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EC303 Applied Electromagnetic Theory

Module – 1 (Part 4)
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Rinju Mariam Rolly

Assistant Professor
Department of ECE
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Content
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• Coulomb’s law

• Electric field intensity

PRE-REQUISITE

** Vector Calculus
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Introduction

▪ Basis of electromagnetics →Charge

▪ Electromagnetics – Study of charges →At rest or in motion

▪ EMT may be divided into 3 branches:

▪ Electrostatics – Charges at rest (No time variation)

▪ Magnetostatics – Charges are in steady motion (No time variation)

▪ Electrodynamics – Charges are in time varying motion – gives rise to waves that propagate
and carry energy and information
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Electrostatic Fields

▪ Electrostatic field: produced by a static charge distribution.

▪ Electrostatics study involves 2 fundamental laws: Coulomb’s law & Gauss’s law

▪ Coulomb’s law: applicable in finding the electric field due to any charge configuration.

▪ Gauss’s Law: easier when charge distribution is symmetrical.

▪ Both laws are based on experimental studies and they are interdependent.
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Coulomb’s Law
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▪ It deals with the force a point charge exerts on another point charge.

• Point charge: Charge that is located on a body whose dimensions are much smaller
than other relevant dimensions.

▪ Charges are measured in Coulombs

▪ The polarity of the charges may be positive or negative.

▪ 1 electron charge (e)= 1.602*10-19 C

▪ Charge, q= Ne

▪ Number of electrons in 1C=6.258*1018 electrons

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Coulomb’s Law
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Coulomb’s law states that

“ The force F between two point charges Q1 and Q2 is

1. Along the line joining them

2. Directly proportional to the product of charges (Q1Q2)

3. Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R between them

kQ1Q2
Mathematically, F = (Magnitude of force)
R2

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k-proportionality constant=4𝜋∈0 =9*109 m/F, where ∈0 is permittivity of free space.
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Coulomb’s Law
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▪ If point charges Q1 and Q2 are located at points having position vectors 𝑟1 and 𝑟2,
then the force 𝐹12 on Q2 due to Q1,
Q1Q2
𝐹12 = 4𝜋∈0R2 𝑎ො𝑅 12 ---------------------------------------(1)

Where,

𝑅 𝑅12 ---------------------------------------(2)
𝑅12 = 𝑟2 - 𝑟1 ; R = 𝑅12 and 𝑎ො R12 = 𝑅12 =
12 R

Substituting (2) in (1),

Q1Q2 𝑅12 Q1Q2(𝑟2− 𝑟1 )
𝐹12 = 4𝜋∈𝑜 R 3 = 4𝜋∈0 𝑟2− 𝑟1 3
, force on Q2 due to Q1.
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Coulomb’s Law
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Note:

1. The force 𝐹21 on Q1 due to Q2 is given by 𝐹21 = 𝐹12 𝑎ො𝑅21

𝐹21 = - 𝐹12 (since 𝑎ො 𝑅21 = - 𝑎ො 𝑅12 )

2. Like charges repel while unlike charges attract.

3. The distance R between Q1 and Q2 must be large compared to the linear dimensions of
bodies.

4. Q1 and Q2 must be static.

5. The signs of Q1 and Q2 must be taken into account for the force equation.

Q1Q2>0 for like charges and Q1Q2<0 for unlike charges.

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Coulomb’s Law (Super Position Principle)
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**If we have more than two point charges, the principle of superposition is used.

If there are N charges Q1, Q2, …, QN located respectively at points with position
vectors 𝑟1 , 𝑟2 , …, 𝑟𝑁 , the resultant force F on a charge Q located at a point with
position vector 𝑟Ԧ is the vector sum of forces exerted on Q by each of the charges
Q1, Q2, …, QN
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Electric Field Intensity (E)
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▪ Force that a unit positive charge experiences when placed in an electric field.

𝐹Ԧ
𝐸=
𝑄

▪ For Q>0, 𝐸 is in the direction of force 𝐹 .

