Chapter 23

Electric Fields
The electromagnetic force between charged particles is one of the fundamental forces of nature. We will
study the electric force (this chapter) and the magnetic force (later on).

23.1 Properties of Electric Charges (the electric force )

23.2 Charging Objects by Induction
23.3 Coulomb’s Law (the fundamental law governing the electric force between any two charged particles)
23.4 The Electric Field (associated with a charge distribution and describe its effect on other charged particles)
23.5 Electric Field of a Continuous Charge Distribution ( using Coulomb’s law)
23.6 Electric Field Lines
23.7 Motion of a Charged Particle in a Uniform Electric Field
0
23.1 Properties of Electric Charges
The direction of electric forces

Two kinds of charges

Positive (+) Negative (-)

charges of the same sign repel one another and

charges with opposite signs attract one another

1
23.1 Properties of Electric Charges
Electrically neutral and charged objects

In any object, there is a huge number The electric charge is always conserved in
of positive and negative charges an isolated system.
In 1909, Robert Millikan (1868–1953)
If equal, we call the object electrically discovered that electric charge always
neutral or contains no net charge. occurs as integral multiples of a
fundamental amount of charge e. The
If not equal, we call the object electric charge q is said to be quantized
(! = ±$%, where N is some integer).
charged or contains a net charge

2
23.2 Charging objects by Induction
Conductors and Insulators

3
23.2 Charging objects by Induction
Conductors and Insulators Induction

NOTES:
• Semiconductors are a third class of materials, and their electrical properties are somewhere between those of
insulators and those of conductors.
• Silicon and germanium are well-known examples of semiconductors commonly used in the fabrication of a variety
of electronic chips used in computers, cellular telephones.
• Charging an object by induction requires no contact with the object inducing the charge which is in contrast to
charging an object by rubbing which does require contact between the two objects.
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23.3 Coulomb’s Law
The Electrostatic Force

The electrostatic force has the same

The SI unit of charge form as the gravitational force.
is the coulomb (C)

1 C of charge is approx. equal to

In the Textbook it is denoted by !! the charge of 6.24×10!"
electrons or protons.
Greek letter epsilon

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Example 23.1
The Hydrogen Atom
The electron and proton of a hydrogen atom are separated (on the average) by a distance
of 5.3×10!"" m. Find the magnitudes of the electric force and the gravitational force
between the two particles.
( = 8.99×10# N.m2/C2
Solution: e= 1.60×10$!# C
G= 6.67×10$!! N. m2/kg2
Use Coulomb’s law to find the magnitude of Fe: -% = 9.11×10$&! kg
# !# -' = 1.67×10$() kg
,# = - $"
= 8.2×10!%N
Use Newton’s law of universal gravitation to find the magnitude of Fg:
'# '$
,& = 0 $"
= 3.6×10!()N
*#
The ratio ≈ 2×10+,
*%
Therefore, the gravitational force between charged atomic particles is negligible when
compared with the electric force.
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23.3 Coulomb’s Law
The Vector Form
F⃗!" F⃗"! Notation
q1 q2

F⃗!"
F⃗!" exerted by q2 on q1 F⃗"! exerted by q1 on q2
Because of (due to) charge 2 On charge 1
Each particle exerts a force of same magnitude on the other.

.
Coulomb’s law expressed in vector form for the electric F⃗!" F⃗"!
+ +
force exerted by a charge q1 on a second charge q2 q1 .!(
̂ q2
/ / Repulsive
F⃗". = - & " " 5". ̂
$
where 1"!
̂ is a unit vector directed from q1 toward q2

Principle of superposition: .
If four charges are present, the resultant force exerted by + -
particles 2, 3, and 4 on particle 1 is q1 F⃗!" Attractive
F⃗"! q2
F⃗" = F⃗."+ F⃗+"+ F⃗("

7
Example 23.2
Find the Resultant Force
Consider three point charges located at the corners of a right triangle where q1=q3=5.00
6C, q2=-2.00 6C, and a=0.100 m. Find the resultant force exerted on q3.

