1.

Electricity

2025/6/8 1
 Main Contents

Point charge, Conservation law of charge

Coulomb Law, Superposition Principle of Coulomb Force
 the Definition and computation of E
Electric Flux, Gauss’s Law
Circulation Theorem of electrostatic field, Electric Potential
The relationship of E and potential gradient

Motion of charged particles in electric field

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 Requirements

Master the Calculation of Field Intensity

Find the Field Intensity with Gauss Law

Find Electric Potential

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 §11.1 Point Charge, Coulomb Law
1. Point Charge
A charged body without size and shape, i.e., a charged
geometrical point.

(1) Two Kinds of Electric Charge

Positive Charge, Negative Charge

Like charges repel each other, and unlike
charges attract each other. Where “like”
means two charges with the same sign.

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 (2) Quantization of Electric Charge

Electric Quantity e  1.6  10 19 C

(3) Conservational Low of Charge

The net charge in an isolated system is always conserved.

Or : total charge is constant in any process.

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 2. Coulomb Law in the Vacuum

Vector form of Coulomb force,

q1q
q12q2 q1 r 12 q2
f 12 K r 12
40rr33 r
 r 21is a vector directed from the charge q2 toward the q1.

Permittivity of vacuum, Coulomb constant,

 0  8.85  10 12 C 2 / Nm 2  k
1
40
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 Mathematics Expression

scalar form,

qq
1q12
q2
f12  K
4r 0r
3 2

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 3. the Superposition Principle of Electrostatic Force

The resultant force on any one particle equals the

vector sum of the individual forces due to all other
particles.
f 1   f 1i
i

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 Quick Quiz
Y
 There is a point charge q at
every tip of the isosceles right +A
triangle as shown in figure, a
AC=BC=a . Find Coulomb force
on the point charge at tip C. a
+ + X
B C
2
q
F (i  j )
4 0 a 2

2025/6/8 9
 Electric Field
A region of space characterized by the existence of
a force generated by electric charge .
Electric field is a special matter distributes round charge.

the field distributed round a static charge is called the

electrostatic field, and the static charge is just called the
source charge of electrostatic field.
Coulomb’s force is really electrostatic field force.

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 2. Electric Field Intensity

At a point in the given electrostatic

 field the ratio
of the electric field force F on the test point
charge q 0 with its electric quantity

Unit N/C, V/m

is not related with value of , and is called the

q0
electric field intensity at the point in electrostatic field.

Direction: force direction on positive charge

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 3. Superposition Principle of Electrostatic Field

The total electric field intensity at a point in space

equals the vector sum of the electric field intensity.

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 4. Electric Field Lines

+ +

For a positive point charge, the lines are directed radially
outward.
For a negative point charge, the lines are directed radially
inward.
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 electric dipole
The electric field lines for two charges of equal
magnitude and opposite sign

NOTE: the number of lines leaving the positive charge

equals the number terminating at the negative charge.
 2. Electric Flux e

Ring Amount Flux Amount

   
 A 

dl
  A  ds
L S i Ei  
dS E
S
S

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 
1. Uniform electric field
 
S nE E  n  e  ES

 2 .Uniform electric field

n
 


S En =  
E  e  ES cos   E  S


 3. Nonuniform electric field, arbitrary

surface  
S E d e  E  dS
  
ndS  e   E  dS
S

UNIT：Vm
 n
n

 =0  >0  <0

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 (1) GAUSS’S LAW

The net electric flux ofe an arbitrary closed surface

in the vacuum is equal to the net charge inside the
surface divided by  0 .

1
  
0
Q i

 e   E  dS
1
 dQ
S

0

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 1
 

0 Q i

 e   E  dS
S 1

0  dQ

S： the closed surface, i.e. gaussian surface. It is an imaginary

surface and need not coincide with any real physical surface..
 
 E  dS The close surface integral is over all the gaussian
S
surface.

