Phys1b: Module 1
ELECTRIC CHARGE
and ELECTRIC FIELD
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CINDY D. DULLAS
INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic interactions involve particles that have a property called electric charge, an attribute that is as
fundamental as mass. Just as objects with mass are accelerated by gravitational forces, so electrically charged
objects are accelerated by electric forces. The shock you feel when you scuff your shoes across a carpet and then
reach for a metal doorknob is due to charged particles leaping between your finger and the doorknob. Electric
currents are simply streams of charged particles flowing within wires in response to electric forces. Even the forces that
hold atoms together to form solid matter, and that keep the atoms of solid objects from passing through each other,
are fundamentally due to electric interactions between the charged particles within atoms.
We begin our study of electromagnetism in this chapter by examining the nature of electric charge. We’ll find that
charge is quantized and obeys a conservation principle. When charges are at rest in our frame of reference, they
exert electrostatic forces on each other. These forces are of tremendous importance in chemistry and biology and
have many technological applications. Electrostatic forces are governed by a simple relationship known as Coulomb’s
law and are most conveniently described by using the concept of electric field.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
A. Define electric charge, and describe how the two types of charge interact
B. State the law of conservation of charge
C. Define conductor and insulator, explain the difference, and give examples of each
D. State Coulomb’s law in terms of how the electrostatic force changes with the distance between two
objects.
E. Describe a force field and calculate the strength of an electric field due to a point charge.
F. Calculate the force exerted on a test charge by an electric field.
G. Explain the relationship between electrical force (F) on a test charge and electrical field strength (E).
H. Calculate the total force (magnitude and direction) exerted on a test charge from more than one
charge
I. Describe an electric field diagram of a positive point charge; of a negative point charge with twice
the magnitude of positive charge
Introduction to Electric Charge and
Electric Field
Benjamin Franklin
demonstrated a connection
between lightning and static
electricity.
Sparks were drawn from a
key hung on a kite string
during an electrical storm.
These sparks were like those
produced by static
electricity, such as the spark
that jumps from your finger
to a metal doorknob after
you walk across a wool
carpet.
Introduction to Electric Charge and
Electric Field
Luigi Galvani (1737–1798) performed a series of
experiments in which static electricity was used
to stimulate contractions of leg muscles of
dead frogs, an effect already known in
humans subjected to static discharges. But
Galvani also found that if he joined two metal
wires (say copper and zinc) end to end and
touched the other ends to muscles, he
produced the same effect in frogs as static
discharge.
Introduction to Electric Charge and
Electric Field
Alessandro Volta (1745–1827),
partly inspired by Galvani’s
work, experimented with
various combinations of metals
and developed the battery.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Figure 1: amber
The ancient Greeks discovered as early as
600 B.C. that after they rubbed amber
with wool, the amber could attract other
objects. Today we say that the amber has
Figure 2: shows how these simple materials can be used to
acquired a net electric charge, or has
explore the nature of the force between charges
become charged. The word “electric” is
derived from the Greek word elektron, Figure 2:
meaning amber. (a) The glass rod is attracted to the silk because their
charges are opposite.
(b) Two similarly charged glass rods repel.
(c) Two similarly charged silk cloths repel.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Thus shows a simple
model of an atom with
negative electrons orbiting
its positive nucleus. The
nucleus is positive due
to the presence of
positively charged protons.
Nearly all charge in nature
is due to electrons and
protons, which are two of
the three building blocks of
most matter. While
neutrons which is neutral
Figure 3: Planetary Motion of Atom and carries no charge
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
The magnitude of this basic charge is
qe 1.60 x1019 C
The symbol q is commonly used for charge and the subscript e indicates the charge of a single
electron (or proton).
The SI unit of charge is the coulomb (C). The number of protons needed to make a charge of
1.00 C is
1𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑛
1.00C x = +6.25x10 C
1.60x10−19 C
1𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛
1.00C x = −6.25x10 C
1.60x10−19 C
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
When materials are rubbed together,
Law of Conservation of Charge charges can be separated
(a) Both the amber and cloth are originally
“Total charge is constant on any process”
neutral, with equal positive and negative
charges. Only a tiny fraction of the
charges are involved, and only a few of
them are shown here.
(b) When rubbed together, some negative
charge is transferred to the amber,
leaving the cloth with a net positive
charge.
