ELECTROSTATICS

INTRODUCTION: In this section of the course, we will discuss on the behavior of static electricity and
the laws governing it. Electrostatics is that branch of science which deals the phenomenon associated
with electricity at rest.

Atom: The Basic Concept

Every atom consists of protons in a nucleus and electrons which revolves about the nucleus in orbits.
In an equilibrium state, the number of electrons equals the number of protons and the atom is said to
be neutral or uncharged . If however, some electrons are removed from the atom, then, it is left with
a preponderance of positive charges i.e. number of positive charges (+) > the number of negative
charges (-). Then, the atom is said to be positively charged. If on the other hand, some electrons are
added to the atom, the negative charges out-balance the positive charges i.e. the number of negative
charges (-) > the number of positive charges (+) and under this condition, the atom is said to be
negatively charged. Generally, the excess or deficiency of electrons in a body known as it charge.
Every charge particle has an area around it within which it's effect is felt. This area is called an electric
field. If the electric field is due to charge which does not charge with time, the field is known as an
electrostatic field. If a charge is in the presence of another charge, their electric field internal creating
a force between them.

LAWS OF ELECTROSTATICS

First Law: Like charges of electricity repel each other, whereas unlike charges attract each other.

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Second Law: According to this law, the force exerted between two point charges is directly
proportional to the product of their magnitude and is inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between them. This law is known as the *Coulomb's Law* and mathematically is expressed
as:

Q1  Q2
F 1
d2
KQ1Q2
F 2
d2

In vector form, Coulomb’s Law can be expressed as:

 KQ1Q2 
F d 3
d2

Where d = unit vector in the direction of the distance d.


 d
d 4
d
 KQ1Q2 
F d 5
d3

Expressions 3 and 5 can be explicitly written as:

KQ1Q2  KQ1Q2 
F21  2
d12 = d12 6
d12 d123

 
Where F21 is the force on Q2 due to Q1 and d12 is the unit vector in the direction from Q1
to Q2 .

 KQ1Q2  KQ1Q2 
F12 = d 21 = d 21 7
d 212 3
d 21

 
Where F12 is the force on Q1 due to Q2 and d 21 is the unit vector in the direction from Q2
to Q1 ,
In S.I. system of unit, the constant of proportionality K is expressed as:

1
K 8
4

Where  is the permittivity of the medium separating the charge.  can also be expressed in terms
of the permittivity of free space 0 whose value is 8.854  10
12
F / m as:

   0 r 9

2
Where r is called relative permittivity of the medium and it is dimensionless constant.

Hence:
Q1Q2 Q1Q2
F 2
= 10
4d 4 0 r d 2

ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH

An electric field is a region of space surrounding a system of electric charges. In such a region,
electrical forces will alt on any electric charges placed there. Electric fields may be described by
means of lines of force or flux lines; the lines indicating the direction of the forces that would act an
any charged particle placed in the field.

The force exerted on a charged body in an electric field depends on the charge of the body and on the
strength of the field. The strength E of an electric field at any point is defined as the force exerted on
an unit charge. Its direction is that of the force exerted on a positive charge.

F
E = Force / Charge = (N / C) 11
Q
Let us consider 2 charges Q1 and Q2 separated at a distance d metres apart.

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If charge Q2 is located at point P, then the electric field strength E at that point is given by:

F
E 12
Q2
Q1Q2
But, F 13
4 0 d 2

Q1
Hence, E 14
4 0 d 2

This holds if the charge is situated in a vacuum but if it is surrounded by other material of relative
permittivity  r , then:

Q
E 15
4  d 2

Q
E 16
4 0 r d 2

ELECTRIC FLUX FROM A POINT CHARGE: Since electric field can be visualized by the flux lines, the
density of these lines increases near the charge wherever the field strength E is high. The electric field
strength E at a point can be represented by the number of lines per unit area through a surface
perpendicular to the line of force. Therefore, the product of Intensity E and area is known as the flux.
If a sphere of radius (d) is drawn is space concentric with a point charge Q, thus the total flux is given
by:

flux  E  area  E  4d 2

Q
flux   4  d 2
4     d 2

Q
flux  17

flux = Charge inside Sphere / Permittivity 18

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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

The electric potential at at point is the work done by the forces of the electric field per unit positive
charge moved from that point to place at zero potential.
Let us consider two points A and B in an electric field, assuming the force on a positive charge Q has a
component in the direction AB.

