has the value, in air or in a vacuum, of 1/4πƐ = 9.0x109 N m2 C-2
• The constant Ɛ0, is called the permittivity of free space. Its value is 8.8542×10−12 F/m
(farads per meter)
• The force on Q1 due to Q2 is equal and opposite to the force on Q2 due to Q1, in accordance with
Newton’s third law of motion (action and reaction are equal and opposite
• FQ1Q2 = - FQ2Q1
Electric Field Strength – Point Charges
• The Electric Field Strength, E, due to a point charge placed
at a distance r from the charge is given by
𝑄 kQ
• E= =
4πε0𝑟2 𝑟2
• Where Q is the charge on the point charge
• E = F/Q1 ,
𝑄1𝑄2
• where F =
4πε0𝑟2
• Where k has the value, in air or in a vacuum, of 1/4πƐ =
9.0x109 N m2 C-2
• For a material with n positive charges,
– E = knQ/r2
– and F = 2EQ
 Properties of a Test charge between
two point Charges
𝑄 kQ
• E= =
4πε0𝑟2 𝑟2
• Where Q is the charge
on the point charge
• E = F/Q1 ,
𝑄1𝑄2 r
• where F =
4πε0𝑟2
• Where k has the value,
in air or in a vacuum, of
1/4πƐ
• k = 9.0x109 N m2 C-2
 Point Test Charge between two Charges

• The point test charge

will experience a
• resultant force from the
two source charges
equivalent to, ∆E

𝑄1 𝑄2
• E1 – E2 = k( 2 - )
𝑟1 𝑟22

𝑄1 𝑄2
• E1 – E2 = k( 2 - )
𝑥 (𝑑−𝑥)2
 Electric Field Strength, E – Parallel Plates
• The diagram shows the electric fields due to a point charge
and between a pair of oppositely charged parallel plates.
The distance between the plates id d. The electric fields
between the parallel plates is uniform, it maintains a
constant strength at all points between the plates.

• For parallel plates placed at distance, d, from each other,

with a potential difference, V between the plates, the
electric field strength, E, is given by
• E = V/d
Force on a charge inside a pair of Parallel plates
• As long as a charge is inside a pair of parallel plates, the force on the
charge is the same anywhere between the plates. Hence the distance
between the plates has no influence on the magnitude of the force on the
charge.
• Hence

• F = W/d = QE
• E = W/Qd
• where E = Electric Field strength
• q is the charge in Coulomb
• F is the magnitude of the force on the charge between the plates.
• So calculating the magnitude or force on a charge placed midway between
the plates is the same as the force on a charge placed 90% near one of the
two parallel plates.
 Summary of Equations
• It is important to distinguish between the formulas for calculating
the Electric field strength and the forces of changed particles
belonging to a point charge and those acting between two parallel
plates:
• E is the electric field at a distance r from a charge Q
• F is the force on Q1 due to Q2 or the force on Q2 due to Q1
• Point Charges:
𝑘𝑄1𝑄2
• F=
𝑟2

𝑘𝑄
• E=
𝑟2

• For Parallel Plates

• F = QE
• E = V/r
 Charge Moving Perpendicularly to an Electric Field pt 1
• An electron is injected horizontally
into a uniform field produced by two • Since the electron has a negative
oppositely charged parallel plates, as charge, q = -e,
shown in the Figure. The particle has • the force on the electron is
an initial velocity perpendicular to E. • F= qE = -eE
• (a) While between the plates, what is • where E is the electric field. The
the force on the electron? force on the electron is upward. Note
• (b) What is the acceleration of the that the motion of the electron
electron when it is between the follows a parabolic trajectory. Since
plates. the electron is negatively charged,
the constant force on the electron is
upward (attracted by the positive
plate) and the electron will be
deflected upwards on a parabolic
path.

