Scribd
Upload
145 views

Electric Forces and Electric Field

This document discusses electric charges and the electric force. It defines the basic electric charges of protons and electrons. It introduces Coulomb's law which states that the electric force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Several examples show how to calculate electric forces between charges using Coulomb's law.

Uploaded by

Paul Bronzon Durens
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
145 views

Electric Forces and Electric Field

This document discusses electric charges and the electric force. It defines the basic electric charges of protons and electrons. It introduces Coulomb's law which states that the electric force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Several examples show how to calculate electric forces between charges using Coulomb's law.

Uploaded by

Paul Bronzon Durens
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Electric Forces and Electric Field

Origin of electricity:

Sub- atomic particles:

1. Proton : mass = 1.673x10 – 27 kg


2. Neutron : mass = 1.675 x10-27 kg
3. Electron: mass = 9.11 x10- 31 kg

Electric Charge – it is an intrinsic property of protons and electrons.

Proton has a positive charge and electron has a negative charge. Protons carries a + e and electrons
carries a - e .

SI unit for measuring the magnitude of an electric charge is Coulomb and e has a value of 1.60 x10 – 19 C.

1𝜇𝐶 = 1𝑥10− 6C ; 1mC = 1x10 – 3C ; 1nC = 1x10 – 9 C

Note that e is the magnitude of the charge on a proton or an electron and does not include the algebraic
sign that indicates whether the charge is positive or negative.

The charge of an electron or proton is the smallest amount of free charge that hs been discovered.Any
charge of magnitude q is an integral multiple of e , that is q = Ne .

Example. How many electrons are there in 2.0 Coulombs of negative charge?

Solution: e = 1.60 x10 – 19 C, q = 2.0 C

Required: N =?

Solution: q = Ne
𝑞 2.0 𝐶
N = q / e = 2.0 C1.60 x10 – 19 CN = 𝑒 = 1.6 𝑥10− 19 𝐶 = 1.25 x10 19 electrons

Charge objects and Electric Force

Electricity has many applications and they are related to the transfer of electrical charge from one object
to another. Example a rubber rod is rubbed against an animal fur, some of the electrons from atoms of
the fur are transferred to the rubber rod. The rubber rod becomes negatively charge and the fur
becomes positively charge. When the rubber rod is rubbed in an animal fur the process separates the
electrons and protons already present in the materials. No protons are electrons are destroyed.

The charges of electron and proton have identical magnitudes but opposite signs, the algebraic sum of
the charges is zero and the transfer does not change the net charge of the fur/rod system.

Law of conservation of Electrical Charge

The net electric charge of an isolated system remains constant (is conserved).

Like charges repel and unlike charges attracts.

Conductors – substances that conducts electric charge. Example of metals are Cu, Al ,Ag and Au

Fx = F12x + F32x
Insulators – materials that conduct electrical charge poorly ex. Rubber or plastic that coat electrical
wiring, prevent electrical charge from going where it is not wanted.

Semi-conductor – an intermediate between a conductor and an insulator.

Coulomb’s Law : states that the electrical force between two charged objects is directly proportional
to the product of the quantity of charge on the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the
separation distance between the two objects.

𝑞1 𝑞2
F=k
𝑟2

Where : F = electric force

k = Coulomb’s constant, 8.99 x10 9 N m2/ C2 = 9.0x109 N m2/ C2

𝑞1 𝑞2 = charges

r = distance of separation

Example 1:

The electrons and protons of hydrogen atom are separated by a distance of approximately 2.0x10 – 15 m

Find the magnitude of the electric force.


𝑞1 𝑞2 |𝑒||− 𝑒| (1.6𝑥10− 19 𝐶) (1.6𝑥10− 19 𝐶)
F=k 𝑟2
=k 𝑟2
= ( 9.0x109 N m2/ C2) (2.0𝑥10−15 𝑚)2
= 57.6 N

Example 2 :

Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force caused by q1(+) and q3(+) on q2(-).

Q1 Q1 (+)

+ Q1 = 3.0 C
F12
300
Q2 = - 5.0 C
8.7 m 10m Q3 (+)
Q3 = 1.0 C
F32

600 F12 = force exerted by q1 on q2


+ +
q2 = 5m q3 F32 = force exerted by q3 on q2

𝑞1 𝑞2 (3.0𝐶) (−5.0 𝐶)
F12 = 9.0x109 Nm2/ C2 𝑟2
= 9.0x109 Nm2/ C2 (8.7 𝑚)2
= 1.78 x109 N

𝑞1 𝑞2 (1.0𝐶) (−5.0 𝐶)
F32 = 9.0x109 Nm2/ C2 𝑟2
= 9.0x109 Nm2/ C2 (5𝑚)2
= 1.8 x109 N

Fx = F12x + F32x
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹12𝑥 + 𝐹32𝑥

= 0𝑁 + ( 1.8 x109 N)(𝑐𝑜𝑠 00 ) = 1.8𝑥 109 N

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹12𝑦 + 𝐹32𝑦

= ( 1.78 x109 Nm2/ C2) sin 900 + 0 N = 1.78x109 N = 1.78x109 N

2 2
F = √ ∑ 𝐹𝑥 + ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = √( 1.8𝑥109 )2 + (1.78 𝑥109 )2 = 2.5x109 N

∑ 𝐹𝑦
𝜃 = arctan ∑ = arctan (1.78x109 N)/ (1.8x109N) = 44.70 above the x- axis
𝐹𝑥

Example:

1. An equilateral triangle has sides of 0.15 m. Charges of -9𝜇𝐶 , + 8.0 𝜇𝐶 and +2.0 𝜇𝐶 are located
at the corners of the triangle. Find the magnitude of the net electrostatic force exerted on
+2.0 𝜇𝐶.

2. Three charges a placed in a row: a – 3.0 C charge on the left, a +2.0 C in the middle, and a + 6.0 C
on the right. The distance separating each charge is 1.0 x 104 m. Calculate the electrical force (
magnitude and direction) on the +2.0 C charge due to the other two charges.

3. A 1.0 C charge and a 2.0 C charge are separated by 100 m. Where should a – ( 1.0x10 – 3) C be
located on a line between the positive charges so that the net electrical force on the negative
charge be zero?

Assignment:
Three +2.0 C charge are placed in a vertical column each are separated by a distance of 3.0 x104
m from their neighbor. Calculate the electrical force caused by these three positive charges on a
-1.0 C charge placed 4.0x10 4 m in the horizontal direction to the right of the center positive
charge. Answer: 23 N left

Fx = F12x + F32x

You might also like