Chapter 1: Algebra, Vectors and Fields

1.5 Electric Field

1.6 Magnetic Field
1.7 Lorentz Force Equation

1
1.5 Electric Field
(1) Electrostatic Force The force between charged bodies at rest

Coulomb’s Law:

Q1Q2
F1 = a 21
4 0 R 2

Q2 Q1
F2 = a12
4 0 R 2

 0 = permittivity of free space

10 –9
 F/m
36

2
1.5 Electric Field: Example
D1.13(b) Find the electric force on the charges at vertices of square
𝐅𝟐
F1= Q2/40(2a2)ax 𝐅𝟑
Q = 4 0 2a
F2= Q2/40(2a2)ay Q
Q 𝐅𝟏
𝐚𝐱 +𝐚𝐲 a
F3= Q2/40(4a2) 2 𝑦
1 1 𝑥
𝐅𝟏 = 2
𝐚𝐱 𝐅𝟐 = 2
𝐚𝒚 Q Q
2𝑎 2𝑎

1 𝐚𝐱 + 𝐚𝐲 1 1 𝐚𝐱 + 𝐚𝐲
𝐅𝟑 = 2 𝐅 = 𝐅𝟏 + 𝐅𝟐 + 𝐅𝟑 = +
4𝑎 2 4𝑎2 2𝑎2 2

The resultant force is directed away from the center of the square
1 1
with the magnitude of +
4𝑎2 2𝑎2

3
1.5 Electric Field
(2) Electric Field Intensity (E)
is defined as the force per unit charge experienced by a
small test charge when placed in the region of the field.
F
E = Lim
q→0 q

Thus

𝐅 = 𝑞𝐄

Unit
𝑁 𝑁. 𝑚 𝑉
= =
𝐶 𝐶. 𝑚 𝑚

Sources: Charges; Time-varying magnetic field

4
1.5 Electric Field
Electric Field of a Point Charge aR
F=
Qq
a q
4  0 R 2 R
R
 Q 
= q 2 R
a
 4  0 R  Q
= q ( E due to Q )

Q 𝑄𝐑
 E due to Q = aR 𝐄=
4 0 R 2
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅3
E

aR
R
Constant magnitude surfaces are spheres
Q
centered at Q.
Direction lines are radial lines emanating
from Q.
5
1.5 Electric Field
Electric Field of Multipoint Charges

n Qj
E=  2 a Rj
j =1 4 R
0 j

6
1.5 Electric Field: Example
Oscillation of the electron in the field of the two symmetry point charges

Q (> 0) d d Q (> 0)
a y
d2 + x2 e d2 + x2
x
Electron (charge e and mass m) is displaced from the origin by ∆ (<< d) in
the +x direction and released from rest at t = 0. We wish to obtain
differential equation for the motion of the electron and its solution.

7
1.5 Electric Field: Example
Oscillation of the electron in the field of the two symmetry point charges
z
Qe
F = −2 cos a ax
4 0 ( d + x )
2 2 Q (> 0) d d Q (> 0)
a y
Qex d2 + x2 e d2 + x2
=− ax
2 0 ( d + x )
2 32 x
2 𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 =
𝑑2 + 𝑥 2
F is directed toward the origin, and x    d.
Qe x
 F– ax
2 0 d 3

From second Newton’s law, the differential equation for the motion of the
electron is
d2 x Qe x
m 2 =–
dt 2 0 d 3 8
1.5 Electric Field: Example
Oscillation of the electron in the field of the two symmetry point charges
z
d2 x Qe x
m 2 =–
dt 2 0 d 3 Q (> 0) d d Q (> 0)

d2 x Qe a y
+ x=0 d2 + x2 e d2 + x2
dt 2 2m 0 d 3
x

This differential equation is in the form of 𝑓"(𝑡) + 𝜔2 𝑓(𝑡 ) = 0

The solution given by 𝑓 𝑡 = 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 + 𝐵

𝑑𝑥
Using Initial conditions 𝑥 = ∆ and = 0 at 𝑡 = 0, we obtain 𝑥 = ∆𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡
𝑑𝑡

which represents simple harmonic motion about the origin with period T
2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑇= = .
𝜔 𝑄|𝑒|
2𝜋𝑚𝜀0 𝑑 3 9
1.5 Electric Field
Line Charges
dl
Line charge density, rL (C/m)
P

dS

Surface Charges
Surface charge density, rS (C/m2)

Volume Charges
Volume charge density, r (C/m3) dv

10
1.5 Electric Field: Example
Finitely-Long Line Charge rL = rL0 = 4 0 C m
(with uniform distribution)

𝑟 2 + 𝑧′2

11
 1.5 Electric Field: Example
z
Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge a
(with uniform distribution)
y2 + z 2
z
rS0 dy
dEz = 2 cos a
2 0 y2 + z2
rS0 z dy
= y y
 0 y 2 + z 2 rS
0

rS0 z  dy x dy
Ez =
 0 y=0 y 2 + z2
rS0 z 1  2
= a =
da
 0 z 0
rS0
=
2 0
12
1.5 Electric Field: Example
Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
(with uniform distribution)

13
1.5 Electric Field: Example
Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
(with uniform distribution)

rS0
rS0 +
E= a z for z  0 z<0 z>0
2 0 +
rS0
rS0 r + az
= an – S0 a z 2 0
2 0 2 0 +
+
z=0 z

14
1.5 Electric Field: Example
D1.16 Given E(3,5,1) = 0 V m
rS1 rS2 rS3
E(1, – 2,3) = 6a z V m
E(3, 4,5) = 4a z V m

1
( rS 1 − r S 2 − r S 3 ) = 0
2 0
1
( rS 1 + r S 2 − r S 3 ) = 6 z=0 z=2 z=4
2 0
1
( rS 1 + r S 2 + r S 3 ) = 4
2 0

Solving, we obtain

(a) rS1 = 40 C m 2 (b) rS 2 = 60 C m2

(c) rS 3 = −20 C m2 (d) E ( −2,1, − 6) = −4az V m 15