• (b) The acceleration of the electron is

F = ma or qE = ma, so a = qE/m
• Fig. Charge moving perpendicular to • and its direction is upward.
an electric field • On leaving the charged plates the
motion continues on a straight line.
 Charge Moving Perpendicularly to an Electric Field pt 2
• (c) The plates have length in • Answer
the x-direction. At what • (c) The time of passage for
time t1 will the electron the electron through the
leave the plate? plate is given by
• (d) what happens to the • Time of passage, t1 = L1/v0.
electron when it leaves the • The time is not affected by
plates the acceleration because ,
the horizontal component
of the velocity which
determines the time, is not
affected by the field.

• (d)After the electron leaves

the plate, there is no longer
any force on the electron so
it travels in a straight path.
 Properties of Electric Field Lines
1. For two point charges that 4. The field lines must begin
attract, there is Symmetry on positive charges and
between the field lines then terminate on
negative charges.
2. The direction of the 5. The number of lines from
electric field (vector) at a a positive charge or
point is tangent to the terminating on a negative
field lines. charge must be
3. The number of lines per proportional to the
unit area through a magnitude of the charge.
surface perpendicular to 6. No two field lines can
the line is proportional to cross each other;
the magnitude of the otherwise the field would
electric field in a given be pointing in two
region. different directions at the
same point.
 Work done in moving a charge through an
electric field
• The potential difference or electric Calculate the potential difference
potential (V) between two points in between two points in an electric field, if
an electric field is a measure of the the field does:
work done (W) in moving 1 coulomb A. 16J of work moving an electron
of charge between the two points. (charge = -1.60x10-19C) between the two
• The potential difference is measured points.
in JC-1 or Volt B. 6.4x10-20J of work moving an alpha
particle (charge +3.2x10-19 of charge
• V = W/Q or W = QV between the two points.

• If 1 joule of work is done by moving 1 Answer

coulomb of charge between 2 points A. Electric Potential, V = W/Q = 16/-
in an electric field, the potential 1.6x10-19 = -10x1019 = -1020V
difference (also called electric B.
potential) between the 2 points is 1 Electric potential, V = 6.4x10-20/3.2x10-19
volt. V = 2x10-1V
 Electric Potentials
• An electric potential at a point is • The potential very near a positive
defined as the work done in bringing charge is large, and decreases
a unit positive charge from infinity to towards zero the further away we
the point. Electric potential is zero at move from the charge which is the
infinity. source of the field. If the charge
• Electric potential V producing the field is negative, the
potential is also negative and
𝑄 increases towards zero at large
• V= distances.
4πƐ𝑟 • Note that the variation of potential
with distance is an inverse
• Where r is the distance of the unit proportionality, and not the inverse
positive charge r from a point charge; square relationship that applies for
• It is useful to note that the electric the variation of field strength with
field strength is equal to the negative distance.
of the potential gradient at that
point.
 Electric potential graphs
• From a graph of Electric
Potential (V) against distance r,
the gradient, is the electric
field strength
• -V/d