E is the total electric field at any point on the surface due to all
charges.
 Surface element. Its orientation is perpendicular to
ds the surface and points outward from the inside region.

q
S
i the algebra sum of charges in the closed surface
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 (4) Application of Gauss’s Law to Symmetric Charge
Distribution

The gaussian surface had better satisfies one or more of the

following conditions:

The value of the electric field is constant.

   
 E and dA are parallel. E  dA  EdA
   
 E and dA are perpendicular. E  dA  0

 E is equal to zero everywhere on the surface.
Note: The surface integral in Guass’s law is taken over
the entire gaussian surface.
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 Problem-solving strategy:

Analysis the symmetry of the field intensity distribution .

Select appropriate gaussian surface.
Select appropriate coordinates, apply Gauss’s law.

The three symmetries:

Spherical symmetry
Cylindrical symmetry
Plane symmetry

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 (1) A spherically Symmetric Charge Distribution

Example 1. Electric quantity Q distributes uniformly on a

spherical surface of center O and radius R. Find the field
intensity.

P
Analysis the symmetry of the
field intensity distribution

R
O

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 Select appropriate gaussian surface.
0 r  R
e   E  d S 
E dS E S
Q
r  R 

0
 

R  E  E  dS  E  4r 2
S
 

0 r  R
E
E Q
r  R
4 0 r 2

r
0 R
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 Note

For a uniformly charged spherical surface, the

field in the region external to the spherical
surface is equivalent to that of a point charge at
the centre of the sphere surface.

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 Quick Quiz

There are two concentric charged spherical shells of radius

R1 and R2 . Charge quantities distribute uniformly.

R1， Q1
r  R 1, E 
R1  r  R 2 , E  R2， Q2
r  R 2, E 

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 R1， Q1

R2， Q2

E1 
Q1
r  R 1  E2 
Q2
r  R 2 
40r 2
40r 2

r  R 1, E  0

R1  r  R 2 , E  E  Q1
1
40r 2
Q1 Q2
r  R 2, E  E1  E 2  
40r 2
40r 2
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 3. Plane Symmetry

 infinite charged plane or sheet.

Plane Symmetry: for

those points whose distance to
+
+
+
+
+

the plane is identical, the field

+
+
+
+
+

intensity is equal in magnitude

and perpendicular to the plane.

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 Example 3

Find the electric field due to a nonconducting, infinite

plane with uniform surface charge density  .

Research in the Symmetry.

+
Select Gaussian surface. + +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+

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 Select a cylindrical gaussian surface penetrating an
infinite sheet of charge.
Each end of the gaussian surface, E  d S

Curved surface, E  dS
  S E  d S  S EdS  E  dS
+
+ dS e S
+
E +
+ E  2SE
+ +

+ + dS E 
+ S 2 0
 (Gauss Law)
0
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Circulation Theorem of Electrostatic Field:

 E
L
 d l  0

 The work done by electrostatic field force to unit

positive charge along a closed curve equals zero.

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 §7.4 Electric Potential P 246

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 2. Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential

Electric potential energy of q0 at a point

select b point as the reference point of electric potential

energy. “0”
wa＝wa  wb  Aab  q0  E  dl
a
Physical meaning:
The electric potential energy of q0 equals the work done by
the electrostatic force when q0 is moved from a to the
reference point along an arbitrary path.
Note: the electric potential energy belongs to the charge-
field system.
Potential energy is a scalar.
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 The potential energy of a test charge Q0 in electric
field due to a point source charge Q.

“0”
wp＝Q0  E  dl
r

 +
QQo
 Q0  E  dl ＝
r
40 r

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 NOTE
“0”
wp＝Q0  E  dl
r

The electric potential energy is not a property

of the field.

w
The ratio Q is independent of the value of
0

Q0 and has a unique value at every point in an

electric field. Electric potential.

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 §7.5 Electric Potential , Potential Difference

1. Electric potential（simply the Potential）

WP “０”  
V 
Q0
 r E  dl unit：V (volt) 1V  1 J/C

Potential is a measure of energy per unit charge.

