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ELECTRIC CHARGE
Charge is the fundamental property of matter which is responsible for force on a particle placed in an electric or
magnetic field.
S.I. unit → Coulomb (C)
Properties of charge:
(a) Scalar quantity
(b) Always quantized
(c) Conserved for an isolated system
Methods of charging:
(a) Friction (b) Induction (c) Conduction

COULOMB’S LAW
qq
Force between two charges F = k 1 22
r
1 Nm2
where, k = = 9 109 2
40 C
1 q1q2
In a medium F = r = Relative Permittivity of medium
40r r 2
NOTE: This Law is valid only for static and point charges. Moving charges may produce magnetic fields.

ELECTRIC FIELD
Electric field intensity is defined as force per unit test charge.
kq
E=
r2
SI unit: Newton/coulomb (N/C)

ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO VARIOUS CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS

kq
(a) Point charge E = 2
r

• E is out wards for positive charge

• E is inwards for negative charge

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(b) Linear charge distribution:

k
E⊥ = (sin 1 + sin 2 )
r
k
E = (cos 2 − cos 1 )
r
(c) Long charged wire

2k 
EP =
r

(d) Uniformly charged ring

kQx
EP =
( R + x 2 )3/2
2

(i) At centre of the ring, x = 0 . So E = 0

R
(ii) Electric field is maximum at x = 
2
(e) Circular arc

2k    
EP = sin  
R 2

Direction of electric field is along the direction of angle bisector of the arc.

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(f) Charged disc

  x  
EP = 1 − = (1− cos )
2 0  R2 + x2
 20

(g) Infinite charged sheet

EP =
2 0

E is independent of position and uniform every where

(h) Large conducting sheet


EP = nˆ
0

(i) Hollow non-conducting sphere

(a) Inside the sphere (r  R) : EA = 0

kQ
(b) On the surface (r = R) : EB =
R2
kQ
(c) Outside the sphere: EC = 2
r

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(j) Uniformly charged non-conducting sphere

(a) Inside the sphere (r  R)

kQr r
EA = =
R3 3 0
kQ
(b) On the surface (r = R) : EB =
R2
kQ
(c) Outside the sphere (r  R) : EC = 2
r
(k) Solid or Hollow conducting sphere

(a) Inside the sphere (r  R) : EA = 0

kQ
(b) On the surface (r = R) : EB =
R2
kQ
(c) Outside the sphere (r  R) : EC = 2
r

ELECTRIC FIELD LINES

Note: Field lines are always normal on the surface of a conductor.

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ELECTRIC FLUX

 =  E.dA (For open surface)

=  E . dA (For closed surface)

→ It is a measure of number of field lines crossing an area.
→ Scalar quantity
Nm2
→ SI unit:- or V-m
C
(i) For uniform electric field  = E. A = EA cos  where,  = Angle between E and area normal vector
( A).
(ii) For non-uniform field  = E.dA 
Gauss’s Law
q
For a closed surface, net is given by flux  =  E.dA = in0 where qin = net charge enclosed inside the closed

surface. It means that flux through a closed surface depends only the charges enclosed
(i) Flux through Gaussian surface is independent of its shape.
(ii) Flux depends only on charges present inside the closed surface.
(iii) Flux through a closed surface is independent of position of charges inside it.
(iv) Electric field intensity at the Gaussian surface is due to all charge present (inside as well as outside).

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL ENERGY

It is the amount of work done in bringing any charge from infinity to a particular point without changing its K.E.
For a system of two-point charges

kq1q2
U=
r
Taking U  = 0

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL
It is the potential energy per unit charge
(W− p )ext U
VP = =
q q
(i) Scalar quantity
(ii) SI unit: Volt (V) or J/C
1
(iii) In presence of dielectric medium, potential decreases and becomes times of its free space value.
r

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ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL DUE TO VARIOUS CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS

(a) Point charge:

kq q
VP = =
r 40 r
(b) Charged ring:

kq
VP =
R2 + x2

(c) Circular arc:

kQ
VP =
R

(d) Charged disc:

VP =

2 0 ( x2 + R2 − x )
(e) Non-conducting spherical shell:
(i) Inside the sphere (r  R) :

kQ
VA =
R

kQ
(ii) On the surface (r = R) : VB =
R
kQ
(iii) Outside the sphere (r  R) : VC =
r

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(f) Solid non-conducting sphere:

kQ
(i) Point inside the sphere (r  R) : VA = 3
(3R 2 − r 2 )
2R

kQ
(ii) On the surface (r = R): s VB =
R
kQ
(iii) Outside the sphere (r > R): VC =
r
(g) Conducting sphere or shell:

kQ
(i) Inside the sphere (r < R): VA =
R
kQ
(ii) On the surface (r = R): VB =
R
kQ
(iii) Outside the surface (r > R): VC =
r
Relation between E and Potential difference ( V )
(WBA )ext
• VA − VB =
q
• E = given ; V = ?
V =  E.dr = −  Edr cos 

• V = given ; =?
E = − gradient(V)
−v ˆ v ˆ v ˆ
E= i− j− k
x y z
• If E ⊥ dr  V = 0 [Equipotentialsurface]
• Direction of E is from high potential to low potential.
• If V = constant over a region, then E = 0 (in that region)

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EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACE
It is the locus of all points having same potential
(a) Equipotential surfaces can never cross each other.
(b) Equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular to the direction of electric field.

(c) Work done in a moving a charge between any two points of an equipotential surface is zero. [ VA = VB

 W = q(VB − VA ) = 0 ]

ELECTRIC DIPOLE

Two equal and opposite charges generally separated by a small distance represent a dipole.

Dipole Moment: p = qd

D.M. is directed from −q ⎯⎯

→+ q
Direction of dipole moment is from negative to positive charge:

DIPOLE PLACED IN UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD

(a) Torque  = p  E

(b) Fnet = 0
(c) Work done in rotating a dipole from an angle 1 to 2 in an external electric field is

W = pE(cos 1 − cos 2 )

(d) Electrostatic potential energy = − p.E = − pE cos 

dE
(e) In non-uniform electric field, force on electric dipole F = − p.
dr
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO DIPOLE

2kp
(a) At an axial point: E=
r3
− kp
(b) On the equatorial line: E=
r3
kp
(c) At any general point: E= 3
1 + 3cos 2 
r

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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DUE TO DIPOLE

kq
(a) At an axial point: V=
r2
(b) At equatorial point: V =0
kp cos 
(c) At a general point: V=
r2
CONDUCTORS AND ITS PPROPERTIES

(a) Conductors are always equipotential surfaces.

(b) Charge always reside on the outer surface of a conductor.
(c) Electric field is always perpendicular to conducting surface.
(d) Electric field lines never exist within conducting materials.
(e) When a conductor is grounded, its potential becomes zero.

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