• nGr
• Example
• Calculate the work done by an
external force in moving a
charge q of +2.6 μC from
infinity to a point A, 0.40 m
from a charge Q of +45 μC?
• The work is simply the change
in electric potential energy.
The potential energy at infinity
is zero, so
• W = qV = qkQ/r = 2.6 × 10−6 ×
9.0 × 109 × 45 × 10−6/0.40 = 1.3
J
• (assuming 1/4πε 0 = 9.0 × 109
m F–1)
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Example 1. The figure shows three • Answer
electric field lines. What is the • By definition, electric field lines are
direction of the electrostatic force on drawn from a positive charge to a
a positive test charge placed at (a) negative charge. For a test charge
point A and (b) point B? • (a) The force FA is tangent to the
electric field at A
• (b) The force FB is tangent to the
electric field at B
(c) The force F = ma = QE
Where Q is the charge and E is the
electric field.
Therefore a = QE/m
From the Equation, as E increases, the
• (c) At which point, A or B, will the acceleration, a, should also increase.
acceleration of the test charge be E is strongest where the electric field
greater if the charge is released? lines are closest together (i.e. denser).
Hence a test charge placed at point A will
exhibit a greater acceleration.
 Electric Field - Calculation
• Example • Answer (cont’d)
What is the magnitude of a 𝑄 kQ
point charge that would • E= 2 = 2
4πε0𝑟 𝑟
create an electric field of • Where r is the distance in
1.00 N/C at points 150 cm m (r = 150cm = 1.5m);
away? • k has the value, in air or
Answer in a vacuum, of 1/4πƐ0 =
9.0x109 N m2 C-2
• Q = Er2/k =
1.0x1.52/9.0x109
• Q = 2.05x10-10C
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Example 1 • Answer
• Calculate the electric field • For a point charge q = 3.0μC
strength due to a point charge (3.0x10-6C) placed at a
of 3.0μC at a distance of 0.1m distance ,r = 0.1m from a test
from the charge. Assume k = point, the electric field
9.0x109 N m2 C-2 strength, E, is given by
• E = kQ/r2, where K = 1/4πƐ0.
Assuming that k = 9.0x109
Nm2C-2
• E = 3.0x10-6x9.0x109/(0.1)2
• E = 3.0x10-6x9.0x109/10-2
• E = 3.0x10-6x9.0x109x102
• E = 27x105 N C-1
• E = 2.7x106 N C-1
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Example 2 • Answer
• The potential difference between two • A)For parallel plates placed at distance, d,
parallel plates is 300V. They are placed 0.15m from each other, with a potential difference,
apart. V between the plates, the electric field
• a. Calculate the value of the electric field strength is given by
strength between the plates • E = V/d
• b. Calculate the size of the force of an • E = 300V/15x10-2 m= 0.2x104 NC-1
electron, charge -1.6x10-19C, placed midway • E = 2.0x103 N C-1
between the plates. • B). the magnitude or force on a charge
• c. Explain how the size of the force on the placed midway between the plates.
electron varies as it moves from the negative • F = qE
to the positive plate.
• F = 1.6x10-19x2.0x103
• F = 3.2x10-16 N
• C) The force is the same anywhere between
the plates as long as the charge is inside the
plates. Hence the distance between the
plates has no influence on the magnitude of
the charge.
•
 Electric Fields - Work Done Calculation
Example • Answer
An electron is free to move in an • Work done on electron by
electric field. The electron is electric field = gain in kinetic
accelerated by the field from rest energy of electron.
through a potential difference of • W = QV = ½ Mv2
500V. Calculate the speed of the • An electron has
electron at the end of the
acceleration. • Qe= 1.6x10-19 C
• Me = 9.11x 10-31 kg
• Using QV = ½ Mv2
• 1.6x10-19 x 500 = ½ x (9.11x 10-
31)xv2
1.6𝑥10−19 𝑥500
• V2 =
0.5𝑥9.11 𝑥10−31

• V = 1.33x107 ms-1
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• A metal sphere has a radius, r, of 1.0 m and a • Answer:
positive charge of 5.0 x10-7 C. • For a point charge q = 0.5μC (5.0x10-7C)
• (a) Calculate the electric field strength at a found at a distance ,r = 1.0m of a metal
distance, d, of 1.0 m from the surface of the sphere, the electric field strength, E, is given
sphere. [3marks] by
• (b) Without repeating the full calculations • E = kQ/r2, where K = 1/4πƐ0. Assuming that
you performed in the previous part, k = 9.0x109 Nm2C-2
determine how the calculated field strength • E = 9.0x109 x 5.0x10-7/1.0 = 4500
would change in the following circumstances. • E = 4.5x103 N C-1
• i. The charge doubles. [1] • The electric Field strength, E = kQ/r2
• ii. Distance d triples. [2] • Where k = 9x109
• iii. Doubling Q and halving d [3]
• (b i) Doubling the Charge will also double E
• (b ii) Tripling d.
• E = kQ/(3d)2 = kQ/9d2.
• E reduces by 1/9
• (b iii) E = k(2Q)/(1/2d)2 = 2kQ/1/4r2
• E = 8kQ/r2
• So E will increase 8 times
 Comparing Gravitational and Electric Fields
• There are similarities and differences • Formulae
between electric and gravitational
fields:
• Both are represented by field lines
• Gravitational potential is always
negative, whereas electric potential
can be positive or negative.
• electric field strength is defined as
force per unit charge, gravitational
field strength is defined as force per
unit mass
• electric potential and gravitational
potential are defined in similar ways
• the electric field due to a point
charge is similar to the gravitational
field of a point mass
• electric fields can attract or repel
charged objects, gravitational fields
can only attract masses.
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Describe and explain the • State the energy change the
motion of an electron in the electron will experience.
electric field existing • -------------------------------------
between a positively -------------------------------------
charged and a negatively -------------------------------------
charged metal plate. -------------------------------------
• ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Two small spheres carry charges of -2 • ƐAnswer
nC and 8 nC and they are 20 cm apart • A)F = kQ1Q2/r2
in the air. Calculate • Assuming that k = 9.0x109 Nm2C-2
• a) the force between them • F = 9.0x109 x-2x10-9x8x10-9/(2x10-1)2
• b) the force between the same • F = 36x10-7µC = 3.6µC
charges when the distance is doubled
• c) the force between the charges
when we pour oil of relative • B) Doubling the distance, reduces F
permittivity 6 between the charges by a quarter, F = 0.9µC
𝑄1𝑄2
• d) the force between the spheres • C) F = 4πƐƐ 𝑟2 . Eoil = Ɛ = 6
when we put them in contact and 𝑜

