,,,-.

-
1
. tsnnip]e : .... .· .. . >I.. .· ... _. . . . . . . ·. . _·. _.... _ . . . .
10 Two small identlcal conducting spheres have charges
.· 2•
of _ ~:, -9 and - 0.5 , 1 o-o Coulomb respectively. When tf'ley are
4
ems apart What Is the force between them. Uthey are
place t into contact and then separated by 4 ems wha_t is the
i,,ough ·. ween them ? . . (8 marks~
torce bet V'TU (Field Theory • OSJ, July Oa
SD]ution: .B .U. EC/TC Aug 97
Ca...~ (i) : Before the two spheres are brought into contact :
Since the spheres are small, the charges on them could be treated as
..onint charges .
~ Let t'he direction from Q 1 to Q2 be taken as positive x-direction and let
a.r he the unit vector along positive x-direction.
Q1 • ◄ 0.04 .. • Q2
-9 -9
2x 10 C -0.Sx 10 C
Force F between the two spheres as per coulomb's law is,
➔ Q Q 2 X 10 - 9X (- 0.5 X 10 -9) ·
F == I 2 aA - . ?'
4 1t £ 0 r
2 X -
4tr X 8.854 X 10
12
X
(
0.0
4)•
1 l '( ICIMG

h
,;Lj •A
/4
•◄ r D
Fig. 2

Rg.3
➔ ➔
➔

F +Fe+ F0 = 0,

-+ ➔ -+
or, ✓2Fn +Fe+ Fo = 0,

2 2
q q 2qQ
✓2 + 2
+ == 0,
2 2
or, 47tE 0 a 2 ( 4nE 0 a ) (47tE 0 a )

or,
q 2 [-12q+:.q+2Q] = 0
4TCE
0
a 2

Since [ q
47t£oa2
J :t= 0
'
[✓2 q + 12 q + 2 Q] = O

or, Q = - ; [ ✓2 +: ]
Q = -0.957 q

The charge to be placed at O for equilibrium= - 0.957 q.

To find the force exerted on any one of the charges, let us consider
the charge at A. The individual forces exerted are given in Eqs(l) to (4)
Since the charges are in equilibrium,the resultant force on q at A will be
zero, which is the same for other charges at B, C and D also.

Example 3:
Two particles each of mass m and having • charge : :
suspended by a string of length / from a common P,tlc
Show that the angle 8 which each string makes with th• v•
 1;:~n1u11Jt'Two f
S : po'1,;1 C1tarees of ttuig111tudes 2 ,_
_ - •· •-· .· . _ , me a nd-
9 99
'-- 1
ec. 15-- P>: (4, 7, - G), end P,.,,,. ,(---3 , 2- '.. ·- ) ,r
- -1':cd ai1.1 1p -1·..a--
,-t .,eai - 7 11IYIC
tree space• 'Ev111ua•tc, Pec 11,,
u dl,tsta,,ec 1retwee11 thll two cha,get11 - "•••
21 th@ ,iCCl<'l' fUi'l'lb diI chetge et p '
' - - ' - • _, •-- ,-· ' - - ' . - 12
~i'itli, 3:11tr1,I! vcctut , ,orce 011 charge et p

Sol nh<>n :
I J)n;fo.11<'<' brt1L'rcn ti1-e two r:ftarges Rpl f'2 :::.:: r

(4, 7, -5) (-3 , 2, --a9)

Xi Yl z1 ,½ Y2 Z2
P1 • .... RP p .... P2
-3 1 2 -3
2 x JO C -7 x 10 C

Rp p = ~xi)2 + (y2- Y1)2 + (z2 - z1)2,

1 2
2 2
= J(-3 - 4) 2 + (2 - 7) + (-9 + 5) ,

= 9.49

2. The vector force on charge at P 1 :

The unit vector directed from P 2 to P 1 is,

(x1-x2)ax +b1 -y2)a)'+ (z1 - 2 2)at

ar21 =
2 ( 2 2
( X1 - X2 ) + )'1 - )'2) + (zl - z;2)

= ( 4 + 3) ax + (7 - 2) a,. + (-5 + 9) a2:

)''
J( 4+3-+(7-2) )'>
2 +{-5+9"
 I. LAW & £LECTRIC FIELD INl ENSITY
ft/
u,v1v18 s
7 /,.\ + (j ()- ,, + .,-_.(-~, t
= DAD

- __ o. 13B n,.+ o;G27 li,i ., 0A2:1 a,..

