Physics 12

Electricity
Mr. Wickson
 Electrostatics
Electrostatics - is the branch of physics that deals with stationary electric charges

Electric charge - is carried by the electron and the proton in an atom

Protons (positive)
Electrons (negative)

Each particle has the same magnitude of charge but opposite sign:

e = 1.602 x 10-19 C
 General Properties of Electric Charges

Opposite charges attract each other: *Charge must be carried

by objects or particles

*Whenever charge is produced on

one object an equal amount of the
opposite charge is produced on a
second object

Like charges repel each other:

Law of Conservation of Electric Charge

i) Charge is not created or destroyed

ii) Net charge produced is zero
 Creating Electric Charges
Some materials hold and transfer electric charges much better than others.

Conductors – materials which transfer charge easily

(Electrons can
move freely)

Insulators – materials which transfer charge with difficulty

(Electrons cannot
move freely)
 ELECTRIC CHARGES

Conduction vs. Induction

++++++ ++++++

+ + + + + + ++++++ -- ++

+ + + + + + ++++++
 Coulomb's Law

The law for electrostatic attraction is similar to gravitational law (inverse square)

Q is the point charge on an object

For two objects Q1Q2 r is the distance between them
with charge: F k 2 k is a proportionality constant
r k = 8.988 x 109 N*m2/C2

Be sure to use subscripts when

describing the force:

F(on)(by)

Coulomb’s Law produces

magnitude values, for the
direction you should assess
the sign of charges.
Example #2)

Three charged particles are arranged in a line as shown below.

Calculate the net electrostatic force on particle 3 due to the other two charges.

μ = *10-6
Q3Q1
F31  k F31 = 1.150 N
r31 2

Q3Q2
F32  k F32 = 2.696 N
r32 2

Let right be positive

Fnet = -F32 + F31
= -1.547 N
= -1.5 N [Right]
= 1.5 N [Left]
Calculate the net electrostatic force on charge Q3 due to charges Q1 and Q2.

Q3Q1
F31  k F31 = 139.56 N
Fnet r31 2
Q3Q2
F32  k F32 = 324.57 N
r32 2

Find the x and y components

Fx  F31x  F31 cos 30
Fx = 120.86 N

Fy  F32  F31 y  F32  F31 sin 30

Fy = 254.79 N
Find the magnitude of Fnet Find the angle of Fnet
2 2 Fy
Fnet  Fx  Fy   tan 1
Fx A net force of 300 N acts on
Fnet = 282.00 N θ = 64.62° Q3 at an angle of 60° N of E
 The Electric Field

Non-Uniform E-Field Uniform E-Field

+ + + + +
+ + +

- - - -- - --

Made by point charges Made by oppositely charged parallel plates

Strength of field varies Strength of field does not vary with location
with distance from charge
 The Electric Field

Q1Q2 F
Recall that: F k 2 and E
q
r
(Non-Uniform E Fields)
kQq / r 2 Q
We can substitute and simplify: E Ek 2
q r
Electric Field Form of Coulomb's Law
(single point charge)

We can rearrange to solve for the

force experienced by any charge in
the field, so long as the charge does F  qE
not move the field creating charge.
(Uniform E Fields)
 Electric Force (Uniform E Fields)
FA
Gravity F  mg
m B
Ep
f
Gravity An object, with mass m, being
Field moved with constant velocity against
A
Ep a constant gravitational field g.
Fg mg i

Work must be done against the

gravitational field to move the mass.

FA Electrostatics F  qE
q
B Ep
f An object, with charge +q , being
Electric moved with constant velocity
Field A against a constant electric field E.
+
Ep
i
FE qE Work must be done against the
electric field to move the charge.
Electric Potential Energy (Non-Uniform E Fields)

Applied Force

An object, with charge +q , being

brought closer to another
+ charge +Q, will experience a
+
+ + +
+
+ + force of repulsion.
+
+ + +
+
+
Work must be done against the
electric field to bring the two
Electric Field charges closer together.
Electric Potential Energy (Non-Uniform E Fields)

Recall:
KQ1Q2
W = ΔEp = F x d …and… F=
R2
Therefore:

KQ1Q2 KQ1Q2
Ep = xd …so… Ep =
R2 R

- GM1m2
Ep =
R
This is very similar to our lesson
on Gravitational Potential Energy:
 Electric Potential Energy (Non-Uniform E Fields)
Example #2
(A more realistic problem is when one charge is forced to move or is
allowed to move on its own.)
2.4 m
0.75 m
4.0 μC 2.0 μC

What work is done in moving the 2.0 μC charge 0.75 m closer to the 4.0 μC charge?

ΔEp = Ep2 - Ep1

kQq kQq
ΔEp =
r2 r1

9.00 x109 x 4.0 x 10-6 x 2.0 x 10-6 9.00 x109 x 4.0 x 10-6 x 2.0 x 10-6
ΔEp =
1.65 2.4

ΔEp = 0.0436 J - 0.030 J = 0.0136 J

Electric Potential (Non-Uniform E Fields)
V3 = 100 V Equipotentials for a small
positive charge:

V4 = 50 V
V1 = 200 V

Electric Field Q
V2 = 150 V

kQ
V1 = 200 V
V=
R

V2= 150V The same V exist

V4 = 50 V anywhere along
V3 = 100 V
each of the
equipotential
concentric circles.
 Electric Potential (Non-Uniform E Fields)
Example #4:
10.3 m P
What is the electric potential at
point P due to the 32 μC charge?

KQ
V=
32 μC R
9.00 x 109 x 32 x 10-6
V=
10.3 m
VP = +28000 V
Electric Potential and Energy (Uniform E Fields)

THINK-PAIR-SHARE
• These are cathode-anode arrangements.
• Which has the greatest electric potential
difference and hence the greatest potential
energy (Ability to do work)?
+200 V 0V +200 V -200 V -400 V -600 V

a) b) c)
 Summing up all the Electrostatic Equations
Non- Uniform Field Situation

xR
(Force) (Energy)
F Ep
KQq KQq
R2 R
÷q (Electric Field) (Electric Potential)
E V
KQ KQ
R2 R
Summing up all the Electrostatic Equations
Uniform Field Situation:

xd
(Force) (Energy)
F Ep
qE
or
qΔV
qΔV/d
÷q (Electric Field)
E ΔV
(Voltage)

ΔV
Ed
d
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
 Conductors
Property of Conductors – when the charges are not moving (static) the electric field
inside the conductor is zero.
– any net charge on a conductor distributes itself on the surface
– the electric field is always perpendicular to the outside surface
of a conductor

(Induced charges)

+Q -Q

+Q

Field = zero
 Shielding ANSWER:
A neutral metal box
is placed between
charged parallel
plates

The field inside the

neutral box is
cancelled through a
process of induction • Electric field induces a current
• Causes displacement of
electrons within the conductor
• Displaced electrons cancel the
THINK-PAIR-SHARE applied field inside

How does the conductor cancel the external • The current stops because the
electric field from the parallel plates? external force fades
Point Charge Conductor Surface Charge Induction
Zero Electric Field

Use your
knowledge!

Indicate where we could find each concept on the diagram above

Conductor Induction

Constant Potential
Zero Electric Field

Point Charge

Surface Charge