University of Missan

1st Semester Year

College of Engineering
2013-2014
Electrical Engineering
2nd Lesson Stage
Department

Engineering Electromagnetic Fields

Subject: Coulomb's Law and Electric

Field Intensity

Lecture No. 3

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Radhi

2013 - 2014
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
University of Missan Lesson Year 1 st Semester:2013-2014
College of Engineering Stage 2 nd Year
Electrical Engineering Dept. Subject Coulomb's Law
Engineering Lecture No. 3
Electromagnetics Fields Lecturer Dr. Ahmed Thamer

COULOMB'S LAW AND ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY

1- Coulomb's Law
Coulomb's law is an experimental law, it deals with the force of a point charge exerts on
another point charge. By a point charge we mean a charge that is located on a body
whose dimensions are much smaller than other relevant dimensions. For example, a
collection of electric charges on a pinhead way be regarded as a point charge.
Coulomb's law stated that the force (F) between two very small objects separated in a
vacuum or free space by a distance which is large compared to their size is proportional
to the charge on each and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them.
Mathematically,
Q Q
F = K 1 22
R
Where: Q 1 and Q 2 are the positive or negative quantities of charge in coulombs (C)
R is the distance between the two charges in meters (m)
K is a proportionality constant
F is the force in newtons (N)

In International System of Units (SI), Q is measured in coulombs (C), R is in meters (m),

and the force should be newtons (N), so that the constant of proportion K is written as:
1
K=
4πϵo
Where ϵo is called the permittivity of free space and has the magnitude, measured in
farads per meter (F/m),
10 −9
ϵo = 8.854 * 10-12 = F/m
36π

For Coulomb's law shows that ϵo it has the label C2/N.m2, since farad it has the
dimensions C2/N.m.

Q1Q2
Coulomb's law is now: F=
4πϵo R 2

In order to write the vector form of Coulomb's law, let the vector r⃗ 1 locate Q 1 while r⃗ 2
R R

�⃗ 12 = r⃗ 2 - r⃗ 1 represents the directed line segment from Q 1 to

locates Q 2 . Then the vector R R R R

Q 2 , as shown in Fig. 3.1. The vector �F⃗ 12 is the force on Q 2 and is shown for the case
R

where Q 1 and Q 2 have the same sign. �F⃗ 12 is written as:

R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 1
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
Q1Q2
�⃗ 12 =
F a�⃗ R12
4πϵo R 212
R R

�R�⃗12
�⃗ 12 , or a�⃗ R12 =
Where a�⃗ R12 is a unit vector in the direction of R
|R ��⃗12|
R R R

�R⃗ 12 = r⃗ 2 - r⃗ 1
R R R

R212 = �R �⃗12 �

Q1Q2 Q1Q2
Notice that, �F⃗ 21 = - �F⃗ 12 = - a�⃗ R12 = a�⃗ R21
4πϵo R 212 4πϵo R 212
R R R R

• �F⃗ 21 = - �F⃗ 12 because a�⃗ R12 = - a�⃗ R21

R R R R

• Like charges are repulsive while unlike charges are attract.

• Q 1 and Q 2 must be static.
• The sign of Q 1 and Q 2 must be taken into account.

Figure 3.1

Example 3.1: Given two charges Q 1 =3*10-4 C at M(1, 2, 3) and Q 2 = - 10-4 C at N(2, 0, 5) in a
vacuum. We desire the force exerted on Q 2 by Q 1 ?

Solution: �R⃗ 12 = r⃗ 2 - r⃗ 1 = (2-1) ā x + (0-2) ā y + (5-3) ā z = ā x - 2ā y + 2 ā z

R R R

�R�⃗12 � = √12 + (-2)2 + 22 = √9=3

�R�⃗12 ā𝐱𝐱 − 2ā𝐲𝐲 + 2 ā𝐳𝐳
�a⃗ R12 = ��⃗12|
=
|R 3
R

−4 −4 )
�F⃗ 2 = 3∗10 −9(−10 (
ā𝐱𝐱 − 2ā𝐲𝐲 + 2 ā𝐳𝐳
)= - 30 (
ā𝐱𝐱 − 2ā𝐲𝐲 + 2 ā𝐳𝐳
)N
10 3 3
R