0,-2.1 ·

n charge nt P 1 ia,
Force o .
Q, 4):>, -~ - - C/1 02 ;.,
F. =: -~ <',•21 - _ 2 °,·P.1
:Jl 4 7tl\, r i1JtCo _ll /'1/2

3
-~ uiC == 2 '< 10- C, and Q 2 = - 7 mC == -7 x .w~a C
1 2
i()\~\ Q1
3
(2 X l O- 3 ) (- 7 x l 0- )

f,z1 == ;;-X 8.854 X 10-12 X (9.49)2 ar21 = -1400 a,21'

F. == -1400 (o.73Bax +0.527ay +0.421a )

or, 21 z

or + rce on charge at P2 :
The veCt ,,0
e unit vector directed from P 1 to P is
NOW, th 2 '

~ (x2 - x1) ax + (Y2 - Y1) ay + (z 2 - z1) a

a - z
r12 - 2 2 ,
+ (z2 - z 1 )
.Ji(x2 - x1) 2 + (Y2 - Y1)

=
(-3-4)ax +(2-7)ay +(-9+5)az
✓ (-3-4) 2 + (2-7) 2 + (-9+5) 2 '

-7ax - Say - 4az

9.49

a,.12 = -0. 738 ax - 0.527 £";- - 0. 421 a,.

Force on charge at P2 is,

F _ QI Q2 "
12- 2 ar12,
4 1C £0 r

(2 X 10-3 ) (-7 X 10-3 )

Fi2 == c I a,-12
4rr X 8.854 X IQ- 12 X (9.49)2

== -1400 (-0.738 ax - 0.527 ay - 0.421 aJ

.i
a.."
s...
a.. cc,~
..
! ! .!f
~
... tr..

l< l I
I a
.........

. ,. I
rl
I I .
•
,I ~
 pie 10 :
~ rwo polnl char-a•• of •3 1o "IC
1-wo meter apaH. DelernUne lhe et " L fltte
...4cied one meter from each of ttn, lwo I • ,- nt
~JC'1 f5

Bl! (A__~, FJ fl
.i!JOr1 .:
" ~ d '1•
• whtc.h ekdnc field tc: to be det.ermmfd l
p

p
•---9-- I m - - - ,.
pf -----1 m - - - • P2
0. == s X 10 C Ql = -2 X IO-9 C
-------2m-------...
Tn.e direction fro!Il. p I to p 2 is taken as positive x-direction
, ·- rienteci
--..-.: ~ J.s 0 .~
in the direction from P top
......- l 2·

. ~ '". p
;;::.:. t1 ~ ...
due to the charge at P is,
1

C) 3 X 10-9
4 rr ;:r/ arl = _4_r:,_x_, -8-. 8_5_4_x_ l_0__~
2 -x _1_
2 a.r = 27 ci.r'

-··
-:--,:; () !.5 a positive charge, the field diverges from P, and hence acts in
::~~ion P1 t-0 P2 . Thus cir 1 is directed parallel to ci.r. Since both of them
m::.it \'E:Ctors and lie parallel to each other a.rl = ax).
....
f~ E2 at P due to charge at P is,
2

E Q2 A 2 x 10- (,.. )
9
18 .
2 = 4 n c.,. r 2 ar2 = 4n x 8.3~4
n x 10-12 12 a.r = a:r.
0 2 x I