The potential is a property only of the field.
The potential at a point equals the work required to
bring a unit positive charge from this point to the zero
point of electric potential .
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 2. Potential difference

r2  
V12 Vr11 EV2 dl

"0 "   "0 " 


P2   E  dl   E  dl
 r1
r2
r2
O

r
1
P1
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 3. How to Calculate Potential

Two Methods:

Applying element analysis method

dq
V  
Q 4 r
0

 Applying the definition of potential

V  r
"0"
U E  dl

2025/6/9 37
 Example 1.

Find the potential distribution due to a point

source charge.


+
r ·P

2025/6/9 38
 Solution:
The electric field is E  Qr
4 0 r 3
Select infinity as the zero point of potential.
 Q  dr Q
V(r)= 
r 4 0 r 2

4 0 r
U

Q
V 
r 40r
0

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 V

the source
charge Q>0

r
0

the source
charge Q<0
2025/6/9 40
 The Potential Due to the system of Point Charges

Qi
V  i 40ri

The electric potential at point P is the algebraic

sum of the potentials due to the individual charges.

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2025/6/9
2025/6/9 43
 Magnetic field lines
surrounding a long and
I straight wires

2025/6/9 44
 Properties of Magnetic Field Lines

The direction of magnetic field lines is defined to be the

direction that the north end of a compass needles points, i.e.,
it is tangent to the field line at any point in space.

The strength of the field is proportional to the density of

the lines.

2025/6/9 45
MAIN CONTENTS
 Magnetic field produced by currents.
 Fmax
 Representation ： B B＝
qv
 Rules ：

 Biot-savart’s law d B   0 I d l  r
4 r3

 Gauss’ theorem

 Ampere’s circulation theorem

(Ampere’s Law)  Bdl    I

L
0
i
i
2025/6/9 46
 Affect of magnetic field force on currents
 Force on a moving charge: Lorentz force

f L  qv  B
 Force on a current-carrying wire

d F  Id l  B

2025/6/9 47
 Lorentz Force: F  qv  B
F  qvB sin  The coefficient B is
the function of
F position, it describes
B
qv sin  the natural quality
F
of magnetic field at
the position.
F
F

B
F
B v
 ＝0， F
F 0
 v
q
The right –hand rule
2025/6/9 48
 DISCUSSION

F  qv  B
The electric force is always parallel or antiparallel to the
direction of the electric field, whereas the magnetic force
is perpendicular to the magnetic field.

The magnetic force acts on a charged particle only when

the particle is in motion.

2025/6/9 49
 B

Magnetic Induction B
Fm
Fm B
Magnitude : B Direction :
qv sin  v

Unit : tesla (T) (brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla,1856-

1943 )

1N 1N
1T  
C  m / s A m

Another smaller unit: gauss (G), 1 G  104 T

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 Superposition of Magnetic Induction

B   Bi
i

2025/6/9 51
2025/6/9 52
 Ampere force on a current element:

d F  I dl  B
 
Magnitude:
dF  IdlB sin   arcsin( Idl , B )
Direction:
Id l  B
Left hand rule.

2025/6/9 53
 Ampere force on
F the current-carrying wire of
length L and current I is

I 2
F   I dl B
1

The integral is over the wire.

When this integration is carried out, the magnetic

dl

field B and d l may vary from point to point.

2025/6/9 54
 I
 Biot-Savart’s law

0 I d l  r
dB 
4 r3
magnetic permeability of vacuum:

I dl   0  4  10 7 NA 2
r
 0 I d l sin
Magnitude: dB 
P 4 r2

Direction : Id l  r
right hand rule
2025/6/9 55
 Example

Find the magnetic

I induction at a point by a
finite straight current-
carrying wire.

