NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

GENERAL PHYSICS 1
Dr. Pham Thi Hai Mien
Department of Applied Physics
Faculty of Applied Science
 CHAPTER 5. ELECTRIC FIELDS
1. ELECTRIC CHARGE
2. COULOMB’S LAW
3. THE ELECTRIC FIELD
3.1. The Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
3.2. Electric Field of a Continuous Charge Distribution
4. GAUSS'S LAW
5. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
5.1. Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy
5.2. Electric Potential Due to Point Charges
5.3. Electric Potential Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution
5.4. Electric Potential Due to a Charged Conductor
5.5. Calculating the Field from the Potential
 1. ELECTRIC CHARGE

• There are two types of charge, negative

and positive charge.
• Total charge in an isolated system is
conserved.
• Electric charge is quantized, e = 1.6×10-19
C is the elementary charge. Rubbing a balloon against your
• An object becomes electrically charged: hair on a dry day causes the balloon
and your hair to become charged.
 when it is rubbed against another
object,
 when it is in contact with a charged
object,
 by induction. Charging a metallic object by
induction (that is, the two
objects never touch each other)
 2. COULOMB’S LAW
• The magnitude of the electric force (sometimes called the Coulomb
force) between two point charges:
q1q2
F12  F21  k 2
r
1
k  9  109 N .m 2 / C 2  Coulomb constant
4 o
 o  8.85 1012 C 2 / N .m 2  permittivity constant
• If we have n charged particles, they interact independently in pairs,
and the force on any one of them, let us say particle 1, is given by
the vector sum

F1net  F12  F13  ...  F1n

 SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Consider three point charges located at the corners of a right triangle as
shown, where q1 = q3 = 5.0 μC, q2 = -2.0 μC and a = 0.1 m. Find the
resultant force exerted on q3.
SOLUTION
6 6
q1q3 5  10  5  10
F13  k  9  109  11N
  2  0.1
2 2
2a 450
6 6
q2 q3 2  10  5  10
F23  k 2  9  109 2
 9N
a 0.1
The net electric force on q 3 : F3  F13  F23 (1)
Project (1) on the x and y axes :
F3 x  F13 x  F23 x  F13cos 450  F23  1.1N
F3 y  F13 y  F23 y  F13cos 450  0  7.9 N
F3  F3 x i  F3 y j  1.1i  7.9 j
 3. THE ELECTRIC FIELD
• Any charge creates an electric field in the space surrounding it.
• To define E at a position, we place a test charge q0 there and measure
the electrostatic force F acting on q0. Then we define the electric field
at point P due to the charged object as:

F
E (N/C or V/m) (1)
q0

• Note that the existence of an electric field is a property of its source.

The presence of the test charge is not necessary for the field to exist.
The test charge serves as a detector of the electric field.
• We use equation (1) to determine the electric
force on a charge placed in an electric field. If q
is positive, F is in the same direction as E . If q
is negative, F and E are in opposite directions.
 3.1 THE ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO A POINT CHARGE
• The electric field due to a point charge q (or E
charged particle) at any point P a distance r
from the point charge:
q
Ek 2 r
r
where r is a unit vector directed away from
E
the source charge.
• If the source charge q is positive, the electric
field E at point P directed away from q.
• If the source charge q is negative, the electric
field E at P is directed toward q.
• Superposition principle of electric field: total
electric field due to a group of source charges
equals the vector sum of electric fields of all
the charges: E  E1  E 2  ...  E n
• To visualize the electric field we draw electric field lines such that:
 The electric field vector E is tangent to the electric field line at
each point.
 The line has a direction that is the same as that of the electric field
vector.
 The number of lines per unit area through a surface perpendicular
to the lines is proportional to the magnitude of the electric field in
that region.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
A charge q1 = 7.0 μC is located at the origin, and a second charge q2 = -
5.0 μC is located on the x axis, 0.30 m from the origin. Find the electric
field at the point P, which has coordinates (0, 0.40) m.
SOLUTION
q1 7 106
9
E1  k 2  9 10 2
 3.9 105 N / C
r1 0.4
q2 5 106
9
E2  k 2  9 10 2
 1.8  105 N / C
r2 0.5
The net electric field : E  E1  E2 (1)
Project (1) on the x and y axes :
 0.3 
Ex  E1x  E2 x  0  E2cos  (1.8  105 )    1.1 10 N / C
5