...,_ Q2 is a negative charge, the field converges on P and hence acts in

2
-tr~ction P1 to P2 . Thus ar2 is parallel to ax i.e., ar2 = ax). Both the
·1Ji , ..,
1
J ao<l E2 reinforce at P.
?.1:tult ""7
. ant field E at p is,
...,
E~il + E2 =: 27 ax + 18 ax
 /1
s·S LAW U ELEClRIC FIELD INieNSIIV
couLOM
ll~"Jt'rle 12 : . \\ . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . _ · ...
· peterntlne tho oloctrh• llold lnton•IIV 111 "point A lollided
os o 3 nt nnd 0,4 m ro1poctlvoh/ from chnr110t o i,nd
dlsta • . . . . ·. . .. . , 9 . . . .. . . ~1 11
• nc
. ed o.S nt apart, Q has chargo of 1 1< 1 O C wl!llo o, ,..
1 1
/J 5paC . >
ge o 10- 1 C,
~ ° (k mnrk•J
o1c~ vru (l'iohJ• & WHVOB), M1ttch 7,(10,I
01

5o}t1tiOil:
A (0.18, 0.24)

'I ~,,_ ,all

r ~ I <~ "-..
I 0
Y~~ ~ I ·'Th.
~-- I V

8(0,0) /4 ________ (!1_ ________ ~ C(0.5,0)

~ ~
Q = 10 C Q2 = 8 x 10 C
1 0.5 m ------1

I) The geometrical arrangement from the data can be made as shown in

figure. Since 0.5 2 = 0.3 2 + 0.4 2 , the triangle ABC is a right angled
triangle.
From the figure, cos a = ~ :c 0. 6, or a = 53. 13° .
0.5
AO= r sin a= 0.3 sin 53.13
1
or, AO = 0.24 m
Also, BO= r 1 cos a= 0.3 cos 53.13
or, BO= 0.18 m
The location of point B can be taken as origin and the direction from
2)
B to C be taken as positive x-direction. Then it follows that
the coordinates of B, C, and A are, (0, 0), (0.5, 0) and (0.18, 0.24)
respectively.

3) Since the charge Q is positive, the field is directed from B to A,

1
i.e.' arl is directed from B to A.
-I
From the figure, we have for r 1 as,

~ = (0.18-0)ax + (0.24-0)cij'
 ON

. ., ..
. . . . .. . (1 61 politiff. tbl field ii d1nded ,._
1
.....,dtomCIDA
...
r (0.18 - 0.5 )ti-' + (0.24 - O..l)a
1
·~ ..A-C ,
1,.1 0.4

• -o.sti-' + o.6a1
.
TIii ellctric 8eld E1 at A due to Q2 is,
.. • SxW~
1, --0,1 = -------ci 1 •
,,,_,,,I 0. 4) rl
411l< 8.864 X 10-!2 X(

• a{-0 so~+ osci,)

·
.
•• • -860 + 27,i
' ' ...
I TIii ...itut electric 8eld B at A ii,
.......
• • 1 +1 (eoci, + aoci,}+(
1 1s
.I SU,+ 10741
N,pk!ede 6'dll a.Id 11,
 'S LAW u r-, EGIIIIC flll O INICNSIJy
coULoMO
l' rt'(' I ion or f IJ,, ftt1ld is, I

•rh•''' l1111 '(1117) 7'1tJ'

~M
1
Th•' 1 ' , 6 uJ1t1ul fi,,ld io i11rlt11L d lo Ilip :t mdo 11L '"' lHIHI, 'I'/ ,f•
' ~
, ,Jo 1•}.
., .
4 nJtll
11~• Two point charges ol magnitudes 3 J•C, and 8 µC •••
d at places P1 (- 3, 5, - 7), and P2 (- 4, 2, 9) respectlvery In
10
,~•"pace. Evaluate the electric field and also Its magnitude at
o.,, t p (2, -6, 5).
trees.
thO P
solution:
p (2, -6, 5)

