In unit 3 we will learn about

the physics of electricity and

electronics.

This includes circuits, Ohm’s

law, resistance, electrical
energy and power,
electromagnetism and
electronic components.
 Rutherford Bohr model
Thomson’s Plum pudding model

What is inside an atom?

Quantum model of the nucleus
Charge cloud model Rutherford model
 The atom
An atom is a fundamental unit of matter
made up of protons (with a positive
charge)neutrons (neutral – no charge)
electrons (with a negative charge)
 What is electricity?
Everything is made of atoms which contain POSITIVE particles called PROTONS
and NEGATIVE particles called ELECTRONS.
An atom will usually have the same number of positives and negatives. This makes
the atom NEUTRAL.

Electron (-) Proton (+)

Neutron
 Electrical Charge
Electric charge is given the symbol
Q
Electrons are the charge carriers that flow in an electrical circuit –
from the negative to positive terminals.
Charge is measured in
Coulombs
which is given the symbol

C.
The charge on a proton is

1.6 x 10 C
-19

which is the same size as the charge on an

electron.
What is electricity?
Electrons have a negative charge (Q) measured in coulombs (C).

Electrons move round a circuit from negative to positive (remember like

charges repel, opposites attract) giving rise to an electric current.
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 Conductors & Insulators
What makes something a good conductor?

Good conductors allow electrons to move

through them easily. Insulators do not
allow electrons to move easily.
 Electric Charge (q, Q)

1. Charge exists as +q and –q. At the same point: +q-q=0

2. Charge is conserved (locally).
3. Charge is quantized. +q =n (+e), -q = m (-e), m, n, integer
electron: –e, positron: +e, proton: +e, C-nucleus: 6(+e)
Four kinds of forces - interactions

1. Strong Keeps nuclei and nucleons together.

2. Electromagnetic Most common phenomena.
3. Weak β-decay n->p+e+ν
4. Gravitational Keeps the Universe together.
Unification

electric + magnetic electromagnetic

electromagnetic + optic electrodynamic

electrodynamic + weak electroweak

 The Concept of a Field
A field is defined as a property of space in which a material object
experiences a force.

m Above earth, we say there is a

P . gravitational field at P.

F
Because a mass m experiences a downward
force at that point.

No force, no field; No field, no force!

The direction of the field is determined by the force.

 The Gravitational Field
Consider points A and B above the surface
• B of the earth—just points in space.
A F Note that the force F is real, but the field
• is just a convenient way of describing
space.
F
The field at points A or B might be found
from:

F
If g is known at every point g=
above the earth then the m
force F on a given mass can
be found. The magnitude and direction of the field g
is depends on the weight, which is the
force F.
 The Electric Field
1. Now, consider point P a
F
distance r from +Q. +qP +.
E
2. An electric field E exists r
at P if a test charge +q
+ +
has a force F at that + +
+ Q +
+ +
3. point.
The direction of the E is
Electric Field
the same as the direction
of a force on + (pos)
charge.
4. The magnitude of E is F N
E = ; Units
given by the formula: q C
Field is Property of Space
Force on +q is with field
direction.
F
. E -q -. E
+q +

r Force on -q is against r
F
field direction.
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ Q + + Q +
+ + + +

Electric Field Electric Field

The field E at a point exists whether there is a charge at that

point or not. The direction of the field is away from the +Q
charge.
 Field Near a Negative
Charge
Force on +q is with field
F
direction.
. E -q -. E
+q +

F r r
Force on -q is against
- - field direction. - -
- - -
- -Q - -
- - - -Q -
- -

Electric Field Electric Field

Note that the field E in the vicinity of a negative charge –Q is toward

the charge—the direction that a +q test charge would move.
 The Magnitude of E-Field
The magnitude of the electric field intensity at a point in space is
defined as the force per unit charge (N/C) that would be
experienced by any test charge placed at that point.

Electric Field F æNö

Intensity E E = ; Units ç ÷
q èCø
The direction of E at a point is the same as the direction that a
positive charge would move IF placed at that point.
Example 1. A +2 nC charge is
placed at a distance r from a +2
+q +. P
–8 µC charge. If the charge nC
E 4000 N
experiences a force of 4000 E r

N, what is the electric field -

- -
-
- -Q - –8 µC
intensity E at point P? - -
First, we note that the direction of E is
Electric Field
toward –Q (down).