(c) When separated, the amber and cloth
now have net charges, but the absolute
Figure 4
value of the net positive and negative
charges will be equal.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Figure 5:
Electroscope
(charging by
Polarization is the separation of
contact)
positive and negative charges in
a neutral object
Conductors are materials that
allows charge to flow freely
through its atomic structure such
as metals (copper)
An electroscope is typically made with gold foil leaves hung from a (conducting)
Insulators are materials that holds
metal stem and is insulated from the room air in a glass-walled container.
charges within their atomic (a) A positively charged glass rod is brought near the tip of the electroscope,
structure such as rubber band, attracting electrons to the top and leaving a net positive charge on the leaves. Like
nylons. charges in the light flexible gold leaves repel, separating them.
(b) When the rod is touched against the ball, electrons are attracted and
transferred, reducing the net charge on the glass rod but leaving the electroscope
positively charged.
(c) The excess charges are evenly distributed in the stem and leaves of the
electroscope once the glass rod is removed.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Figure 6: Figure 7:
Charging Charging
by by
Charging by induction
induction induction
(a) Two uncharged or neutral
metal spheres are in contact with
with each other but insulated ground
from the rest of the world.
(b) A positively charged glass
rod is brought near the sphere
on the left Charging by induction, using a ground
(c)The spheres are separated connection.
before the rod is removed, (a) A positively charged rod is brought near
thus separating negative and a neutral metal sphere, polarizing it.
positive charge. (b)The sphere is grounded, allowing
(d) The spheres retain net electrons to be attracted from the earth’s
charges after the inducing rod ample supply.
is removed—without ever (c) Grounding is remove.
having been touched by a (d) The positive rod is removed, leaving the
charged object. sphere with an induced negative charge.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
COULOMB’S LAW
Charles Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806) was first to publish the
mathematical equation that describes the electrostatic force between
two objects.
Coulombs Law states:
“The magnitude of the electric force between two point charges is directly
proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.”
where :
q1q2 F is the magnitude of the Coulomb Force, Newtons(N)
F k k proportionality constant
r2 k 8.988 x109N .m 2
C2
8.99 x10 9 N .m
C2
2
q1 , q2 point charges
r 2 distance between two point charge
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Figure 8:
Interaction between force charges
The magnitude of the electrostatic force F between point charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance
r is given by Coulomb’s law.
(a) Like charges. (b) Unlike charges
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 1: Electric Force versus Gravitational Force
An particles (nucleus of a helium atom) has a mass
𝟐𝟕
and a charge 𝟏𝟗
. Compare the
magnitude of the electric repulsion between two particles with that of the
gravitational attraction between them.
Using Coulombs Law to determine Fe:
Illustrate the Problem:
Fe Electric Force q1q2
Fg Gravitational Force F k
r2
19 19
N .m2 (3.2 x10 C )(3.2 x10 C )
Fe 8.99 x10 9
2
2
C 2 cancel out
C r
2
29 N .m
Fe= 92.058x10
r2
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 1: Electric Force versus Gravitational Force
An particles (nucleus of a helium atom) has a mass
𝟐𝟕
and a charge 𝟏𝟗
. Compare the
magnitude of the electric repulsion between two particles with that pf the
gravitational attraction between them.
Illustrate the Problem: Using Newton’s Law to determine the Fg:
2
Fe Electric Force mM 11 N .m
Fg Gravitational Force Fg G where: G=6.67x10 ; m , M mass of electron, mass of proton
r2 kg 2
N .m 2 (6.64x10 27 kg )(6.64x10 27 kg )
Fg 6.67x10 11 cancel out kg
kg 2 r2
N .m 2
Fg=294.078x10 63
r2
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 1: Electric Force versus Gravitational Force
An particles (nucleus of a helium atom) has a mass
𝟐𝟕
and a charge 𝟏𝟗
. Compare the
magnitude of the electric repulsion between two particles with that pf the
gravitational attraction between them.
Illustrate the Problem: Get the ratio of Fe over Fg:
N .m 2
28
92.058 x10
Fe Electric Force Fe r2
Fg Gravitational Force 2
3.130 x10 3 5
Fg N .m
294.078x10 63
r2
N .m 2
Fe= 92.058 x10 28
r2
N .m 2
Fg=294.0 78x10 63
r2
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Concept of a Force Field
The Coulomb force field due to a positive charge Q is shown
acting on two different charges. Both charges are the same
distance Q. (a)Since q1 is positive, the force F1 acting on it is
repulsive. (b) The charge q2 is negative and greater in
magnitude than q1, and so the force F2 acting on it is
attractive and stronger than F1 . The Coulomb force field is
thus not unique at any point in space because it depends on
the test charge q1 and q2 as well as the charge Q.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Electric Field
The Electric Field (E) is defined in such a manner that it
represents only the charge creating it and is unique at
every point in space. Specifically, the electric field E is F qQ Q
defined as: E k 2 k 2
q qr r
F
E Q
Ek 2
q r
Where:
The electric field is thus seen to
F Electrostatic Force (Coulomb Force),N
depend only on the charge Q and
q Test charge, C
the distance r ; it is completely
E Electric Field, N/C
independent of the test
charge q .
