ELECTRIC CHARGES & FIELD

Induction/Polarisation

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Metal Object
Non Conducting Object
Induction/Polarisation

Electron Cloud
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Nucleus
Charging through Induction

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+ _ ++
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+ __
+ ++
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+
Electroscope

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Electric charges
• Charges are scalar quantities. Total charge on a system is the algebriac
addition of those charges.
• Charges are conserved.
• Since transfer of charge is due to transfer of electrons, the total
charge is always given by q = ne. This is called quantisation.

Though electron is a step size at the macroscopic level it appears to be

continuous.
Problems
If a body gives out 109 electrons every second, how much time is
required to get a total charge of 1C from it?
Solution
n =109
Charge given out per second = ne = 109 x 1.6 x10-19 = 1.6 x10-10C
1 second – charge given out 1.6 x10-10C
? – charge given out is 1C
Time required to get a charge of IC = 1/(1.6 x10-10) = 6.25 x 109s
Problems
How much positive and negative charge is there in 250 gm of water?

Solution
Molecular mass of water = 18 gm
No of molecules in 18gm of water = 6.02 x 1023
No of molecules in 250 gm of water = 250 x 6.02 x 1023/18 = 8.63 x 1024
Each molecule of water contains (2+8) [H2O] electrons and protons
Total no. of e- and protons in water = 8.63 x 1024 x 10 = 8.63 x 1025
Total charge carried by electrons or protons =
ne = 8.63 x 1025 x 1.6 x10-19 = 1.38 x 107C
Problems
Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B of identical size have
charges qA and qB respectively. A third sphere C of the same size but
uncharged in brought in contact with the first and then in contact with
the second and then finally removed. What are the new charges on A
and B?
Solution
Charge of A = qA/2
Charge on B = (charge on C + charge on B)/2 = (qA/2 + qB )/2
Force between Electric Charges

r̂12

F21 q1 q2 F12
r

)r̂12

K = 1/4Πεo = 9x 109 Nm2/C2 is dielectric constant

Effect of Medium between Charges
Fvac = ) – Force between charges when placed in vacuum/air
Fmed = ) – Force between charges when placed in say water
= = = κ = dielectric constant
Fmed =
Superposition Principle

q2
q1 F12
F32 Fnet
-q3
Electrical & Gravitational Forces
Consider two protons separated by a distance ‘r’
Forces with which they repel
Felec = ((1.6 x10-19)2 x 9 x 10 9)/r2
Fg =( (1.7 x 10-27)2 x 6.7 x 10-11)/r2
Felec/ Fg = 1036
a = Felec/mp = 1026 m/s2
 What holds our World together?
• What holds the nucleus together – NUCLEAR FORCES
• What holds our world together at the scale of thousands of
kilometers – ELECTRIC FORCES
• At the scale of the universe – it is GRAVITY
 Problems
Two identical charges Q each are placed at a distance r from each other. A third
charge q is placed on the lone joining the above two charges such that all the three
charges are in equilibrium. What is the magnitude, sign and position of the charge
q. r
FB FC
Solution Q Q
A q C FA B FA
x

For charge at C to be in equilibrium For charge at B to be in equilibrium

with A and B with A and C
FA = F B FA = FC ( hence q has to be negative)
= =
(r – x) = x ; x = r/2 q = -Q/4
Problems
Charges of +5μC, +10 μC and -10 μC are placed at the corners of an equilateral
triangle having side equal to 5cm. Determine the resultant force on +5 μC charge.
Solution
F1
F1 = F 2 = F +5μC FR
FR =
F2
FR = F = = 180N

+10μC -10μC
Electric Field

^
𝒓
Q q F

F̄ = (KQq/r2) r̂
( )
𝑭
E = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒒
𝒒→𝟎
= F̄ /q = (KQ/r2) r̂

Electric field is a vector. Unit is N/C

Electric Field of Point Charge
POSITIVE CHARGE NEGATIVE CHARGE

+
Electric Field Lines
Electric Field of Two Positive Charges

+ +
Electric Field Lines
Charge in an Electric Field

_
_
_
F̄ _

+q + F̄
+
+ +q
+
+
+
Properties of Field Lines
• They start at the positive charge and end at the negative charge
• They are continuous curves
• Two field lines never cross each other
• They do not form closed loops
Principal of Superposition
P
Q1 E1