0
a P

2025/6/9 56
 Solution: 0 I d l  r
dB 
4 r 3
l
Direction : 
 0 I d l sin
I 2 dB 
4 r2
a
a r sin  a r
0 sin
 P
I dl r -ll a d
 ctg dl 
1 a sin 
2

2025/6/9 57
 l

I 2 0 I 
B  sin  d 
2

4a  1

0
a
0 I
P  cos 1  cos 2 
4a
1 substitute a with r:

0 I
B cos 1  cos  2 
4r
2025/6/9 58
 DISCCUSION

The magnetic induction at a point by an infinite straight

current-carrying wire．

L  ,  1=0  2=

0 I
B 
2r

2025/6/9 59
 the half infinite straight current-carrying wire :

 0 I
1  , 2   B
2 4 r

 at the points of the extended line: r p

Bo
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 Central angle:   2 
B
0 I 
B I
2R
Arbitrary central angle: 
（Current-carrying circular arc）

0 I
  0 I 
B   B

2 R 2 4R  I

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 
Find the magnetic induction at point
B O.

I
I O
 R R
O
0 I 0 I
B  B 
4R 8R

R 2 3 I
O
I  R
O
0 I
0 I 0 I
0 I 3
B  B  (1 )
4 R 2R 6R R 2
 
 Ampere Circulation Theorem in the Vacuum


L B  d l  0  Ii
i
The line integral of B  dl around any closed path
equals 0.
I
i
i is the total steady current passing through any
surface bounded by the closed path.
Ampere’s law is valid only for steady currents and is useful
only for calculating B of current configuration having a high
degree of symmetry.

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 
L B  d l  0  Ii
i

I1
I3

 
L1  B  d l  0 I 2  I 3 
L1

 
 B  d l  0 I1  I 2 
L2
L2

I2

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 Choose a circle of r concentric with the wire.

Ampere’s law applied to the circular path gives.

 
r  R  B  dl   Bdl  2rB
 
 B  dl   0 I
I

2rB   0 I
R L
r

0 I
B
2r
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 Example: plane symmetry

The current density on an infinite uniform current-

carrying plate in vacuum is j, Find the magnetic
induction.

2025/6/9 66
Solution:

The infinite current-carrying plate may be considered as

the set of many infinite straight thin current-carrying
wires. The direction of magnetic induction at each point
out of the plate is parallel to the plate and is
perpendicular to current, is equal in magnitude.

Draw a rectangle circulation .

b a
.........
cross-sectional
view
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   b c  b a
 B  dl  a Bdl cos 0  b Bdl cos 2 .........
d 
  Bdl cos 0  
a
c d
Bdl cos
2
c d
 B  ab  B  cd

 2 B  ab
 
 B  dl  0  ab  j B  0 j 2
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2025/6/9 69
Cross-sectional view of an ideal solenoid.

...............

B

I

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 Consider a rectangular path as shown in figure.

Apply Ampere’s law to this path by calculating the

integral of B  dl over each of the four sides of the
rectangle.
  b 

c
 B  dl  a Bdl cos 0  b Bdl cos 2 ............... B

  Bdl cos   
d a
c d
Bdl cos
2 a b
 B  ab 
I
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d c 71
 n: the number of turns per unit length
N： the total number of turns

N
n
l
 
 B  dl   0 nabI
 0 nI inside
B
 0 outside
2025/6/9 72
 EXERCISES

Find the Ampere force of per unit length on two

parallel infinite straight current-carrying wires.
I1 I2

r
2025/6/9 73
 0 I2
B12  
2r
 0 I1 
B21 
I1 I2 2r
 0 I1 I 2
d F12  d l1
2 r
I1dl 1
d F 12  I1 d l1  B12
I 2dl 2
B12  Direction: 
B21
dF 12 dF21  0 I 2 I1
d F21  d l2
d F 21  I 2 d l 2  B 21 2 r
r
Direction 

2025/6/9 74
 I1 I2

dF
0 I 112
I2
f 12 
 1r
2dl B12  B21
 0 I1 I 2 dF 12 dF 21
f 21 
2 r r
When the direction of I1 and I2 is identical, two wires
attract each other; when the direction is opposite, they
repel each other.

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2025/6/10
Gauss Law of Magnetic Field

77
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