Electrostatics

What Is Electrostatics?
The study of stationary electric charges at rest is known

as electrostatics. An electroscope is used to detect the charge
on a body. A pith ball electroscope is used to detect a charge
and to know the nature of the charge. Gold leaf
electroscope, which was invented by Abraham Bennet, detects a
charge, the nature of the charge and determines the quantity of
the charge.
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Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors

 A body in which electric charge can easily flow through is called
a conductor (For example, metals).
 A body in which electric charge cannot flow is called
an insulator or dielectric. (For example, glass, wool, rubber, plastic,
etc.)
 Substances which are intermediate between conductors and
insulators are called semiconductors. (For example, silicon,
germanium, etc.)
Dielectric Strength: It is the minimum field intensity that should

be applied to break down the insulating property of the insulator.
 Dielectric strength of air = 3 x 106 V/m

 Dielectric strength of Teflon = 60 × 106 Vm–1
The maximum charge a sphere can hold depends on the size and
dielectric strength of the medium in which the sphere is placed.
1. The maximum charge density of a sphere of radius ‘R’ in terms of

electric intensity E at a distance in free space is Eε0(R/r)2.
2. When the electric field in the air exceeds its dielectric strength, air
molecules become ionised and are accelerated by fields and the air
becomes conducting.
Electric Flux
The number of electric lines of force crossing a surface normal to
the area gives electric flux ΦE.
The electric flux through an elementary area ds is defined as the

scalar product of area and field.
dΦE = Eds cos θ

Or,
ϕE=∫E→.ds→
 Electric Flux will be maximum when the electric field is normal to the
area (dΦ = Eds)
 Electric Flux will be minimum when the field is parallel to the area (dΦ
= 0)
 For a closed surface, outward flux is positive and inward flux is
negative
Electric Potential (V)

The electric potential at a point in a field is the amount of work
done in bringing a unit +ve charge from infinity to the point. It is
equal to the electric potential energy of unit + ve charge at that
point.
 It is a scalar quantity.
 The SI unit is volts.
The electric potential at a distance ‘d’ due to a point charge q in

air or vacuum is
V=14πε0.qd
Electric potential (V)
=−∫E→.d→x
E→=−dvdx
(or) V = Ed
A positive charge in a field moves from high potential to low
potential, whereas an electron moves from low potential to high
potential when left free. Work done in moving a charge q through
a potential difference V is W = q V joule
 Gain in the kinetic energy:
12mv2=qV
 Gain in the velocity:
v=2qVm
Equipotential Surface
A surface on which all points are at the same potential is called an
equipotential surface.
1. The electric field is perpendicular to the equipotential surface.

2. Work done in moving a charge on the equipotential surface is zero.
In the Case of a Hollow Charged Sphere

1. Intensity at any point inside the sphere is zero.
2. Intensity at any point on the surface is the same, and it is maximum
14πε0.qr2
3. Outside the sphere
14πε0.qd2
i.e.d = distance from the centre. It behaves as if the whole charge is

at its centre.
Electric field intensity in vector form
E→=14πε0.qd3d→orE→=14πε0.qd3d^
The resultant electric field intensity obeys the principle of

superposition.
E→=E→1+E→2+E→3+……………
In the Case of Solid Charged Sphere

The potential at any point inside the sphere is the same as that at
any point on its surface.
V=14πε0.qr
It is an equipotential surface. Outside the sphere, the potential

varies inversely as the distance of the point from the centre.
V=14πε0.qd
Note: Inside a non-conducting charged sphere electric field is

present.
Electric intensity inside the sphere
E=14πε0.QR3d
Here, d is the distance from the centre of the sphere and E ∝ d is

inside the sphere but falls off like 1/d2 outside the sphere.
Electron Volt
This is the unit of energy in particle physics and is represented as
eV.
 1 eV = 1.602 x 10-19 J.
Charged Particles in Electric Field

When a positive test charge is fired in the direction of an electric
field,
 It accelerates
 Its kinetic energy increases
 Its potential energy decreases
A charged particle of mass m carrying a charge q and falling

through a potential V acquires a speed of
2Vq/m
.
Electric Dipole
Two equal and opposite charges separated by a constant
distance is called an electric dipole.
P→=q.2l¯
Dipole Moment
It is the product of one of the charges and the distance between
the charges. It is a vector directed from the negative charge
towards the positive charge along the line joining the two charges.
The torque acting on an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric

field is given by the relation,
τ→=P→ x E→ i.e., τ=PEsin⁡θ,
where θ is the angle between P→ and E→.
⇒ The electric intensity (E) on the axial line at a distance’d’ from

the center of an electric dipole is
E=14πε0⋅2Pd(d2−l2)2
and on equatorial line, the electric intensity (E)
=14πε0⋅P(d2+l2)3/2
⇒ For a short dipole, i.e., if l2 << d2, then the electric intensity on
the equatorial line is given by
E=14πε0⋅Pd3
⇒ The potential due to an electric dipole on the axial line is
V=14πε0⋅P(d2−l2)
, and at any point on the equatorial line, it is zero.
When two unlike equal charges, +Q and –Q, are separated by

a distance
 The net electric potential is zero on the perpendicular bisector of the

line joining the charges.
 The bisector is an equipotential and zero potential line.
 Work done in moving a charge on this line is zero.
 Electric intensity at any point on the bisector is perpendicular to the
bisector.
 Electric intensity at any point on the bisector parallel to the bisector is
zero.
Combined Field Due to Two Point Charges

Due to two similar charges
If charges q1 and q2 are separated by a distance ‘r’, a null point
(where the resulting field intensity is zero) is formed on the line
joining these two charges.
1. The null point is formed within the charges.

2. The null point is located nearer to the weak charge.
If x is the distance of a null point from q1,
(weak charge) then

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What Is Electrostatics?

The study of stationary electric charges at rest is known

Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors

Dielectric Strength: It is the minimum field intensity that should

 Dielectric strength of air = 3 x 106 V/m

1. The maximum charge density of a sphere of radius ‘R’ in terms of

The electric flux through an elementary area ds is defined as the

dΦE = Eds cos θ

Electric Potential (V)

The electric potential at a distance ‘d’ due to a point charge q in

Electric potential (V)

 Gain in the kinetic energy:

 Gain in the velocity:

1. The electric field is perpendicular to the equipotential surface.

In the Case of a Hollow Charged Sphere

3. Outside the sphere

i.e.d = distance from the centre. It behaves as if the whole charge is

The resultant electric field intensity obeys the principle of

In the Case of Solid Charged Sphere

It is an equipotential surface. Outside the sphere, the potential

Note: Inside a non-conducting charged sphere electric field is

Electric intensity inside the sphere

Here, d is the distance from the centre of the sphere and E ∝ d is

Charged Particles in Electric Field

A charged particle of mass m carrying a charge q and falling

The torque acting on an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric

τ→=P→ x E→ i.e., τ=PEsin⁡θ,

where θ is the angle between P→ and E→.

⇒ The electric intensity (E) on the axial line at a distance’d’ from

and on equatorial line, the electric intensity (E)

⇒ The potential due to an electric dipole on the axial line is

, and at any point on the equatorial line, it is zero.

When two unlike equal charges, +Q and –Q, are separated by

 The net electric potential is zero on the perpendicular bisector of the

Combined Field Due to Two Point Charges

1. The null point is formed within the charges.

(weak charge) then

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