4π( ) ∗ 32
36π
The magnitude of the force is 30 N, and the direction is specified by the unit vector, the
force on Q 2 may also be considered as three component forces,

�F⃗ 2 = -10ā x + 20ā y - 20ā z

R

�⃗ 1 = - F
Also, F R
�⃗ 2 = - (-30) a�⃗ R12 = (- 30) a�⃗ R21 = 10ā x - 20ā y + 20ā z
R R R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 2
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
Coulomb's law is linear, for if we multiply Q 1 by a factor n, the force on Q 2 is also multiplied
by the same factor. It is also true that the force on a charge in the presence of several other
charges is the sum of the forces on that charge due to each of the other charges acting alone.
The principle states that if there are N charges, Q 1 , Q 2 , ……, Q N located respectively, at points
R R R
�⃗ on a charge Q located at r⃗ is the
with position vectors r⃗ 1 , r⃗ 2 , ……., r⃗ N , the resultant force F
vector sum of the forces exerted on Q by each of the charges Q 1 , Q 2 , ……, Q N . Hence:

Q Q1 Q Q2 Q QN
�⃗ =
F a�⃗ r1 + a�⃗ r2 +…+ a�⃗ rN
4πϵo |r�⃗ − ����⃗|2
r1 4πϵo |r�⃗ − ����⃗|2
r2 4πϵo |r�⃗ − �����⃗|2
rN
R R R

Or,
Q Qm
�F⃗ = ∑Nm=1 a�⃗ rm
4πϵo |r�⃗ − �����⃗|2
rm
R

2- Electric Field Intensity

�⃗ is the force per unit charge when placed in the electric field,
The electric field intensity E
thus;
�⃗
�E⃗ = F
Q
The electric field intensity �E⃗ is obviously in the direction of the force �F⃗ and is measured
in (V/m):
�⃗ = Q
E a�⃗ R
2
R

4πϵo R
We should remember that R is the magnitude of the vector �R⃗, the directed line segment from
�⃗ is desired, and a�⃗ R is a
the point at which the point charge Q is located to the point at which E R

�⃗.
unit vector in the direction of R

For a charge Q located at the source point r' = x' ā x + y' ā y + z' ā z as illustrated in Fig. 3.2, we
�⃗ as r⃗ – ��⃗
find the field at a general field point r = x ā x + y ā y + z ā z by expressing R r′, and then;

Q ���⃗
r�⃗ – r′ ���⃗ –r���⃗′ )
Q (r Q[(x−x ′ )ā𝐱𝐱 +(𝐲𝐲−𝐲𝐲 ′ )ā𝐲𝐲 +(𝐳𝐳−𝐳𝐳 ′ )ā𝐳𝐳]
�⃗ =
E = =
���⃗�2
4πϵo �r�⃗ – r′ ���⃗�
�r�⃗ – r′ ���⃗�3
4πϵo �r�⃗ – r′ 4πϵo [(x−x ′ )2 +(𝐲𝐲−𝐲𝐲 ′ )𝟐𝟐 +(𝐳𝐳−𝐳𝐳 ′ )𝟐𝟐 ]3/2

Figure 3.2

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 3
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
Since the coulomb forces are linear, the electric field intensity due to two point charges, Q 1 at
r⃗ 1 and Q 2 at r⃗ 2 , is the sum of the forces on Q t caused by Q 1 and Q 2 acting alone, or
R R

Q1 Q2
�E⃗ = a�⃗ r1 + �a⃗ r2
4πϵo |r�⃗ − ����⃗|2
r1 4πϵo |r�⃗ − ����⃗|2
r2
R R

Where a�⃗ r1 and a�⃗ r2 are unit vectors in the direction of ( r⃗ − r���⃗1 ), ( r⃗ − r���⃗2 ), respectively. The
R R

vectors r⃗, r���⃗,

1 r���⃗,
2 r⃗ − r���⃗,
1 r⃗ − r���⃗,
2 a�⃗ r1 , and a�⃗ r2 are shown in Fig. 3.3. If we add more charges at
R R

other positions, the field due to N point charges is:

Q1 Q2 QN
�E⃗ = a�⃗ r1 + �a⃗ r2 +…+ a�⃗ rN
4πϵo |r�⃗ − ����⃗|2
r1 4πϵo |r�⃗ − ����⃗|2
r2 4πϵo |r�⃗ − �����⃗|2
rN
R R R

Or,
1 Qm
�E⃗ = ∑𝐍𝐍𝐦𝐦=𝟏𝟏 a�⃗ rm
4πϵo |r�⃗ − �����⃗|2
rm
R

Figure 3.3

Example 3.2: Find the electric field intensity at P(-4, 6, -5) in free space caused by a charge of
(0.1mC) located at: (a) the origin; (b) G(2, -1, -3)

Q
Solution: �E⃗ = a�⃗ R
4πϵo R 2
R

�⃗ OP = - 4ā x + 6ā y - 5ā z
(a) R R R R R R R R

�⃗ OP �= √(-4)2 + 62 + (-5)2 = √16 + 36 + 25 = √77 = 8.77

�R P P P P P P

0.1∗10 −3 − 𝟒𝟒ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟔𝟔ā𝐲𝐲 − 𝟓𝟓ā𝐳𝐳 0.1∗10 −3 − 𝟒𝟒ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟔𝟔ā𝐲𝐲 − 𝟓𝟓ā𝐳𝐳

�E⃗ = ( ) = 9*109 * ( )
4πϵo (8.77)2 8.77 (8.77)2 8.77
P P

P (-4, 6, -5)
�E⃗ = 11701.5 * ( − 𝟒𝟒ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟔𝟔ā𝐲𝐲 − 𝟓𝟓ā𝐳𝐳 )
8.77
�⃗ = 1334.26 *(- 4ā x + 6ā y - 5ā z )
E R R R R R R
�R⃗OP
�⃗ = - 5337.04ā x + 8005.56ā y - 6671.3ā z ( V/m )
E R R R R R R
Q
�E⃗ = - 5.33704ā x + 8.00556ā y – 6.6713ā z ( KV/m )
R R R R R R
O (0, 0, 0)

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 4
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
(b) �R⃗ GP = (-4-2)ā x + (6-(-1))ā y + (-5-(-3))ā z = - 6ā x + 7ā y - 2ā z
R R R R R R R R R R R R R

�R �⃗ GP �= √(-6)2 + 72 + (-2)2 = √36 + 49 + 4 = √89 = 9.43

P P P P P P

−3 0.1∗10 −3 − 𝟔𝟔ā𝐱𝐱 + 7ā𝐲𝐲 − 𝟐𝟐ā𝐳𝐳

�E⃗ = 0.1∗10 (
− 𝟔𝟔ā𝐱𝐱 + 7ā𝐲𝐲 − 𝟐𝟐ā𝐳𝐳
) = 9*109 * ( )
4πϵo (9.43)2 9.43 (9.43)2 9.43
P P

P (-4, 6, -5)
�⃗ = 10112.36 * ( − 𝟔𝟔ā𝐱𝐱 + 7ā𝐲𝐲 − 𝟐𝟐ā𝐳𝐳 )
E
9.43
�E⃗ = 1072.36 *(- 6ā x + 7ā y - 2ā z ) R R R R R R
�⃗GP
R
�E⃗ = - 6434.16ā x + 7506.52ā y – 2144.72ā z ) ( V/m ) R R R R R R

Q
�⃗ = - 6.43416ā x + 7.50652ā y – 2.14472ā z ) ( KV/m )
E R R R R R R
G (2, -1, -3)

�⃗ at point P(1, 1, 1) caused by four identical (3 nC) charges located at P 1 (1,

Example 3.3: Find E R R

1, 0), P 2 (-1, 1, 0), P 3 (-1, -1, 0), and P 4 (1, -1, 0), as shown in Fig. 3.4.
R R R R R R

Figure 3.4

Solution: We find that r⃗= ā x + ā y + ā z , r���⃗=

1 āx + āy , r 1 ā z , and thus |r
⃗ − r���⃗= ⃗ − r���⃗1 |=1;
R R R R R R R R R R R R