▪ Measured in Newton per Coulomb or Volts per meter.

▪ Electric field intensity at point 𝑟 due to a point charge located at 𝑟′ is obtained

as

Q Q(𝑟−
Ԧ 𝑟 ′)
𝐸 = 4𝜋∈0R2 𝑎ො R = 4𝜋∈0 𝑟−
Ԧ 𝑟′ 3

Q
𝐸 = 4𝜋∈0r2 𝑎ො R -----------------------------------------------(3)
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Electric Field Intensity (E)
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▪ For N point charges Q1, Q2, …, QN located at 𝑟1 , 𝑟2 , …, 𝑟𝑁 , the electric field

intensity at point 𝑟Ԧ is
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Problem
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Problem
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(HW)

Q. Point charges 5nC and -2nC are located at (2,0,4) and (-3,0,5).

(i) Determine the force on 1nC charge at (1,-3,7)

(ii) Find 𝐸 at (1,-3,7).

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Applications of Coulomb’s Law
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1. Find the force between a pair of charges

2. Find the electric field at a point due to fixed charge.

3. Find the potential at a point due to a fixed charge.

4. Find charge if force and electric field are known.

5. Find potential and electric field due to any type of charge distribution.
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EC303 Applied Electromagnetic Theory

Module – 1 (Part 5)
z

Rinju Mariam Rolly

Assistant Professor
Department of ECE
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Content
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• Charge Distributions

• Electric flux density

• Gauss’s Law & It’s Applications.

PRE-REQUISITE

** Vector Calculus, Electric Field Intensity, Divergence Theorem

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Continuous Charge Distributions
▪ It is also possible to have continuous charge distribution along a line, on a surface, or
in a volume.

▪ It is customary to denote the line charge density, surface charge density, and volume
charge density by ⍴L (in C/m), ⍴S (in C/m2), and ⍴v (in C/m3) respectively.

▪ The charge element dQ and the total charge Q due to these charge distributions are
obtained as:
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ELECTROSTATIC FIELDS

▪ Electrostatic field: produced by a static charge distribution.

▪ Electrostatics study involves 2 fundamental laws: Coulomb’s law & Gauss’s law

▪ Coulomb’s law: applicable in finding the electric field due to any charge configuration.

▪ Gauss’s Law: easier when charge distribution is symmetrical.

▪ Both laws are based on experimental studies and they are interdependent.
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Electric Flux Density (D)
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▪ Electric flux per unit area. Measured in Coulombs per meter square

▪ The flux due to electric field 𝐸 can be calculated by Ψ =‫ 𝐸 ׬‬. 𝑑𝑠

▪ Electric field intensity is dependent on the medium in which charge is placed.

▪ Electric flux density(independent of the medium) is related to 𝐸 by 𝐷 = ∈ 0𝐸

▪ Electric flux in terms of 𝐷 is given by Ψ =‫𝐷 𝑠׬‬. 𝑑𝑠

▪ One line of electric flux starts from +1C and terminates on -1C.
▪ Electric flux density is also called electric displacement.

▪ The expression for 𝐸 obtained from Coulomb’s law should be multiplied by ∈ 0 for
obtaining electric flux density.
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GAUSS’S LAW- MAXWELL’S EQUATION
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▪ One of the fundamental laws of electromagnetism.

▪ Gauss's law stales that the total electric flux Ψ through any closed surface is equal to
the total charge enclosed by that surface.

