MODULE 5

ELECTRICITY AND EMI

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Construct coulombs law model using Styrofoam balls to appreciate the 1.

electromagnetisms in the real world scenario. 1.
Design an electric field model to acquaint the concepts and realized the existence of
it in the real world

INTRODUCTION

Electricity is the presence and flow of electric charge. Using electricity we can transfer energy in
ways that allow us to do simple chores. Its best-known form is the flow of electrons through
conductors such as copper wires. When electrical charges are not moving, electricity is called
static electricity

CONTENT

ELECTRIC FORCE AND COULOMB’S LAW

 Coulomb's law states that: The magnitude of the electrostatic force of attraction or repulsion
between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of charges
and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The force is along the
straight line joining them.

Where

F = force, Newton, erg

K = Coulomb’s constant = 9 x 109 N-m2/coul2

Q = charge, coul
r or s = distance between the two charges

Direction of the Force

Sample Problem
1. The force between two identical charges separated by 1 cm is equal to 90 N. What is the
magnitude of the two charges?
Given

Required
q1 and q2
Solution
Use the Coulomb’s Law equation

But q1 = q2 = q

Substitute this into the equation
Since we want the charges, solve for q

Enter the values for the variables. Remember to convert 1 cm to 0.01 meters to keep the units
consistent.

q = ±1.00×10-6 Coulombs

2. Two charged particles as shown in figure below. QP = +10 μC and Qq = +20 μC are
separated by a distance r = 12 cm. What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force.

Given
Charge P (QP) = +10 μC = +10 x 10-6 C= 1x10-5C
Charge Q (QQ) = +20 μC = +20 x 10-6 C = 2x10-5C
k = 9 x 109 Nm2C−2
The distance between charge P and Q (rPQ) = 12 cm = 0.12 m = 12 x 10-2 m

Required
 The magnitude of the electric force = F

Solution :
3. Three point charges are in a straight line. Their charges
are Q1=+2×10−9 C, Q2=+1×10−9 C and Q3=−3×10−9 . The distance between Q1 and Q2
is 2×10−2 m and the distance between Q2 and Q3 is 4×10−2.m What is the net electrostatic
force on Q2 due to the other two charges?
Given

Required
F
Solution

Q 1Q 2 ( 2x 10−9)( 1 x10−9 )
k
( 2 x 10−2 )2
2
F21 = ( r 21 ) = (9 x 109) = 4.5 x 10-5 N

Q 2 Q3 ( 1 x 10−9)( 3 x10−9)
k
F23 = (r 23 )
2
= (9x109) ( 4 x10−2)2 = 1.69 x 10-5 N
F = F21 + F23 = 4.5 x 10-5 N + 1.69 x 10-5 N
F = 6.19 x 10-5 N

4. What is the magnitude of the electric force on the 2 nC charge?

Given
 Required
F
Solution

F1x = F1 Cos 600 = 1.8 x 10-4 N Cos 600 = 0.9 x 10-4 N

Fiy = F1 Sin 600 = 1.8 x 10-4 N Sin 600 = 1.56 x 10-4 N

F2x = -F2 Cos 600 = -1.8 x 10-4 N Cos 600 =- 0.9 x 10-4 N
F2y = F2 Sin 600 = 1.8 x 10-4 N Sin 600 = 1.56 x 10-4 N
ΣFx = F1x + F2x = 0
ΣFy = Fiy + F2y = 1.56 x 10-4 N + 1.56 x 10-4 N = 3.12 x 10—4 N

F= √ ( ΣF ) +( ΣF ) √ 0+(3.12 x10
x
2
y
2
=
−4 2
)
F = 3.12 x 10-4 N
 Activity # 1
1. Two point charges, QA = +8 μC and QB = -5 μC, are separated by a distance r = 10 cm.
What is the magnitude of the electric force

2. Three charged particles are arranged in a line as shown in figure below. Charge A = -5
μC, charge B = +10 μC and charge C = -12 μC. Calculate the net electrostatic force on
particle B due to the other two charges.
3. Two equal charges of magnitude 1.1 x 10 -7 C experience an electrostatic force of 4.2 x
10 -4 N. How far apart are the centers of the two charges?