then move apart to the distance of

20 cm. 9.0x109 x−2x10−9x8x10−9
• F= 6𝑥(2𝑥10−1)2
• F = 0.6µC
• D) In contact, F=0, since d = 0
• At 20cm, F is same as (a) above
Electric Field Calculations - Miscellaneous
• 7. How many elementary • An elementary charge has a
charges represent 1 μC? value of Q = 1.6x10-19C
• Number of Charges n =
• 8. If the force between two • 10-6/1.6x10-19 = 0.625x1013
charged bodies is F, then • Number of charges =
doubling the charges carried 6.25x1012.
by both bodies and doubling 𝑄1𝑄2
their distance apart changes • F=
4πƐƐ𝑜𝑟2
the force to • Doubling each charge and
• a) 4F b) 2F c) F d) 2F e) 4F doubling the distance gives
2𝑄12𝑄2 4𝑄1𝑄2
• F= =
4πƐƐ𝑜 2𝑟 2 4πƐƐ𝑜 4𝑟 2

𝑄1 𝑄2
• F=
4πƐƐ𝑜 𝑟 2
• Answer option(c).
Eletric Field Calculations – Field Potential

• An electron and a • Answer

proton are 1.0 × 10–10 m 𝑲𝑸𝟏𝑸𝟐
apart. In the absence of • F= where k =
𝒓𝟐
any other charges, what 1
• is the electric potential 4πε0
𝑲𝑸𝟏𝑸𝟐
energy of the electron? • V = Fr =
𝒓
• A +2.3 × 10–18J • V = 9.0x109x-1.6x10-
• B –2.3 × 10–18J 19x1.6x10-19x1010

• C +2.3 × 10–19J • V = -23.04x10-19

• D –2.3 × 10–19J • V = -2.3x10-18JC-1 or V
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Example • Answers
• An object with a charge of • By definition, the charge
2.0X10-4C creates an on a test charge in the
electric field. A test vicinity of a charged
charge of +2.0x10-6C object is assumed to be
experiences a force of too small to affect the
0.10 N. Calculate the charged object. Q1 is the
electric field strength. test Charge, since it is the
object experiencing the
electric field effect from
the source.
• E1 = kQ1/r2 = F/Q1
• E1 = 10-1/2.0x10-6
• E1 = 0.5x105N/C
 Electric Fields - Calculations
• Example • E = F/Q
• An object with a charge of 4.0x10-4C creates • E = 10-1/10-6 = 105 N/C
an electric field. A test charge of +1.0x10-6 C
experiences a force of 0.10 N. Find the
electric field strength

• Example
• A charged particle is held in equilibrium by
the force resulting from a vertical electric • F = mg =EQ
field. The mass of the particle is 4.3x10-9kg • E = mg/Q = 4.3x10-9x9.8/3.2x10-12
and it carries a charge of magnitude 3.2x10- • E = 1.32x104 V/m
12C.