2 -ā x + ā y , r
r���⃗= R R

2 2ā x + ā z and |r
⃗ − r���⃗= R ⃗ − r���⃗2 |=√5;
R R R R R

r3 -ā x - ā y , r⃗ − r���⃗=
���⃗= R R

3 2ā x + 2ā y + ā z and |r
R R r3 |=√9=3;
⃗ − ���⃗ R R R R R R

4 āx - āy , r
r���⃗= R r4 2ā y + ā z and |r⃗ − r���⃗4 |=√5
⃗ − ���⃗=
R R R R R R R

Q 3∗10 −9
Since = = 26.977 V.m
4πϵo 4π∗8.854∗10 −12

1 ā𝐳𝐳 1 𝟐𝟐ā𝐱𝐱 + ā𝐳𝐳 1 𝟐𝟐ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟐𝟐ā𝐲𝐲 + ā𝐳𝐳 1 𝟐𝟐ā𝐲𝐲 + ā𝐳𝐳

�E⃗ = 26.977[ + + + ]
12 1 (√5)2 √5 (3)2 3 (√5)2 √5

�E⃗ = 6.82ā x + 6.82ā y + 32.8ā z (V/m)

R R R R R R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 5
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
Example 3.4: Given two points charge, Q 1 =2 𝜇𝜇C is located at P 1 (-3, 7, -4) in free space, while
Q 2 = -5 𝜇𝜇C is located at P 2 (2, 4, -1). At the point (12, 15, 18) in free space, find:
(a) E�⃗ ; (b) �E
�⃗�; (c) a�⃗ E R

Solution:

�⃗ = E
(a) E �⃗ 1 + E
�⃗ 2 R R

�⃗ 1 = 9*109 Q 1 a�⃗ r1
E | ����⃗|2 r1 r� (12, 15, 18)
R R P P R

r���⃗1 = (12-(-3))ā x + (15-7)ā y + (18-(-4))ā z P1(-3, 7, -4)

r�
R R R R R

Q1
r���⃗1 = 15ā x + 8ā y + 22ā z
R R R R R

Q2
| r���⃗1 | = √152 + 82 + 222 = √773=27.8 P P P P P P
P2(2, 4, -1)

2∗10 −6 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟖𝟖ā𝐲𝐲 + 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐ā𝐳𝐳

�E⃗ 1 = 9*109 ( )
(27.8)2 27.8
R R P P

�E⃗ 1 = 12.56ā x + 6.696ā y + 18.414ā z

R R R R R R R R

�E⃗ 2 = 9*109 Q 2 a�⃗ r2

| ����⃗|2 r2
R R P P R

r���⃗2 = (12-2)ā x + (15-4)ā y + (18-(-1))ā z R R R R R

r���⃗2 = 10ā x + 11ā y + 19ā z

R R R R R

r2 | = √102 + 112 + 192 = √582=24.12

| ���⃗ P P P P P P

−5∗10 −6 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏ā𝐲𝐲 + 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏ā𝐳𝐳

�⃗ 2 = 9*109
E ( )
(24.12)2 24.12
R R P P

�E⃗ 2 = -32ā x - 35.2ā y - 60.84ā z

R R R R R R R R

�E⃗ = �E⃗ 1 + �E⃗ 2 = (12.56 + (-32)) ā x + (6.696 + (-35.2))ā y + (18.414 + (- 60.84))ā z

R R R R R R R R R R

�⃗ = - 19.44 ā x - 28.5ā y - 42.426ā z (V/m)

E R R R R R R

�⃗�= √(- 19.44)2 + (- 28.5)2 + (- 42.426)2 = √2990.1291=54.682 (V/m)

(b) �E P P P P P P

�⃗
E − 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏.𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒 ā𝐱𝐱 – 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐.𝟓𝟓ā𝐲𝐲 – 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒.𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒ā𝐳𝐳
(c) a�⃗ E = �⃗ = = - 0.3555 ā x - 0.5211ā y - 0.7758ā z
�E � 54.682
R R R R R R R R

Example 3.5: Identical point charges of 3 𝜇𝜇C each are located at the four corners of a square,
5 cm on a side in free space. Find the magnitude of the force on each corner.