4. Three negatively charged spheres, each with a charge of 4.0 x 10 -6 C, are fixed at the
vertices of an equilateral triangle whose sides are 20 cm long. Calculate the magnitude
and direction of the net electric force on each sphere
ELECTRIC FIELD

Electric field, an electric property associated with each point in space when charge is present in
any form. The magnitude and direction of the electric field are expressed by the value of E,
called electric field strength or electric field intensity or simply the electric field

The force per unit positive test charge brought into the region

Where;
E = electric field, N/C
Q = charge, Coul
K = coulomb’s constant
d or r or s = distance, m

NOTE:
Electric Field is a vector quantity
 Sample Problem
1. What is the magnitude of a point charge that would create an electric field of 1.00 N/C at
points 1.00 m away?
Given
E = 1.0 N/C
r=1m
Required
Q
Solution
E = K Q/r2
Q = E r2/K
( 1 N /C )( 1 m )2
Q= 9 x 10 9
Q = 1.11 x 10-10 C

2. Two charges are separated as shown in figure below. What is the electric field at point P

Given

Required
EP
Solution
QA 2 .5
k 9 x10 9
r ( 5 )2
EA = A2 = = 0.9 X 109 N/C
QB 2
k
r 2
EB = B2 = 9x109 ( 2 ) = 4.5 x 109 N/C
EP = EA _ EB = 0.9 x 109 – 4.5 x 109 = -3.6 x 109 N/C (directed to the left)
 3.  Two point charges as shown in figure below.

Where is point P located so that the magnitude of the electric field at point P = 0

Given
Q1 = -9 μC = -9 x 10-6 C
Q2 = 1 μC = 1 x 10-6 C
EP = 0

Required
X
Solution

Use quadratic formula :

 Distance between P and q2 = x = 0.5 cm.
Point P located at 0.5 cm rightward q2 or 0.25 cm
leftward q1.

4. Three point charges are fixed in place in a right triangle. What is the electric field on the
–0.60-µC charge due to the other two charges

Given
QA = 1μC = 1x10-6 C
QB = 0.80 μC = 8x10-7 C
QC = -0.60 μC = -6x10-7- C
rBC = 8 cm = 0.08 m
rAC = 6 cm = 0.06 m

Required
EC
Solution
QA −6
k 9 1 x10
r
9 x10 2
EAC = AC 2 = ( 0. 06 ) = 2.5 x 106 N/C
 QB −7
k 9 8 x10
r
9 x10
EBC = BC 2 = ( 0 .08 )2 = 1.125x 106 N/C

EC = √ ( E AC ) +( E BC )
2 2
= √ (2.5 x10 ) +( 1.125 x 10 )
62 62

EC = 1.152 x 106 N/C

due to the two point charges, q

1
and q
2
. The two charges are located at
the x-y coordinate
position of (0.0, -2.0 cm) and
(+4.00 cm, 0.0), respectively, as
shown in the fig
5. Find the magnitude and
direction of the total electric
 field at the origin of the
coordinate system
6. due to the two point
charges, q
7. 1
8. and q
9. 2
10. . The two charges are
located at the x-y coordinate
11. position of (0.0, -2.0 cm)
and (+4.00 cm, 0.0),
respectively, as shown in the
figure.
5. Find the magnitude and
direction of the total electric
 field at the origin of the
coordinate system
6. due to the two point
charges, q
7. 1
8. and q
9. 2
10. . The two charges are
located at the x-y coordinate
11. position of (0.0, -2.0 cm)
and (+4.00 cm, 0.0),
respectively, as shown in the
figur

Activity # 2
1. What is the magnitude of the electric force acting on an electron located in an electric
field with an intensity of 15.0 × 103 N per coulomb (electrons have a charge of -1.6 × 10-
19
 C
2. According to figure below, where the point P is located so that the magnitude of the
electric field at point P = 0

3. Two charges are placed on the x axis. One charge 1qr = +8.5 pC) is at x1 = +3.0 cm and
the other (q2: -21 prC) is at xz = +9.0 cm. Find the net electric field (magnitude and
direction) at x : +6.0 cm
4. In the figure shown, find the resultant field at each point where there is a charge.  For
example, when finding the field at where q1 is, suppose q1 is nonexistent and find the
resultant field by q2 and q3 at that point.