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 2: Calculate the Electric Field of a Point Charge
Calculate the strength and direction of the electric field E due to a point charge of
2.00 nC (nano-Coulombs) at a distance of 5.00 mm from the charge.
Q
Ek
r2
Nm 2
2.00 x10 9
C
E 8.99 x10 9
2 3 2
C (5.00 x10 m)
5 N
E 7.19 x10
C
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 3: Calculate the of Force exerted on a Point Charge by an
Electric Field
What force does the electric field found in the previous example exert on a point
charge of –0.250 μC ?
F
E ; F qE
q
6 N
F qE (0.250 x10 C )(7.50 x10 ) 5
C
F 0.18 N
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Electric Field Lines: Multiple Charges The electric field surrounding three
different point charges. (a) A
positive charge. (b) A negative
charge of equal magnitude. (c) A
larger negative charge.
In many situations, there are
multiple charges. The total electric
field created by multiple charges is
the vector sum of them individual
fields created by each charge.
The following example shows how
to add electric field vectors.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 4: Calculate the Electric Field of a Point Charge
Find the magnitude and direction of the total electric field due to the two point charges, q1 and
q2 , at the origin of the coordinate system.
q
,cm E 1 k 12
r
9 N m
2
5 .0 0 x1 0 9 C
E 1 8 .9 9 x1 0
C 2 ( 2 .0 0 x1 0 2 m ) 2
N
E 1 1 .1 2 4 x1 0 5
C
Origin q2
E 2 k
,cm r2
N m 2
1 0 .0 0 x1 0 9 C
q2=+10nC E 2 8 .9 9 x1 0 9
2
C 2 ( 4 .0 0 x1 0 m )2
q1=+5nC N
E 2 0 .5 6 2 x1 0 5
C
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Sample Problem 4: Calculate the Electric Field of a Point Charge
Find the magnitude and direction of the total electric field due to the two point charges, q1 and
q2 , at the origin of the coordinate system.
,cm
E T o ta l E 12 E 2 2
ETOTAL=?
E T o ta l (1 . 1 2 4 x 1 0 5 ) 2 ( 0 . 5 6 2 x 1 0 5 ) 2
N
E T o ta l 1 . 2 6 x 1 0 5
E1=1.13x105N/C C
E1 1 .1 2 4 x1 0 5 N C
ta n 1
ta n
1
63.40 O ,cm E2
5
0 .5 6 2 x1 0 N C
q2=+10nC 6 3 .4 0
E2=0.56x105N/C
q1=+5nC
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Two negative charges produce the fields The properties of electric field lines for any charge
distribution can be summarized as follows:
1. Field lines must begin on positive charges and
terminate on negative charges, or at infinity in the
hypothetical case of isolated charges.
2. The number of field lines leaving a positive charge or
entering a negative charge is proportional to the
magnitude of the charge.
Two opposite charges produce the field 3. The strength of the field is proportional to the
closeness of the field lines—more precisely, it is
proportional to the number of lines per unit area
perpendicular to the lines.
4. The direction of the electric field is tangent to the
field line at any point in space.
5. Field lines can never cross.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Application of Electrostatics
1. Van de Graaff Generator
is an
electrostatic gener
ator which uses a
moving belt to
accumulate
electric charge on
a hollow metal
globe on the top of
an insulated
column, creating
very high electric
potentials.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Application of Electrostatics
2. Xerography
is a printing and
photocopying
technique that works on
the basis of electrostatic
charges.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Application of Electrostatics
3. Laser Printer 4. Ink Jet Printer and Electrostatic
is an electrostatic digital printing process Painting
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD
Application of Electrostatics
5. Smoke Precipitators and Electrostatic Air Cleaning
is a type of filter (dry scrubber) that
uses static electricity to remove soot and
ash from exhaust fumes before they exit the
smokestacks
Thank You for Listening
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Potential and Field