Solution: In first, we find a force on point 1(0, 5), then find its magnitude:
�F⃗ 1 = �F⃗ 21 + �F⃗ 31 +F
R R
�⃗ 41 R R R R R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 6
Electromagnetic Fields Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Lecture No.3
�⃗ 21 =9*109 Q 1 Q 2
F a�⃗ r2
| r����⃗|2
R R

2
We have, Q 1 =Q 2 =Q 3 =Q 4 =Q=3*10-6 C , hence:
2
�F⃗ 21 =9*109 Q �a⃗ r2 | ����⃗|2
r2
R R

r2 - 0.05 ā x
���⃗=
| ���⃗
r2 |= 0.05 Y
����⃗
r2 − 𝟎𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 ā𝐱𝐱
�a⃗ r2 = | ����⃗| = = -ā x
0.05 r2
R

−6 2 r�
�F⃗ 21 =9*109 (3∗10 )2 Q Q
(-ā x ) = - 32.4 ā x (N) 1(0, 5) 2(5, 5)
(0.05)
R

2
�F⃗ 31 =9*109 Q
�a⃗ r3
| ����⃗|2
r3 r�
R R

r�
r3 0.05 ā y
���⃗=
r3 |= 0.05
| ���⃗
����⃗
r 𝟎𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 ā𝐲𝐲 4(5, 0)
3
�a⃗ r3 = | ����⃗| = = āy 3(0, 0) X
r3 0.05
R

(3∗10 −6 )2 Q Q
�⃗ 31 =
F 9*109 (ā y ) = 32.4 ā y (N)
(0.05)2
R

2
�⃗ 41 =9*10 9 Q
F | ����⃗|2
a�⃗ r4
r4
R R

r4 - 0.05 ā x + 0.05 ā y
���⃗=
r4 |= 0.07071
| ���⃗
����⃗
r − 𝟎𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 ā𝐱𝐱 + 𝟎𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 ā𝐲𝐲
4
�a⃗ r4 = | ����⃗| = = - 0.7071 ā x + 0.7071 ā y
r4 0.07071
R

(3∗10 −6 )2
�F⃗ 41 = 9*10 9
(- 0.7071 ā x + 0.7071 ā y )
(0.07071 )2
R

�F⃗ 41 = - 11.45 ā x + 11.45 ā y

R

Therefore, F �⃗ 1 = �F⃗ 21 + �F⃗ 31 +F

R
�⃗ 41 = - 32.4 ā x + 32.4 ā y + (- 11.45 ā x + 11.45 ā y )
R R R

�⃗ 1 = - 43.85 ā x + 43.85 ā y (N)

F R

�F����⃗1 �= √(- 43.85)2 + (- 43.85)2 = 62.013 (N)

Hence, �F ����⃗1 � = 62.013 (N) = �F ����⃗2 � = �F
����⃗3 � = �F
����⃗4 �

Home Work:
Q 3.1: A point charge Q 1 =2mC is located in free space at P 1 (-3, 7, -4), while Q 2 =-5mC is
located at P 2 (2, 4, -1). Find the vector force on: (a) charge Q 2 (b) charge Q 1

Q 3.2: A charge Q A =-20 𝜇𝜇C is located at A(-6, 4, 7), and a charge Q B =50 𝜇𝜇C is at B(5, 8, -2) in
�⃗ AB (b) �R
free space. If distances are given in meters, find: (a) R �������⃗
AB � (c) the vector force R

exerted on Q A caused by Q B .

Q 3.3: A charge of -0.3 𝜇𝜇C is located at A(25, -30, 15) (in cm), and a second charge of 0.5 𝜇𝜇C
�⃗ at: (a) the origin
is at B(-10, 8, 12) cm. Find E (b) P(15, 20, 50) cm

Q 3.4: Point charges of 50nC each are located at A(1, 0, 0), B(-1, 0, 0), C(0, 1, 0), and D(0, -1,
0) in free space. Find the total force on the charge at point A.

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity Page 7