fiziks dISIK2 fiziks Institute for NET/IRF, GATE, lIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 1. Coulomb’s Law and Superposition Principle ‘The electric field at any point due to stationary source charges is called as electrostatic field. ‘The electric force on a test charge Source point @ due to a single point chargeq , which is at rest and a distance R apart is given by Coulomb's law 4ze, ‘The constant ¢, is called the permittivity of free space. In mks units, ¢, = 8.8510" Na R is the separation vector from r’ (the location of g) to r (the location of Q ): R ; R is its magnitude, and & is its direction. The force points along the line from q t0Q; it is repulsive if q and Q have the same sign, and attractive if their signs are opposite. 4 R 2, A -4 R 3 A - z Qe. = 7 4 ek 4 R oe H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016 Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498 Website: uw. physisbyfizikscom | Email: fiziks physics@amail.comfiziks dISIK2 fiziks Institute for NET/IRF, GATE, lIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 1.1.1 Electric Field If we have many point charges qy,qzy.m at distances R,, Ry, Ry... from test charge Q, then according to the principle of superpo: ion the total force on Q is => F=0E Source point where E(P)= 4ne, FR 7 ‘ Field point E is called the electric field of the source charges. Physically E(P) is the force per unit charge that would be exerted on a test charge placed at P z If charge is distributed continuously over some region, then z 1 0) Fa J A fag (See figure (a)/shown below) The electric field of a line charge is (dg = Adl’) (See figure (b) shown below) a J AC) ray Feere A. is charge per unit ngth. E(r)= For surface charge (dq = oda’) (See figure (c) shown below) 1 or) MIE sara Rda' where o is charge per unit area. For a volume charge (dq = pdz') See figure (d) shown below) aL f 2 Raz’ where p is charge per unit volume. Fwd RE H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016 Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498 Website: uw. physisbyfizikscom | Email: fiziks physics@amail.comfiziks dISIK2 fiziks Institute for NET/IRF, GATE, lIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics _ ze ao P R de iq ar (a) Continuous distribution (b)Line charge. Ra? da’ R oe? dr’ (c)Surface charge, (d) Volume charge, p Example: (a) Find the electric field a distance z above the mid point between two equal charges, g, a distance d apart. ie (b) Repeat part (a) after replacing right hand chatge to—q ° 3 lq Solution: (a) E, = E, af dd dq Fre, r a Horizontal components cancels and E, = Ecos + Eycos0 = 2E, cos feed? : Since r= 2? +5,cos@ q diz dz 4 H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016 Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498 Website: uw. physisbyfizikscom | Email: fiziks physics@amail.comfiziks dISIK2 fiziks Institute for NET/IRF, GATE, lIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 1 4n6, () B=E, ‘Component along z-direction cancel out. Thus £ = 2£sind &, sind = 2r =k-1_« _; a q d/2 d ™ Tray 72 ¥q d/2 1/2 -q 2,0 4 1 44 + (field of a dipole) Ane, When z>>d, E=—_1_44 Example: Three charges q,2q and 3q are placed at the a D 4 three comers (A, B and C) of a square of side. Then the electric field at the fourth corner D. Solution: B @ c Electric field due to charge at A, Electric field due to charge at B , 2g __4 4ne,(V2a) 4700" Electric field due to charge at, ", along BD 34 atone CD area" ‘Thus resultant field E =(£,, +E, cos 45°) -+(E. +E, sin45°) 5 ro) 4 fy, 4)\g4_4 snag’ VR) Aree H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016 Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498 Website: uw. physisbyfizikscom | Email: fiziks physics@amail.comfiziks dISIK2 fiziks Institute for NET/IRF, GATE, lIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics Example: Find the electric field a distance < above the midpoint of a straight line segment of length 2L, which carries a uniform line charge 2 Solution: Horizontal components of two field cancels and the field of the two segment is dE ggg H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016 Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498 ‘Website: www.physicsbyfiziks.com | Email: fiziks.physics@qmail.com