POTENTIAL DIFFRENCE

Potential difference is the difference in the amount of energy that charge carriers have
between two points in a circuit: Potential difference (p.d.) is measured in volts (V) and is
 also called voltage. The energy is transferred to the electrical components in a circuit
when the charge carriers pass through them. We use a voltmeter to measure potential
difference (or voltage).

Work done per unit charge when the charge is moved from one point into another point
in an electric field

W Fs Q
k
V= Q = Q = s

Where;

W = work done, joule

Q = charge, Coul

F = force, N

s = distance, m

k = Coulomb’s constant

NOTE:

Potential difference is a scalar quantity, therefore it has no direction

Sample Problem
1.  A potential difference of 10.0 volts exists between two points, A and B, within an
electric field. What is the magnitude of charge that requires 2.0 × 10–2 joule of work to
move it from A to B?
Given
V = 10 v
W = 2x10-2 J
Required
Q
Solution

1. A research Van de Graaff

generator has a 2.00 m
diameter sphere with a
charge of 5.00
2. mC on it.
3. a. What is the potential
near its surface?
4. b. At what distance from
its center is the potential
1.00 MV?
5. A research Van de Graaff
generator has a 2.00 m
diameter sphere with a
charge of 5.00
6. mC on it.
7. a. What is the potential
near its surface?
8. b. At what distance from
its center is the potential
1.00 MV?
2. How much potential difference is needed to place 1.00-μC of charge at each corner
of an equilateral triangle 0.250m on each side?
Given
 Required
VT
Solution
VT = V1 + V2 + V3
Since the 3 charges and 3 sides are equal; then V1 = V2 = V3

kQ ( 9 x109 )( 1 x 10−6 )
VT = 3 r = 3 ( 0 .25 )
VT = 1.08 x 105 v
2. Calculate the final speed of a free electron accelerated from rest through a potential
difference of 100 V
Given
V = 100 v
m of electron = 9.11 x 10-31 Kg
Q of electron = -1.6 x 10-19 C

Required
Speed or velocity
Solution
W = VQ = 100 v ( -1.6 x 10-19 C ) = -1.6 x 10-17 J
W = K.E ( kinetic energy) = ½ mv2

√ √
2 ( 1. 6 x 10 )
−17
2 K. E
S or v = m = 9. 11 x 10−31
Speed = 5.93 x 106 m/s

Activity # 3
1. Dry air can support a maximum electric field strength of
about 3.0×106V/m3.0×106V/m. Above that value, the field creates enough ionization
in the air to make the air a conductor. This allows a discharge or spark that reduces
the field. What, then, is the maximum voltage between two parallel conducting plates
separated by 2.5 cm of dry air?

2. Suppose you have a 12.0 V motorcycle battery that can move 5000 C of charge, and
a 12.0 V car battery that can move 60,000 C of charge. How much energy does each
deliver?
 3. When a 12.0 V car battery runs a single 30.0 W headlight, how many electrons pass
through it each second?

4. A potential difference of 10 kV is established between parallel plates in air. If the air

becomes electrically conducting when the electric field exceeds  , what

is the minimum separation of the plates?

REFERENCES
Keller, Frederick J., Gettys, Edward W., and Stone, Malcolm J., (1993) Physics, 2nd Edition,
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Serway, Raymund A. (1996) Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, 4th
Edition
www.physicsclassroom.com
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