F 4000 N E = 2 x 1012 N/C

E= = -9
Downward
q 2 x 10 C
Note: The field E would be the same for any charge placed at point P. It
is a property of that space.
 Example 2. A constant E field of 40,000
N/C is maintained between the two
parallel plates. What are the magnitude
and direction of the force on an electron
that passes horizontally between the
plates.c
The E-field is downward, and the
+ + + + + + + + +
F e -
-
force on e- is up. e- e- . E
- -

F
E = ; F = qE - - - - - - - - -
q
F = qE = (1.6 x 10 C)(4 x 10-19 4 N
C )
F = 6.40 x 10-15 N, Upward
The E-Field at a distance r
from a single charge Q
Consider a test charge +q placed at P a
FE
distance r from Q.
.
+q +.
rr PP
The outward force on +q is:
kQ
kQq ++ + +
+ +
E= 2
F= 2 + Q +
+ +
+ r
r
The electric field E is therefore:

F kQq r 2 kQ
E= = E= 2
q q r
 Example 3. What is the electric field
intensity E at point P, a distance of 3 m
from a negative charge of –8 nC?
First, find the magnitude:
E=? .
P 9 Nm 2 -9
r
kQ (9 x 10 )(8 x 10 C) C2
3m E= 2 =
r (3 m) 2
-Q -8 nC
E = 8.00 N/C

The direction is the same as the force on a positive charge if it were

placed at the point P: toward –Q.

E = 8.00 N, toward -Q
 The Resultant Electric
Field.
The resultant field E in the vicinity of a number of point charges
is equal to the vector sum of the fields due to each charge taken
individually.

Consider E for each charge. E2

E1
q1
Vector Sum:
- • A
ER
E = E1 + E2 + E3
E3 +
q3 - q2

Magnitudes are from:

Directions are based on
kQ positive test charge.
E= 2
r
 Example 4. Find the resultant field at
point A due to the –3 nC charge and the +6
nC charge arranged as shown.
q1 -3 nC E for each q is shown with
- direction given.
5
3 E1
cm +6 nC
cm
• + kq1 kq2
E2 A
4 q2 E1 = 2 ; E2 = 2
cm r1 r2
9 Nm 2 -9 9 Nm 2
(9 x 10 C2
)(3 x 10 C) (9 x 10 C2
)(6 x 10-9 C)
E1 = 2
E2 =
(3 m) (4 m) 2
Signs of the charges are used only to find direction of E
 Example 4. (Cont.)Find the resultant field
at point A. The magnitudes are:
q1 -3 nC
9 Nm 2
(9 x 10 )(3 x 10-9 C)
- E1 = C2

5 (3 m) 2
3 E1
cm +6 nC
cm (9 x 10 9 Nm 2
)(6 x 10-9 C)
• + C2
E2 A q2 E2 =
4 (4 m) 2
cm

E1 = 3.00 N, West E2 = 3.38 N, North

ER
Next, we find vector resultant ER
E1
f
E1
ER = E2 + R1 ; tan f =
2 2
E2
E2
 Example 4. (Cont.)Find the resultant field
at point A using vector mathematics.
ER E1 = 3.00 N, West

E1 E2 = 3.38 N, North
f
E2 Find vector resultant ER

3.38 N
E = (3.00 N) + (3.38 N) = 4.52 N;
2 2
tan f =
3.00 N
f = 48.4 0 N of W; or q = 131.6 0

Resultant Field: ER = 4.52 N; 131.60

 Electric Field Lines
Electric Field Lines are imaginary lines drawn in such a way that
their direction at any point is the same as the direction of the
field at that point.

+ + - -
+ - -
+ - -Q -
+ Q + - -
+ +

Field lines go away from positive charges and toward negative

charges.
Rules for Drawing Field Lines

1. The direction of the field line at any point is

the same as motion of +q at that point.
2. The spacing of the lines must be such that
they are close together where the field is
strong and far apart where the field is weak.

E1

E2

+ q1 q2 - ER
 Examples of E-Field Lines
Two equal but opposite Two identical charges
charges. (both +).

Notice that lines leave + charges and enter - charges.

Also, E is strongest where field lines are most dense.