/·~
~/r, '2 " " ~ , .
/3xI0-6C
•
p1 (-3, 5, -7)
~ . -Bx 10-6C
P2 (-4, 2, 9)

The fiie Id E 1 to p due to the charge at P 1 is,

3 X 10-6
E1 = 2 arl'
4 7t Eo r1

2
= J[2 -(-3) [-6 - s] + [s -(-1)]2 = 11.03
2
Now, ,1 ] +

[2-(-3)]ax +[-6-5]ay +[5-(-7)]az

1
a,. = 17.03

= 0.29 ax - 0.65 ay + 0. 70 az

E➔1 -- 3xl0-6 12 [o.29a -0.65ci.+0.70az].

X )
4rr X 8.854 X 10- X 290

= 93 [0.29 ax - 0.65 ay + 0.70 az ],

== 26. 98 ax -
60.45 ay + 65. l a2
• ...... (1)
The field t p .
a due to the charge at P 1s,
2
-; BxlQ-6
E2==- - - - a
4 rr E0 r2 2 r2,
 fl 1 :>,]', [i I 111f I IH r,f ./111,,
Now, rv \
10 f I
, , In nrw1LIVt 1 , /2,'1, fu ,Hr, c:tuJ h,,,,, /1 f.t
1/,1 :t
1

hnnri111 2
~,,1r1hn
•
1
~h1(C (
),.
( 1 - 2" Oi 1
2( o, uy ➔ (H fiJ u
z
{Jf'r/, • J0.77
r: ~ 7 U.,;
• - 0.1_,l} ' ,f (J, 71 ¼ &.,,ti ➔• 0, r, 7 az
0
~ -8 % l () .
l ('
[- 0,557 li 1 + 0, 74L IJ + 0.37
_ a'
I~ Lt
~2 4 11'. ~ 8, 8M X 'I () / l J 1
t

r ' < ,
~~J a;c.
.... Jz
~

The resultant field E at JJ is,

-+ -..; ...,
E = E1 + g'I.·
By using Eqi; (1) and (2),

a, + (j/jJ az] + [345 ax - 460 a, - 229 a,],

fi0A5

= 372 ax - 520 ay - 164 az

➔

The magnitude of E is,

IE I = ✓:n2 2 + 520 2 + 165~j = ✓435680

jE I 660 V/m.
Jf &8 iB the unit vector oriented along the field, then,
,
,.
(J,p = R·-- _ 872 ax - 520 ay -164 az
4 ~ 660
:. &,R () GH a - 0.79 a - 0 25 a"'z •
X y .

'l'his gives th,! direction of JE. , I

! 1.l 1
...
\
E x{Ull}Jle lU : '>\' Q "' - 1 µC, Q 2 "' -2 µC and
tlve charges 1
Three nega ers of an equilateral triangle
d t the corn •
"' --3 ,c are place a • find the magnitude and direction
1
0 \i,e length 1
n of each side is . rnt 'bisecting the line between the
. .electric
of . . t·18 Id at the po1n
<5 marks)
charges 0 and 03• v.T.U- (Field Theory), July 03
2 B.U.ECITC Sep 99

A -6
Solution: Q == -1 x 10 C
1

2) The direction from Q2 to Q3

is taken as positive
x-direction. The unit vector
B
C
-6
a is directed along positive
X
-6 Q3 =-3 x 10 C
Q2 = -2 X 10 C x-direction.
3) The direction from P to Q is taken as positive y- direction.
1
 S tAW l1 1lfl Hl t 1 !I I H
co l 10MB

1
l"
4nr

• is directed from P to Q2 (i➔ c., m the negatp. £' .t <lirr l

5) {ll?z ,. ,.
:. ar2 = -ax .

. Id
fie
i',2! at p due to charge Q2 is.

➔ Q2 ,. _ -2 x 10-G ( ,. ) l ( 6 )
E2 = 2 ar2 - ( 1) -a;i.. = - . - 8 x 10 ax
41t£ 0 r2 4rr£ 0 4 4rrE
0

• • directed from P t o Q 3 (i .e., in the positive .\·-direction)

6) afj 15 A

ar3 = - ax.