 0.5 
0.4
E y  E1 y  E2 y  E1  E2 sin   (3.9 105 )  (1.8 105 )( )  2.5 105 N / C
0.5
E  Ex i  E y j  1.1 105 i  2.5  105 j N / C
 3.2. ELECTRIC FIELD
OF A CONTINUOUS CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
• To evaluate the electric field created by a
continuous charge distribution, we use the
following procedure:
 Divide the charge distribution into small
elements, each of which contains a small
charge dq.
 Calculate the electric field due to one of these elements at a point P:
dq
dE  k 2 r
r
 Evaluate the total electric field at P by applying the superposition
principle):
dq
E   dE   k 2 r
r
• If the charge is non-uniformly distributed over a volume, surface, or
line, the amounts of charge in a small volume, surface, or length
element are charge density:
dq
 Volume charge density:   [C / m3 ]
dV
dq
 Surface charge density:   [C / m 2 ]
dS
dq
 Linear charge density:   [C / m]
d

q q q
• If the charge is uniformly distributed:   ,   ,  
V S L
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
A rod of length L, has a uniform positive charge per unit length  and a
total charge Q. Calculate the electric field at a point M that is located
along the long axis of the rod and a distance d from one end.
SOLUTION
• Assume that the rod is lying along
the x axis, that dx is the length of
one small segment, and that dq is
the charge on that segment.
• The field dE at point M due to this segment:
dq dx
dE  k 2  k
L  d  x
2
r
• The total field at point M due to all segments of the rod:
dx 1 1  Q1 1 
L
E   dE   k  k   k   
         
2
0 L d x d L d L d L d
 4. GAUSS'S LAW
• Electric flux  E is the number of electric field lines that pass through
a surface:
 E   EdS   EdSn
S S

where: dS is the area vector, whose magnitude is the area dS and

whose direction is perpendicular to the surface element;
n is the normal vector of the surface element;
EdS  EdScos  is the scalar product;
α is the angle between E and dS .
• The electric flux is a scalar quantity, can be positive or negative.
dS
dS

dS

• For a closed surface, the area vector is directed outward.

• Gauss's Law: The net flux of an electric
field through a closed surface (a Gaussian
surface) is equal to the net charge inside the
surface (S) divided by the permittivity
constant o.

 q
 EdS  i

S
0
Closed surfaces of various
• Gauss’s law is useful in determining shapes surrounding a charge q.
electric fields when the charge distribution The net electric flux is the same
through all surfaces.
is characterized by a high degree of
symmetry such as spherical, cylindrical, or
planar symmetry.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
A thin spherical shell of radius R has a total charge Q distributed
uniformly over its surface. Find the electric field at points outside and
inside the shell.
SOLUTION
• Construct 2 spherical gaussian surfaces
concentric with the shell: S2 encloses the shell,
and S1 encloses only the empty interior of the
shell.
• Apply Gauss’ law to surface S2:
q q
 2   E 2 dS    E 2 dS E 2  dS E 2S 
(S2 )
0 (S2 ) (S)
0
q q
 4r E 2   E 2 
2

0 4 0 r 2
q
• Apply Gauss’ law to surface S1: 1  (S ) E1dS  0  0 E1  0
1
 THE ELECTRIC FIELD OF
SYMMETRIC UNIFORM CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS
1. A charged rod

1 1 
E M  k    ex
d Ld
2k
EN   sin   ey
h
2k
If the rod is infinite (α = 900 ): EN  ey
h
2. A charged arc
2k 
EO  sin e y
R 2
A charged circle (α = 3600 ): E O  0
3. A charged disk

  h 
EM  1  2  ey
20  h  R2 

4. An infinite charged surface produces a uniform electric field.


E
2 0
5. A thin, uniformly charged spherical shell

0 rR

E   q R 2 1
k r 2   r 2 rR
 0

6. A charged solid sphere

 kq 
 R 3 r  3 r rR

E
0

k q R 3
1
rR
 r 2 3 0 r 2
7. A charged cylinder of infinite length

0 rR

E   2k
 rR
 r

8. A charged solid cylinder

 
 2 r rR

E 2
0

 R 1 rR
 2 0 r
 5. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
5.1. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
• When a test charge q0 is placed in an electric field, the charge–field
system has an electric potential energy U.
• The work done by the electric field on the charge from point A to
point B is: B B B
W  dW  Fdr =  q 0 Edr
A A A

• Because the electrostatic force is conservative, the work done by it

is path independent and equal to the decrease in the electric
potential energy of the system, so:
B
WAB   q 0 Edr  U A  U B  U
A
• For convenience, we set UB = 0 (potential energy reference):
B B
UA
U A  q 0  Edr    Edr
A
q0 A
• The potential energy per unit charge U/q0 is independent of the test
charge and has a value at every point in an electric field. It is called
the electric potential V (or simply the potential) at that point:
U
V (V)
q0
• Electric potential is a scalar characteristic of an electric field.
• The electric potential difference V between any two points A and B
in an electric field:
UA  UB
B B
VA  VB    Edr  V    Edr
q0 A A