If a test positive charged body is moved from point B to A, the potential difference( V AB ) between
them is defined as the work-done in moving positive charge from B to A. Alternatively, if a charge Q
coulombs is moved through a potential difference Vd volt, then the work done ‘W’ in joule is given
by;

W  QVd 19

W
Vd  20
Q

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEEN TWO POINTS: Assuming two points A and B lie on a line of
force at distances d1 and d 2 respectively from the charge when a unit positive charge is at
distance “r” from the charge Q in free;

Q
F 21
4 0 r 2

The work-done in taking the charge from B to A against the force F is the work which the force F
would do if the charge were allowed to move from A to B. Thus, the work-done by the force on the
unit charge is:

d2 d2 Q
d1
Fdr  
d1 4 0 r 2
dr 22

Q
 |dd12 23
4 0 r

Q 1 1
= [  ] 24
4 0 d1 d 2

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However, work per coulomb is potential difference, hence:

Q 1 1
V AB = [  ] 25
4 0 d1 d 2

If point B is at infinity, then:

Q
V AB = 26
4 0 d1
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ELECTRIC FIELD DTRENGTH AND ELECTRIC POTENTIAL: Let us
again consider two points A and B distance x apart in an electric field. Let E be the component of the
strength of the field in the direction AB.

If a charge Q moves from A to B, the work-done by the electrical F is given:

WORK DONE = FR  x 27

= QE  x 28

If the potential difference between B and A is v , then we have:

v = -Work-done by the field / Q =  Ex 29

The negative sign indicates that the potential decreases in the direction of the field.
In the limit, as x  0 ;
dv
E = -(potential gradient) 30
dx
When we consider large distance

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 EXAMPLES

1. Calculate the electrostatic force of repulsion between two  particles when placed at a distance of
10 13 m from each other. How is this force compared to the gravitational force between the two
12 27
particles? Charge of an  -particle is 3.2  10 C , mass of an  -particle is 6.68  10 Kg ,
27
permittivity of free space is 8.854  10 F / m , gravitational constant is 6.67  10 11 Nm 2 Kg 2

SOLUTION

Given:
Q1  Q2  3.2  10 12 C
d  10 13 m
m1  m2  6.68  10  27 Kg
G  6.67  10 11 Nm 2 Kg 2

Recall:
Q1Q2 (3.2  10 12 ) 2
F =
4 0 d 2 4    8.854  10  2  (10 13 ) 2

9  109  (3.2  10 12 ) 2

F = = 9.2  10 2 N
(10 13 ) 2

The force of gravitational attraction in between the two particles.

Gm1m2 6.6  10 11  (6.68  10 27 ) 2

F =
d2 (10 13 ) 2

F  2.97  10 37 N

It is obvious that the force of gravitational attraction between the two particles is negligible when
compared to the electrostatic force between the two particles.

2. Calculate the distance of separation between two electrons( in vacuum) for which the electric
force between them is equal to the gravitational force on one of them at the earth surface. Mass of
31
electron = 9.1 10 Kg , charge of electron = 1.6  10 19 C , g = 9.81m / s 2

SOLUTION

Gravitational force on one electron:

F  9.1 10 31  9.81N

Electrostatic force between the two electrons

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 Q1Q2
F  9  109  N
d2
9  109  (1.6  10 19 ) 2
F
d2
9  109  (1.6  10 19 ) 2
9.1 10 31  9.81 
d2
d  5.08m.

3. Three identical point charges, each Q coulombs are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle
10cm apart. Calculate the force on each charge.

SOLUTION

Whichever of the vertices taking into consideration, the result is always the same. Hence, one of the
charges can be taken as reference and the result generalized to the others.

Taking Q1 as a reference; the force of reputation on Q1 due to Q2 and Q3 are ;

9  109  Q 2 11 2
F12  F13 = 2
= 9  10 Q ( N )
0 .1
Hence to obtain the resultant force in Q1

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 Fx  F12 x  F13 x  0 N
Fy  F12 y  F13 y  2  9  1011 Q 2Cos 30
3
Fy  18  1011 Q 2 
2
Fy  9  1011 Q 2  3
Fy  9  1011 3  Q 2 ( N )
FR  Fx2  Fy2
FR  Fy  9  1011 3  Q 2 ( N )

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Hence, the force in each charge is 9  10 3  Q2 (N ) .