Field Es at p due to charge Q3 is,

-6
= -3 X 10 (a ) =
4rr£o (f) :c

7) The resultant field at P is,

➔ ➔ ➔ ➔

E = E1 + E2 + E3 ,

1 [ 4 -$A -6 A
= - - - - x 10 ay + 8 X 10 ax - 12 X 10
-6,]
a.x ,
41(£0 3

= (9 x 10 9) [- 4 x 10 - 6 ay
A
- 4 x 10 -6 ax
A ]
,
3
= - 36 x 10 3 ax - 12 x 103 a)' .
A A

8/ The magnitude of the field is,

/E/ = (36x10
3
)2 +(12x10 3 )2 = 38 x l0 3 V/ m .

The direction of the field : tan - l (12/36) = 18.44°.

The resultant field at Pis inclined to the x- axis at nn nng-le ]8.•4-1 °.
 -·-·
............................
• IIII:. •....... ...■ ............
...... 1.:•~tllt 1 ■ ,1:.
I 1M • f ~1\4

YTtl ,,........IA,, ~
~ ¼~~
Al per data Pi 11 independent or 1 tt._
('OO!ftatltl . - that,, the bottom of lbe liat cblfll It
p1111f 1.e • 0 , 1111d it 1tand1 panllel lo ,-u.11
1
fbe location at which I II to be foud ii p 2
dilt,IDOf It ti the line charge from Ule pomt P a, to bt
point A m the line charge at y-<oordinate value wbicb •
ie y • 15)
'nae pouat m tbe bne charge conaidered i1 (-3, 1&, 4
' n a e ~ d11tance R of the line charp rrom p la,

R •AP= /(2-(-3)f +(15-15)2 +(3-4f • /a •ll

+
+
+
y
+
+
p ! A
•- -
(2, 1S, 3)
- --- ...
+ (-3, 15, 4)
 fLEClAIC l·l[Lll INII NSIIY
,s LAW & / !
~a
C
ou~o 15 [o .oRI. a.\ - o.l!Ju 17. ],
,:;
88,J
• _ 17.!l8 ,i .- V/m,
.... 9639 <1,,
S: thl' fit•ld is,
j(\ldl' OC,-.---):' ~--(-,7-.:J-8)-~ ✓ 770'2.
C I

~1:1~1)/cl ,:; .vl(t'Svu 39

s.1 V/111.
::: S

11 Je 1'1 : eJectric field intensity at a point (0 0 S) d

◄(11JJl.r r,d tf18 , , rn ue
~- ff
f19rges O = o.35 µC at (O, 4, 0) m and Q = _ o 55 µC at
1 2 . . ,
,JIO t;
10 t O} "1• (8 Marks)
13, O, VTU (Field theory), July 02

- -
111tiOJl:
so E2
E i' P (0, 0, 5)

a,/
'2
"' '\Q, fl X'I
y

i..
(0, 4, 0)

Q, 0, O)

Let p be the point at which the electric field intensity is to be evaluated.

(i) The coordinates of P are (0,0,5) i.e., x = 0, y = 0, and z = 5. Hence p
lies on Z - axis at Z = 5.

(ii) The coordinates of Q are (0,4,0) i.e., x = 0, y = 4 and Z = 0. Hence Q

1 1
is located on y-axis at y = 4.

fiii) The coordinates of Q are (3, 0, 0), i.e., x

2 =3, y = 0, and z =O. Hence
Q2 is located on x-axis at x = 3.