• Adjacent points having the same electric

potential form an equipotential surface.
No net work is done on a charged particle
by an electric field when the particle
moves on the same equipotential surface
 5.2. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL ENERGY
DUE TO POINT CHARGES
• The electric potential created by a point charge q at any distance r
from the charge is:
q
V  k C
r
• When a test charge q0 is placed in electric field created by q, the
system of charges q and q0 has an electric potential energy:
qq 0
Uk C
r
where C is a constant that depends on the potential energy reference.
• If the potential energy reference is at infinity  C = 0
q qq 0
Vk ; Uk
r r n n
qi
• The potential due to a group of point charges: V   Vi  k 
i 1 i 1 ri
 5.3. POTENTIAL DUE TO A
CONTINUOUS CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
• We can calculate the electric potential due to a continuous charge
distribution in two ways:
 If the charge distribution is known: divide the charge distribution
into small elements dq  Treat one charge element as a point
charge  The electric potential dV due to dq (take the zero of
potential to be at infinity):
dq dq
dV  k  V   dV   k
r r
 If the electric field is already known: use the relation between V
and E B
V  VB  VA    Edr
A
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
An insulating solid sphere of radius R has a uniform positive volume
charge density and total charge Q. Find the electric potential at point B,
C and D. Take the potential to be zero at r = ∞.
SOLUTION
Q
• The electric field outside the sphere: E out  k 2
r
• Choosing point A at r = ∞, the potential at point B:
B rB
Q 1 1 Q
VB  VA    Edr  VB  0    k 2 dr  VB  kQ(  )  k
A rA
r rB rA rB
Q Q
• The potential at point C: VC  k  k
rC R
Q
• The electric field inside the sphere: E in  k 3 r
• The potential at point D: R
D rD
Q Q 2 2 Q rD2
VD  VC    Edr    k 3 rdr  VD  VC  k 3
(rD  rC )  k (3  2 )
C rC
R 2R 2R R
 5.4. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
DUE TO A CHARGED CONDUCTOR
• When a solid conductor in equilibrium carries a net
charge, the charge resides on the outer surface of the
conductor.
• The electric field just outside the conductor is
perpendicular to the surface and that the field inside
is zero.
• The electric potential is constant everywhere inside
the conductor and equal to its value at the surface.
For example: the electric potential at the interior and
surface of the conducting sphere V = kQ/R.
• If an isolated conductor is placed in an external
electric field, the free conduction electrons
distribute themselves on the surface so as to reduce
the net electric field inside the conductor to zero. The potential and electric field
of a charged conducting sphere
Application: Faraday cage.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 6
Two spherical conductors of radii r1 and r2 are separated by a distance
much greater than the radius of either sphere. The spheres are
connected by a conducting wire. The charges on the spheres in
equilibrium are q1 and q2, respectively, and they are uniformly charged.
Find the ratio of the electric fields at the surfaces of the spheres.

SOLUTION
• Because the spheres are connected by a conducting
wire, they must both be at the same electric potential:
q1 q2 q1 r1
V1  V2  k  k  
r1 r2 q 2 r2
• The electric fields at their surfaces:
q1 q2 E1 r22 q1 r2
E1  k 2 , E 2  k 2   2 
r1 r2 E 2 r1 q 2 r1
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 7
A solid sphere of radius a = 2.00 cm is concentric with a spherical
conducting shell of inner radius b = 2.00a and outer radius c = 2.40a.
The sphere has a net uniform positive charge +Q; the shell has a net
charge -2Q. Find the electric field in the regions 1 (r<a), 2 (a<r<b), 3
(b<r<c) and 4 (r>c)?
SOLUTION
Qr
Region (1) r  a : Ek 3
a
Q
Region (2) a  r  b : E  k 2
r
Region (3) b  r  c : E  0
Q
Region (4) r  c : Ek 2
r
 5.5. CALCULATING THE FIELD FROM THE POTENTIAL
• The relation between electric field and electric potential:
B
VB  VA    Edr
A

 V V V 
or E  gradV  E x i  E y j  E z k    i j k
 x y z 
 if we know the function V(x, y, z) for all points in the region around
a charge distribution, we can find the components of E at any point
by taking partial derivatives of V(x, y, z).
V
• If the electric field is uniform: E  
r
 ELECTRIC DIPOLE
• An electric dipole consists of two charges of equal magnitude q and
opposite sign separated by a distance d. For example: molecules HCl.
• An electric dipole has an electric dipole moment pe  qd directed
from –q toward +q.
• If we place an electric dipole in a uniform electric field at the initial
angle α between p e and E , then:
 The electric forces acting on –q and +q:
F  qE; F   qE
 The net torque due to the electric forces
makes the dipole rotate until the dipole
moment points in the direction of the
electric field:
 d 
d
  OA  F  OB  F   qE    
  qE  qd  E  p e  E
2  2 
2 
 The work done by the electric field: W  2p e E sin
2
 REFERENCES

1. R.A. Serway and J.W. Jewett, Physics for Scientists and

Engineers, 6th Ed., Thomson 2004.
2. Halliday, Resnick, Walker, Fundamental physics , 9th Ed., Wiley,
2011.