Electric Field and

Gauss’s Law
 Outline

FIELDS LINE

21.2
22.1 21.5

DEFINITION OF ELECTRIC FIELD

ELECTRIC DUE TO POINT
FIELD Chapter CHARGES
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 Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

1- Define an electric field.

2- Draw the electric field lines due to positive and

negative charges.

3- Represent the electric field lines due to similar or

different two-point charges.

4- Calculate the electric field due to point charges.

 Definition of Electric Field

▪ We have seen in the previous chapter that point charges exert forces
on each other even when they are far apart and not touching each
other. How do the charges `know' about the existence of other
charges around them?

▪ To answer this question, we introduce the concept of an electric field,

which is the region of space in which an electric charge will
experience a force.

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 Definition of Electric Field

Electric field

is defined at any point in space as the net electric force on a

charge, divided by that charge:

- SI unit : N/C.

- It is a vector quantity.

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 Fields Line

▪ We can represent the strength and direction of an electric field at a

point using electric field lines.
▪ To draw an electric field line, we imagine placing a small positive test
charge 𝑞𝑜 at each point in the electric field.
▪ We calculate the resultant force on the test charge and the direction of
the resultant force gives the direction of the field line.
▪ Arrows at the end of the field lines indicate the direction of the field,
i.e. the direction in which a positive test charge would move if placed
in the field.

Source Test
charge Test charge
Charge
F - is small enough to not disturb the
Q q electric field of the source charge
- Positive charge

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 Point Charge

Positive point charge:

Electric field lines point away (outwards) from source of
positive charge.

4
 Point Charge

Negative point charge:

Electric field lines point toward (inward)
the negative charge.

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• There is an electric field at every point in space surrounding a
charge.
• Field lines are merely a representation – they are not real.
• Field lines exist in three dimensions, not only in two dimension as
we've drawn them.
• Field lines are drawn closer together where the field is stronger,
and a part when the field is weaker.
•The larger the magnitude of the point charge, the higher the strength
of the field, as seen in the picture below.

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 Two Point Charges

▪ Field lines originate from positive charges and terminate at negative

charges.

▪ Field lines never cross.

▪ If the field lines connect, we have an attractive force.

Imagine the charges pulling on each other.

▪ If the field lines seem to spread out, we have a repulsive force.

Imagine the charges pushing each other apart.

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 Two Point Charges

Two-point charges of the same sign

Two-point charges of the opposite sign

- -

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Extra Exercise

What is the direction of the electric field at point P?

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Extra Exercise

Which charges in the figure are positive?

A: 1
B: 2
C: 3
D: 1 and 3
E: All are positive.
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 Electric Field due to point charges

▪ The magnitude of the electric force on a point charge q0 due to another

point charge q is:

▪ We can take q0 as a test charge and so can express the magnitude of

the electric field due to q as:

▪ The direction of this electric field is radial:

▪ Points outward for positive point charges.
▪ Points inward for negative point charges.
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Extra Exercise
Two charges 𝑞1 = +3𝑛𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞2 = −4𝑛𝐶 are separated by a distance of 40 cm.
What is the electric field strength at a point p as shown in the figure?
𝑞1 = 𝑞2 =
p
𝑬𝟏

𝑬𝟐

Chapter 22 2020 12
Extra Exercise
Two charges 𝑞1 = +3𝑛𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞2 = −4𝑛𝐶 are separated by a distance of 40 cm.
What is the electric field strength at a point p as shown in the figure?
𝑞1 = 𝑞2 =
p
𝑬𝟏

𝑬𝟐

Answer:
The electric filed due to 𝒒𝟏 is 𝑬𝟏 where 𝒒𝟏 = +𝟑𝒏𝑪 = 𝟑𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑪 and 𝒓𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝒎

𝑞1 9
3𝑥10−9
𝐸1 = 𝑘 2 = 8.99𝑥10 2
= 2.697𝑥103 𝑁/𝐶
𝑟1 (0.1)

The electric filed due to 𝒒𝟐 is 𝑬𝟐 where 𝒒𝟐 = −𝟒𝒏𝑪 = −𝟒𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑪 and 𝒓𝟐 = 𝟑𝟎𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝒎

𝑞2 9
4𝑥10−9
𝐸2 = 𝑘 2 = 8.99𝑥10 2
= 0.399𝑥103 𝑁/𝐶
𝑟2 (0.3)
𝐸 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2 = 2.697𝑥103 + 0.399𝑥103 = 2.096𝑥103 𝑁/𝐶 to the right

Chapter 22 2020 12
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