• (1) Calculate the strength of the electric field

• • If the field acts upwards, then the sign of the
• (2) If the field acts upwards, state the sign of charge on the particle is positive.
the charge carried by the particle

• Example • E = kq/r2 and V = kq/r

• At a point where the distance r, from the • E = V/r
point charge is 40mm, the electric field
strength is 3.6x104V/m. Calculate the • Potential of the point V = Er
potential at this point. • V = 3.6x104x40x10-3 = 1.4x103 V
 Exam Style Questions
Example • Answer.
In a simplified model, a uranium nucleus is a sphere of Total Proton Charge (quantised)
radius 8.0 × 10−15 m. The nucleus contains 92 protons Q92 = 92x1.6x10-19 s = 1.47 x10-17
(and rather more neutrons).
The charge on a proton is 1.6 × 10−19 C. It can be E = kQ92/r2
assumed that the charge of these protons acts as if it E = 9.0x109x1.47x10-17/(8.0x10-15)2
were all concentrated at the centre of the nucleus. The E = 1.323x10-6/64x10-30)
nucleus releases an α-particle containing two protons E = 2.067x1021 N C-1
(and two neutrons) at the surface of the nucleus.
Calculate
B) E = knQ/r2 = k(90)Q/r2
a ) the electric field strength at the surface of the 9.0x109x1.6x10-19x90/(8.0x10-15)2
nucleus before emission of the α-particle, E = 2.025X1021

b) the electric force on the α-particle at the surface of F = 2EQ = 2x2.0251021x1.6x10-19

the nucleus, F = 648 N

c ) the electric potential at the surface of the nucleus C) V = kQn/r

before emission of the α-particle, V = 9.0x109x1.6x10-19x92/8.0x10-15
V = 1.65x10-8x1015
d) the electric potential energy of the α-particle when it V = 1.656x107 V
is at the surface of the nucleus.
D) PE = kq(nQ)/r
PE = 9.0x109(2x1.6x10-19)x(90x1.6x10-19)/8x10-15
PE = 5.184x10-12 J
 Exam Style Questions
• An electron starts from rest from
the bottom plate as shown in the
figure. The potential difference
across the plates is 1600 V and
the separation of the plates is 15
mm.
• A. Calculate the time taken for
the electron to reach the top
plate.
B. the work done by the field on
the electron,
• C. the gain in kinetic energy,
•
D. the speed of the electron.
 Answers
• Answer • Solution:
• A. • B) work done = Fd = Eqd = Vq
• F = Vq/d • W = 1.71 x 10-14 x 0.015
• F = (1600 x 1.6 x 10-19) / 0.015 • W = 2.565 x 10-16 J
• F = 1.71 x 10-14 N
a = force / mass • C) kinetic energy =
• a = 1.71 x 10-14 / 9.1 x 10-31 • Vq = 1600 x 1.6 x 10-19 = 2.56 x 10-16 J
• a = 1.88 x 1016 ms-2
• D) v2 = u2 + 2as
• s = ut + 0.5 at^2 • = 0 + 2 (1.88 x 1016)(0.015)
0.015 = 0 + 0.5 (1.88 x 1016) (t2)
t2 = 1.596 x 10-18 • = 5.64 x 1014
t = 1.26 x 10-9 s • v = 2.37 x 107 ms-1
• A 72 nC charge is located at x = 1.50 • Answer: 3.0 m
m on the x-axis and an 8.0 nC charge • Solution: Since the charges are the
is located at x = 3.5 m. At what point same sign, the point where Ex = 0 is
on the x-axis is the electric field zero? clearly between them and closer to
the 8.0 nC charge.

