1.

0 ELECTRIC FIELDS

Field: this is the region in space where a force is experienced

Electric field: this is a region around an electrically charged particle in which electrical electrical
force is experienced. An electrical charge therefore produces an electrical field and its unit is
coulomb (C).
An electrical field can be represented by field vectors for both positive and negative charge as
shown below


The coulomb (C) defined as the amount of electricity that is conveyed by an electric
current of 1ampere in one second.
The magnitude of the electric field is given as:
𝑭
E =𝑸 ……………………… (1.1)
𝟏
where E= electric field strength,
F= electric force,
Q= test charge
𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
from coulomb’s law. Remember that F =K …………………………….(X)
𝑹𝟐
Substituting (X) into equation (1.1)

𝑸
E = 𝑲 𝑹𝟐𝟐 …………………….(1.2)

Examples:
1. A typical thunderstorm has an electric strength of about 3.0 × 105 𝑁/𝐶. If the electric
field is directed towards the ground, what is the electric force on an 18Nc charge in the
field?

SOLUTION
𝑸𝟐
Therefore E = 𝑲 𝑹𝟐
E = 3.0 × 105 𝑁/𝐶
Q = 18cN = 18× 10−9 C
F =?
𝑭
From E= 𝑸
making ‘F’ the subject of formula
F = EQ
 F = ( 3.0 × 105 𝑁/𝐶)×( 18× 10−9C) = 5.4 × 10−3 N.
2. A dipole is located at the origin and is composed of particle with charge +e, at point 2m
along the X-axis. Calculate the magnitude of the electron?

SOLUTION
R = 2m
Q = +1.602 × 10−19 ( 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡)
K = 9.0 × 10 9 𝑁𝑚2 𝐶 −2
𝑸
Using E = 𝑲 𝑹𝟐𝟐

(9.0 ×109 )×(1.6 ×10−19 )

E=
22

E = 3.6 × 10−10 𝑁/𝐶.

3. What is the magnitude of the electric field at a field point of 2m from a point charge of
4.0nC?

solve this question and submit your answer in the comment box to indicate you are
present at this class.

2.0 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

An electric potential is the amount of work done needed to move a unit charge from a
reference to a specific point inside the field.

For a uniform field the work done:

W = F× 𝒅 ………………….(2.1)
Where d = R
From electric field strength E,
𝑭
E=𝑸
making F the subject formula
F = EQ ………………….(2.2)
Substituting (2.2) into (2.1)
W = EQd ………………….(2.3)
𝑄1 𝑄2
From equation (X) F =K
𝑅2
Substituting (X) into (2.1)
𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
W=K ×𝑹
𝑹𝟐
 𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
W=K …………………..(2.4)
𝑹
The electric potential V, is given as
V = Ed
𝑾
V=𝑸 …………………..(2.5)
𝟏
Substituting equation 2.4 into 2.5
𝑄
V = K 𝑅2 …………………..(2.6)
Example:

1. a proton (charge +e = 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶 ) moves in a straight line from point a to point b
inside a linear accelerator , a total distance d= 0.50m. the electric field is uniform
along the line with magnitude E = 1.5 × 107 𝑁/𝐶. In the direction from a to b
determine
a. the force on the proton?
b. the work done on it by the field?
c. the potential difference 𝑉𝑎 − 𝑉𝑏 ?

SOLUTION
a. from equation ( 1.1)
𝑭
E =𝑸
𝟏
F = EQ
F=(1.5 × 107 𝑁/𝐶)× (1.6 × 10−19 𝐶)
F= 2.4 × 10−12 𝑁

b. 𝑾𝒂−𝒃 = F×d from equation (2.1)

= (2.4 × 10−12 𝑁) × (0.50𝑚)
= 1.2 × 10−12 𝐽

𝑾𝒂−𝒃
c. 𝑽𝒂 − 𝑽𝒃 = 𝑸
𝟏.𝟐×𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
= 𝟏.𝟔×𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗
𝑽𝒂 − 𝑽𝒃 = 7.5 × 106 V.