Ψ = Qenc -----------------------------------------(1)

Ψ =‫𝑑 𝑠ׯ‬Ψ = ‫𝐷 𝑠ׯ‬. 𝑑𝑠 =Total charge enclosed Q=‫ 𝑙𝑜𝑣׬‬⍴𝑣𝑑𝑣

Q = ‫𝐷 𝑠ׯ‬. 𝑑𝑠 =‫ 𝑙𝑜𝑣׬‬⍴𝑣𝑑𝑣 -----------------------------(2)

▪ By applying Divergence theorem, ‫𝐷 𝑠ׯ‬. 𝑑𝑠 = ‫∇ 𝑙𝑜𝑣׬‬. 𝐷 𝑑𝑣 -----------------------------(3)

Comparing volume integrals of (2) and (3),

⍴𝑣= ∇. 𝐷 →First Maxwell’s Equation -----------(4)

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MAXWELL’S 1st EQUATION
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⍴𝑣= ∇. 𝐷 →First Maxwell’s Equation

It states that volume charge density is same as the divergence of electric flux density.

Integral Form, Q = ‫𝐷 𝑠ׯ‬. 𝑑𝑠 =‫ 𝑙𝑜𝑣׬‬⍴𝑣𝑑𝑣

Differential or Point Form, ⍴𝑣= ∇. 𝐷

1. Gauss's law is an alternative statement of Coulomb's law; proper application of the

divergence theorem to Coulomb's law results in Gauss's law.

2. Gauss's law provide an easy means of finding E or D for symmetrical charge

distributions such as a point charge, an infinite line charge, an infinite cylindrical surface
charge, and a spherical distribution of charge.

3. Whether the charge distribution is symmetric or not, Gauss's law always holds

4. Gauss law cannot be used to determine E or D, when the charge distribution is not
symmetric.
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MAXWELL’S 1st EQUATION (Example)
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*The total flux leaving V1 is 10 - 5 = 5 nC because only 10 nC and -5 nC charges are

enclosed by V1.

*As charges 20 nC and 15 nC outside V1 do contribute to the flux crossing V1

*Total flux leaving V2 is zero because no charge enclosed.

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APPLICATIONS OF GAUSS’S LAW
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The procedure for applying Gauss's law to calculate the electric field involves

1. Knowing whether symmetry exists. Once symmetric charge distribution exists, we

construct a mathematical closed surface (known as a Gaussian surface).

2. The surface is chosen such that D is normal or tangential to the Gaussian surface.
1. When D is normal to the surface, D • dS = D dS because D is constant on the surface.

2. When D is tangential to the surface, D • dS = 0.

Thus we must choose a surface that has some of the symmetry exhibited by the charge
distribution.

Gauss’s Law can be applied to Point charge, Infinite line charge, Infinite sheet of charge &
Uniformly charged sphere.
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A. Point Charge
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Consider a point charge Q located at the origin. To determine D at a point P,

choose a spherical surface containing P satisfying the symmetry.

*D is everywhere normal to the Gaussian surface, 𝐷 = Dr𝑎ෝr

*Applying Gauss's law gives Ψ = Qenc

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B. Infinite Line Charge
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▪ Consider an infinite line of uniform charge ⍴𝐿 C/m lying along z-axis.

▪ To determine 𝐷 at a point P, choose a cylindrical surface containing P to satisfy

symmetry condition.

▪ D is constant on and normal to the cylindrical Gaussian surface

𝐷 = D ⍴ 𝑎ෝ⍴

▪ Applying Gauss’s law to arbitrary length ‘l’ of the line,

Note: ‫𝐷 ׬‬. 𝑑𝑠 evaluated on the top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder is zero since D
has no z-component (means D tangential to those surfaces)
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C. Infinite Sheet of Charge
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▪ Consider an infinite sheet of charge ⍴𝑆 C/m2 lying along z=0 plane.

▪ To determine 𝐷 at a point P, choose a rectangular box cut symmetrically by

sheet of charge and two of it’s faces parallel to sheet.

▪ As 𝐷 is normal to sheet, 𝐷 = Dz𝑎ෝz

▪ By Gauss’s Law,

▪ 𝐷. 𝑑𝑠 evaluated on box sides are zero( no components along 𝑎ෞ𝑥 & 𝑎ෞ𝑦 )

▪ If each face has an area ‘A’,

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Problem
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Reference
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[1] Mathew N O Sadiku, Elements of Electromagnetics, Oxford University Press,

6/e, 2014.
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