• The condition for Ex = 0 is

• kq1 / (x − x1)2 = kq2 /(x2− x)2 .
• Cross multiplying and using 𝑞1/𝑞2 =
72/8 = 9 = 3 we obtain
• 3(x2 − x) = x − x1
• 3(3.5 – x) = x – 1.5
• 10.5 – 3x = x – 1.5
• 12 = 4x  x = 3
• which yields x = 3.0 m.
 Multiple choice Questions
• Example. Two point charges are • |E1| = |E2| at point x
placed along a horizontal axis • Answers
with the following values and
positions: +3.0 µC at x = 0 and - +3µC -7µC
7.0µC at x = 20cm. At what
point along the x-axis is the
electric field zero? • r = 20 cm
• A)8.0 cm
• B) -44 cm • We take a test charge, 3, located
• C) -69 cm between charges 1 and 2. Since
charge 1 is positive, we make the
• d ) -38cm test charge relative to this charge;
we take the distance from 1 to 2
to be x m
• (continue next page)
At the point where the resultant force is zero (point 3) , F1 =
F2
KQ1/r12 = KQ2/r22
Let distance to zero resultant force from charge 1 be x. At x1
= 0, charge value = 3.0C. At 20cm, charge value = -7 there is
still a Force. We therefore expect the 0 resultant force to be
beyond 20cm. Working from charge 1, distance x will be from
charge 3 to 1. Distance from charge 3 to 2 = d +x, where d =
distance from charges 1 to 2. K cancels out
Q1(d +x)2 = Q2(x)2 (d +x)2 /x2 = Q2/Q1
(d + x) /x= SQRT(Q2/Q1)
d + x = (x)SQRT(Q2/Q1)
d = -x + (x)SQRT(Q2/Q1)
d = x( -1 + SQRT(Q2/Q1)
x = d/(-1 + SQRT(Q2/Q1)
x = 0.2/(-1 + SQRT(7/3)) = 0.2/0.527525= 0.37912 m
• – Two tiny conducting • F = kQQ/r2
spheres are identical and • 9x109x-20x10-6x50x10-
carry charges of ‐20.0 μC 6/(2.5x10-2)2
and +50.0 μC. They are • F = -1.44x104 N
separated by a distance of
2.50 cm. (a) What is the • The net force is negative
magnitude of the force so that the force is
that each sphere attractive
experiences, and is the
force attractive or
repulsive?
• The spheres are now • Since the spheres are
brought into contact identical, the charge on
and then separated to a each after separation is
distance of 2.50 cm. one half the net charge
Determine the • F = kQ1Q2/r2
magnitude of the force • F=9x109x15x10-6x25x10-
that each sphere now 6/2.5x10-2
experiences, and state
whether the force is
attractive or repulsive
• Ans: 3.24x103N
 General Questions
• Two point charges, • Answer
separated by 1.5cm, have • F = kQ1Q2/r2
charge values of +2.0µC • F=8.99x109x2x10-6x-4x10-
and -4.0µC respectively. 6/1.5x10-2
What is the value of the
mutual force between • -320 N
them? • As the force is negative, it is
• (ke 8.99X109Nm2C-2 attractive

• a. 320N
• b. 3.6x10-8 N
• c. 8.0x10-12 N
• d. 3.1x10-3 N
Multiple Choice Question and Answers
• Charge A and charge B are • Answers
3.00m apart, and charge A
is +2.00C and charge B is +2C +3C
+3.00C Charge C is located
between them at a certain
• r = 3m
point and the force on
charge C is zero. How far is
charge A from charge C • Since the question is
• a. 0.555 m relating charge C to charge
A, we take the distance
• b. 0.667 m
from C to A to be x m
• c. 1.350 m
• (continue next page)
• d. 1.500 m
At the point where the resultant force is zero (point
Q) , gA = gB
KQA/rA2 = KQB/rB2 Let distance to zero resultant
force from charge A be x. Working from charge A,
distance x will be from charge C to A. Distance from
charge C to B = d –x, where d = distance from A to B.
K cancels out
QA(d –x)2 = QB(x)2 (d –x)2 /x2 = QB/QA
(d – x) /x= SQRT(QB/QA)
d - x = (x)SQRT(QB/QA)
d = x + (x)SQRT(QB/QA)
d = x( 1 + SQRT(QB/QA)
x = d/(1 + SQRT(QB/QA)
x = 3.0/(1 + SQRT(3/2)) = 3/2.224= 1.3484x105 m
The End