Let the dista PQ ➔

nee 1 == r 1. Let r 1 be the distance vector.
 ..'
"., . .uuple 19 :
J:i~'

Charge lies in the z == -3 m plane in th f

f• d b 2 < x :s; 2 m, and - 2 s; Y 8s; 2orm of a square
stteet de me Y - m with charge
2
density P5 = (.x2 + y2 + 9)
312
nC/m 2 • Find £ at the origin.
(6 Marks)
VTU, NewMQP
Solution:

·Consider an elementary area dS in the charged sheet. Let it be at a

➔

distance R from the origin. The coordinates of dS can be written as

 coUL OMB'S L/\W & ELECIBIC mw INlr:NSIJ'(

85
I

N \'.' (j f
Uh' a--...
/HI
'u
•
1
I JI f fJ (GJ
l11alng MqA( I} 111111 rn,1
Using gqs(2), Ul), 1111d W), f•~q(;J) 1:11 11 1,,, w, il.tt•,, HtJ,

4 2(-xax -
yay + 3az)
Or, dE = - - - - - - - X 10- 9 .
4rceo

Looking to Fig.(1), one realizes that the charge distribution is

➔
synunetrical about z-axis. It means, if we resolve dE along the x, y, and z
➔

.
a!!S, then for a positive component dE X due to a charge element at one side
➔
of the z-axis, there will always be a negative dEx available that is due to an
other charge element situated symmetrically on the other side of
➔ ➔
z-aXl·s . This is true for dE y components also. However, only dE z components
➔

add up. Thus on summation, only dE 2 components survive.

+2+2
➔ =
E JdE➔ = JJ-6 -x 10-
--- dxa
dyz,. ,
9

41t£0
-2-2

+2

= 53.93 J[xf: dy U,,

-2

+2
=215.7 fdya 2
•

-2
➔

E = 863 a 2
V/m.
 I

BG / COULIJMU 'S I AW f,
ELuc i111c
I 1~LO
Extnnl)ll' 20 : ltJ lt
,~~, ly
A unltorrn shoot chorgo do11ally Pa • ._:!_ nc/ i
3,t tn la I
()ctl
5 rn and a uniform lino charge With donslt t .. ca
z = y p t:a . "t
at Z = _ 3 m, y = 3 m. Find tho electric fleld nt ( ~ ( ~~,~)
• -- 1. 0) tit:,~

Solution:
V'ru, NI (~ tt,Jn
t\v ~ "\•i
"'·
There is a sheet ch~rge of c~arge densit~ ps. in the z ... <u,
The coordiantes of the pomt at which the electnc field is - 5 In
to be d I>la_"
Z eterrri. ''(:
IJ)~
z== 5rn Plane
.,,,,--;---~"'----
~G~
C,~~
'"-----...,;re..~~~~
~E4 ~

( X, 3, -3)

v
-z
Fig. 1
9 2
are (x, -1, 0). The value of Ps = ( 3~) x 10- / m . Here we realize that it is a
positively charged plane. Hence the direction of the unit vector associated
with the field will be oriented downwards but parallel to z-direction .

........ (1)

The electric field at the point, due to the charged plane is,

E➔1 = -Ps
-aE
A

2 E. 1
0
 oMD'S LAW & tltGIHIG l·llllJ INIINSIIY 87
r,oUL •

There is a uniform line charge with line chnrge density,

Pl, -
-(-~19
9
=3 m and z =-3 m i.~., its coordinates
x 10 · C/m located at y

re (x, 31 -3). The coordiantes ~f the points .at which electric ~eld is to_be
a terlllined are (x, -1, 0) which also defme a line to which the lme
dhe ge will be parallel. Let R be the normal distance between these two
car
➔

• The electric field E2 due to the line charge at a point on the line can
}lne 5 •
now be written as,

········(3)

Since PL is negative, the electric field is directed towards the line charge.
In Fig.I we see R is between the points (x, -1, 0) and (x, 3, -3) .

........ (4)

........ (5)

Now, by substituting the values of pL and E , and using Eqs(4) and

0
(5) we get,

➔ (- 295 ) X 10 -9 4
- ay + a2
A 3 A

E 2= X--"---
21t X ( lO_g ) X 5 5
36Jt

........ (6)