21

Electric Charge and

Electric Field

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objectives
1. Apply the concepts of the dichotomy, conservation and
quantization of electric charge
2. Given the initial/final charge distribution, calculate the final/initial
charge distribution using conservation principles

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

Benjamin F ranklin

positive charge

negative charge

Two positive charges or two negative charges repel each other.

A positive charge and a negative charge attract each other.

+
4

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Electric Charge and the Structure of Matter

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

Electric charge is conserved and quantized.

1. The algebraic sum of all the electric charges in any closed system is
constant.
charging process

e. g. rubbing

2. Every observable amount of electric charge is always an integer

multiple of the electron/proton charge. We say that charge is
quantized.

where n is an integer
6

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objectives
1. Predict charge distributions, and the resulting attraction or
repulsion, in a system of charged insulators and conductors
2. Outline the process of charging

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Conductors permit the easy movement of charge

through them, while insulators do not.

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Charging by Induction

In a metallic conductor the mobile charges are always negative electrons.

In ionic solutions and ionized gases, both positive and negative charges
are mobile.
9

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Charging by Induction

10

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Charging by Induction

11

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Electric Forces on Uncharged Objects

A CHARGED body can exert forces on objects that are UNCHARGED.
Hence a charged object of either sign exerts an attractive force on an uncharged object.

Polarization is the slight shifting of charge within the molecules of the neutral insulator 12

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

Two neutral conducting pop cans are touching each other. A positively charged
balloon is brought near one of the cans as shown below. The cans are separated
while the balloon is nearby, as shown. After the balloon is removed the cans are
brought back together. When touching again, can X is ____.

A. positively charged

B. negatively charged

C. neutral

D. impossible to tell
13

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Example:
A negatively charged balloon is brought near a neutral conducting sphere as
shown below. As it approaches, charge within the sphere will distribute itself in a
very specific manner. Which one of the diagrams below properly depicts the
distribution of charge in the sphere?

14

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Example:
A positively charged balloon is brought near a neutral conducting sphere as
shown below. While the balloon is near, the sphere is touched (grounded).

At this point, there is a movement of electrons. Electrons move ____ .

A.
B.
C.
D.

into the sphere from the ground (hand)

out of the sphere into the ground (hand)
into the sphere from the balloon
out of the sphere into the balloon
15

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Example:
Consider three identical conducting cubes, A, B, and C as shown. Cube A and
Cube B were made to touch each other, after electrostatic equilibrium is
reached, they were separated. Cube A was then made to touch Cube C. After
electrostatic equilibrium is reached, what are the final charges on each cube?

16

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Exercise 1:
You have two lightweight metal spheres, each hanging from
an insulating nylon thread. One of the spheres has a net
negative charge, while the other sphere has no net charge.
1. If the spheres are close together but do not touch, will they
A. attract each other,
B. repel each other, or
C. exert no force on each other?
2. You now allow the two spheres to touch. Once they have touched,
will the two spheres
A. attract each other,
B. repel each other, or
C. exert no force on each other?
17

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objective
1. Calculate the net electric force on a point charge exerted by a
system of point charges

18

21
Coulombs Law

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Charles Augustin de Coulomb (17361806)

19

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

Coulombs Law : Force between two point charges

Where:

SI unit of electric charge : coulomb (C)

SI unit of force: newton (N)
SI unit of length : meter (m)
20

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

+yaxis

What are the magnitude and

direction of the force exerted by
q1 on q2? By q2 on q1?

q1

q2
a

+xaxis
21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

+yaxis

What are the magnitude and

direction of the force exerted by
q1 on q2? By q2 on q1?

q1

q2
a

+xaxis
22

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

+yaxis

What are the magnitude and

direction of the net force
exerted by q2 and q3 on q1?
By q1 and q2 on q3?

q3
a
q1

q2
a

+xaxis
23

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Example:
Five equal charges Q are equally spaced on a semicircle of
radius R as shown. Find the force on a charge q located at
the center of the semicircle.

24

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

When two electrically charged particles in empty space interact, how does
each one know that the other is there? What goes on in the space
between them to communicate the effect of each one to the other?

25

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objectives
1. Describe the electric field due to a point charge quantitatively
and qualitatively
2. Establish the relationship between the electric field and the
electric force on a test charge
3. Predict the trajectory of a massive point charge in a uniform
electric field

26

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Electric Field
The electric field is the intermediary
through which A communicates its
presence to B (qo).
The electric force on a charged
body is exerted by the electric
field created by other charged
bodies.
27

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Electric Field

electric force Fo experienced by a test charge qo at a certain point, divided by

the charge qo

SI unit of electric field magnitude : N/C

(for point charge only)

28

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

Electric Field of a Point Charge

(magnitude only)

= '

(magnitude + direction)

29

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

+yaxis

What are the magnitude and direction

of the net electric field at point P?