E2 Enet

-Q2
Electric Field due to Two Charges

E=0 ∞
+3 -1
Q P
Problems
Calculate the electric field strength required to just support a water
drop of mass 10-3kg and having a charge of 1.6 x 10-19C.
Solution
F = qE
qE = mg
E q = 1.6 x 10-19C 1.6 x 10-19 x E = 10-3 x 9.8
E = 6.125 x 1012 N/C
mg
Problems
Two point charges of +16µC and -9µC are placed 8cm apart in air.
Determine the position of the point at which the resultant field is zero.
Solution q1 q2 E 2 E1
+16µC -9µC P
8 cm x
At P E1 = E 2 16 = 9
4x = ±3(8+x)
= Solving this we get
X = 24 cm or x = -25/4
Since x cannot be negative x = 24 cm
Problems
Four charges +q, +q, -qand –q are placed at the four corners of a square
of side ‘a’. Find the electric field at the center of the square.
Solution E =E +E
1 A C
+q D C +q
E2 = EB + ED
E’ = E1 + E2
EC ED EA = EB = EC = ED = (KQ/r2) where r = a/
EA EB E1 = 2(KQ/r2) = E2 = E
-q -q
A B E’ = =E=2
=4
Dipole (Electric Field at an Axial
Point)
Ē+q Ē-q 2a Ē = Kq (
= Kq
P +q 𝑝^ -q
r = Kq
If r >>> a then (r2 – a2) ≈ r2
Ē-q = Therefore Ē = Kq
Ē+q = Ē = Kq
Total field at P = Ē-q + Ē+q
 Dipole (Electric Field at an Equitorial
Point)
Ē+q Ē+q sinθ Ē+q
Ē = - (Ē+q + Ē-q) cosθ
Q θ Ē+q cosθ
Ē
Ē-q cosθ cosθ =
Ē-q Ē-q
)
+a2

Ē-q sinθ
Ē =
√(r 2

r
θ
Ē-q =
If r >>> a then (r2 + a2) ≈ r2
+q p̅ -q
2a Ē+q =
Therefore Ē =
Dipole moment

= q x 2a

Ē = Kq for r >>> a and a point on the dipole axis ( axial point)

Ē = for r >>> a for a point on the equatorial plane (equitorial point)

E equi = Eaxial/2
Dipole in an Electric Field

Torque = Force x perpendicular distance

F = qE
+q
Torque = qE x 2asinθ = 2qaEsinθ
2a
2a sinθ E
= x
θ
F = qE -q

Direction as per the right hand screw rule is into the plane
Problems
An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges of magnitude 1/3 x
10-7 C separated by 2 cm. The dipole is placed in an external field of 3 x
107 N/C. What is the maximum torque that the electric field exerts on
the dipole?
Solution
q = 1/3 x 10-7 C = x
2a = 2cm = 2 x 10-2 m = pEsinθ
E = 3 x 107 N/C = 2qaEsin90o
= x 10-7 x 2 x 10-2 3 x 107 x 1
= 0.02 Nm
Problems
Two charges ± 10µC are placed 5mm apart. Determine the electric field
at (a) a point P on the axis of the dipole 15cm away from its entre O on
the side of the positive charge, (b) a point Q, 15cm away from O on a
line passing through O and normal to the axis of the dipole.
Solution
q = 10 x 10-6 C (a) P is an axial point (b) Q is an equitorial point
2a = 5mm = 5 x 10-3 m Hence E = 2Kp/r3 Hence E = Kp/r3
r = 15cm = 15 x 10-2 m E = 2.66 x 105 N/C E = 1.33 x 105 N/C
Electric Flux

dĀ
dφ = . = EdA cosθ
Ē

φ=

Units – Nm2 /C
Electric Flux

Θ = 90 Θ = 60o
Θ=0 o o

dA dA

dA
Gauss’s Law

E
φ = = 42 E since cos 0 = 1
dA
But E̅ =
R̂
+Q
Therefore φ = 4πR2 =

i.e φ is independent of R
Gauss’s Law

φ=.=
Problems
What is the flux coming out the surfaces given below?
φ=.=

QQ

φ = through the entire surface

φ=
φ = through
throughone
the of the
half faces
surface
Problems
A cube with each side ‘a’ is kept in an electric field given by = Cx ( as shown in the
figure) where C is a positive dimensional constant. Find out
• The net electric flux through the cube
• The net charge inside the cube

E For Face 1 Hence

Z
φ = E.A cos 180o φnet = 2Ca3 – Ca3
2 E = Ca3
1 = -Ca.a2
E
A A
For Face 2 φ
X
a a φ = E.A cos 0o Hence Q = Ca3εo
Y
= C(2a) a2
Electric Field due to Hollow Sphere

For point P For point Q

+Q φ=.= φ=.=
S
r1 E = E =
r E 1/r
2
P
R E. 4r2 = E. 4r12 =

E= R r
E=
Electric Field due to Infinite Plane
Let charge density = σ
A E
P Total flux through the cylinder
A
d φ = EA + EA = 2EA
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + φ=
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
d
2EA = =

A E E=
Electric Field due to Two Infinite
Planes

E = σ/2εo E = σ/2εo E=0

I
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+σ
E = σ/2εo E = σ/2εo II E = σ/ε
o

-σ
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
E = σ/2εo E = σ/2εo III
E=0
Electric Field due to Two Finite
Planes

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Electric Field due to Infinitely Long
Conductor
A Let charge density = λ
Radius of Gaussian surface = r

+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Total flux through the cylinder
E
P φ = EA = E.2
L

φ=
E.2 = =
E=
A
THE END