If a test charge qo is placed at point P,

what are the magnitude and direction
of the electric force it experiences?

a
q3

q1
a

q2
a

+xaxis
30

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

A square has equal negative charges at three of its corners,

as shown. The direction of the electric field at point P is

31

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

A proton is moving horizontally to the right in an

electric field that points vertically upward. The
electric force on the proton is
A. zero.
B. upward.
C. downward.
D. to the left.
E. to the right.

q = +e
32

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

An electron is moving horizontally to the right in an

electric field that points vertically upward. The
electric force on the proton is
A. zero.
B. upward.
C. downward.
D. to the left.
E. to the right.

q = e
33

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

1. A negative point charge moves along a straight-line path directly

toward a stationary positive point charge. Which aspect/s of the
electric force on the negative point charge will remain constant as it
moves?
A.
B.
C.
D.

magnitude
direction
both magnitude and direction
neither magnitude nor direction

2. A negative point charge moves along a circular orbit around a

positive point charge. Which aspect/s of the electric force on the
negative point charge will remain constant as it moves?
A.
B.
C.
D.

magnitude
direction
both magnitude and direction
neither magnitude nor direction

34

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objective
1. Evaluate the electric field at a point in space due to a system of
arbitrary charge distributions

35

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Superposition of Electric Fields

Components:

36

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
(simple)

(complicated)

Point charge

Charge distribution

Q
P
P

= '

At point P,

= ?

37

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Q

q1
qn
q3

q2

qo

P
(Superposition of forces)
(Superposition of Efields)
38

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Charge distributions

Examples:

linear charge distribution (1-D)

(Greek letter lambda): linear charge density
(charge per unit length. measured in C/m)

surface charge distribution (2-D)

(Greek letter sigma): surface charge density
(charge per unit area: measured in C/m2)

volume charge distribution (3-D)

(Greek letter rho): volume charge density
(charge per unit volume: measured in C/m3)

39

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

40

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Line charge

At point P:
Magnitude:

For an infinite line of charge:

y
x

=
=

Direction: +x-direction

x
R

At point R:
Magnitude:

=
=

Direction: x-direction
41

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Line charge

At point P:
Magnitude:

For an infinite line of charge:

y
x

=
=

Direction: x-direction

x
R

At point R:
Magnitude:

=
=

Direction: +x-direction
42

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

43

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

44

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Plane charge

At point P:
Magnitude:

For an infinite plane sheet of charge:

y
x

=
=

Direction: +x-direction

x
R

At point R:
Magnitude:

=
=

Direction: x-direction
45

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Plane charge

At point P:
Magnitude:

For an infinite plane sheet of charge:

y
x

=
=

Direction: x-direction

x
R

At point R:
Magnitude:

=
=

Direction: +x-direction
46

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

Consider three charged infinite planes that are parallel to each other as
shown in the figure. The rightmost plane has uniform charge density +
while the rest have uniform charge density . Calculate the magnitude of
the electric field at the four regions I to IV.

I II III IV
+

47

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Example:
An infinite line of charge with linear charge density was placed a distance
d on top of an infinite sheet with surface charge density as shown. What
is the net electric field at point P at a distance of 2d from the line?

48

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Exercise 2:
Three infinite sheets of uniform surface charge densities of +, + and
are arranged as shown. Which of the regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 has/have net
electric fields pointing in the +x-direction?

49

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objective
1. Given the electric field lines, deduce the electric field vectors
and nature of electric field sources

50

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

An electric field line is an imaginary line or curve drawn through a region of space.

Its tangent at any point is in the direction of the electric

field vector at that point

It is not the same as trajectories.

Field lines never intersect
At any particular point, the electric field has a
unique direction.
51

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

52

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

Suppose the electric field lines in a region of space

are straight lines. If a charged particle is released
from rest in that region, will the trajectory of the
particle be along a field line?
A. YES
B. NO

53

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
Example:

Given the charges +Q and 2Q, which of the following

diagram shows a correct representation of the electric field
lines?
A.

C.

B.

D.

54

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Objective
1. Discuss the motion of an electric dipole in a uniform electric
field

55

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21
What is an Electric Dipole?

pair of point charges with equal magnitude and opposite sign

(a positive charge +q and a negative charge q) separated by a distance d
: electric dipole moment
: directed from () to (+)

+q

p = qd (magnitude)
SI units of p : C m

56

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

Force and Torque on an Electric Dipole

In a uniform external electric field :

Torque
:
:
Magnitude of torque:

Direction of torque:

(into the page)

57

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

21

Force and Torque on an Electric Dipole

(Magnitude of torque)
with

(torque in vector form)

58

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

59

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

Potential Energy of an Electric Dipole

(potential energy of a dipole)

60

21

Electric Charge
Conductors, Insulators, and Induced Charges
Coulombs Law
Electric Field and Electric Forces
Electric Field Calculations
Electric Field Lines
Electric Dipoles

61