Solution:
First (!!" ):
#0 #1
!!" = # $0
= 8.99N
F⃗.+ = (−8.99:)̂ N
Second (!%" ):
#2 #1
!%" = # = 11.2N
$0
F⃗"+ = (7.94 :̂ + 7.94 >)̂ N 2 = 8.99×10# N.m2/C2
q1=q3=5.00 :C
The resultant force acting on q3 is q2=-2.00 :C
a=0.100 m
F⃗+ = (−1.04 :̂ + 7.94 >)̂ N
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Example 23.3
Where Is the Net Force Zero?
Three point charges lie along the x axis. The positive charge q1=15.00 6C is at x=2.00 m,
the positive charge q2=6.00 6C is at the origin, and the net force acting on q3 is zero.
What is the x coordinate of q3?
Solution

F⃗" = F⃗#" + F⃗$" = 0

'# '" '$ '"
F⃗" = −& #
*̂ + & #
ı̂ = 0
( 2.00 − (
(=0.775 m
2 = 8.99×10# N.m2/C2
q1=15.00 :C
q2=6.00 :C
x=2.00 m
F3=0 m

9
Example 23.4
Where Is the Net Force Zero?
Two identical small charged spheres, each having a mass of 3.00×10&! kg, hang in
equilibrium. The length L of each string is 0.150 m, and the angle , is 5.00°. Find
the magnitude of the charge on each sphere.
Solution

∑ F' = T sin , − F( = 0 -----> T sin , = F(

∑ F) = T cos , − 78 = 0 -----> T cos , = 78
F( = 78 tan ,
; = < sin ,
F3 * 0 F3 (!$)0
= = = 2 = 8.99×10# N.m2/C2
+ +
m= 3.00×10$! kg
L= 0.150 m
= = 4.42×10&. C < =5.00°

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23.4 The Electric Field
Definition
Field forces can act through space, producing • The electric field vector E at a point in space
an effect even when no physical contact occurs is defined as the electric force F acting on a
between interacting objects. positive test charge q0 placed at that point
divided by the test charge
F
An electric field exists in E≡
#*
(N/C)
the region of space around
the source charge • The direction of E is the direction of the force
a positive test charge experiences when
placed in the field.
• The test charge serves as a detector of the
electric field: an electric field exists at a point
if a test charge at that point experiences an
When another charged electric force.
object enters this electric • The force and the electric field at point P
field, an electric force
created by q on a test charge:
acts on it. %% %
F = 2 & "! 1̂ and E = 2 & " 1̂

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23.4 The Electric Field
Point Charge
'
The electric field due to a point charge is ∝ (#, A
p Electric filed at point P
below k is assumed to be one for simplicity
r y

q
x

q=2 C q=40 C
E
4
0.20

3
0.15

q=5
y
2
q=2
0.10

0.05 1

r
x
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23.4 The Electric Field
The Superposition
The total electric field due to a group of source
F⃗ and E directed away from the positive charge
charges equals the vector sum of the electric
fields of all the charges q0
. F⃗
+ (̂
+
q2 P

q1 qi q0
. E
F⃗net + (̂
+

P
E .+

q0 + . F⃗ q0
P - (̂
+

AE .
E q0
E = - @ . 5Ê - +
5E (̂
E P
F⃗ and E directed towards the negative charge

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Example 23.5
Electric Field Due to Two Charges
Charges q1 and q2 are located on the x axis, at distances a and b, respectively
a) Find the components of the net electric field at the point P, which is at position (0, y).
b) Evaluate the electric field at point P when q1 = 6( and a=b.
c) Find E when y >> a

Solution
)! )"
a) .( = & " " cos 2 + & " " cos 3
* +, - +,
'$ '#
., = & # #
sin 2 − & # #
sin 3
4 +5 8 +5
#*)
b) .( = &
(* " +, " )#/"
#*)
c) . =&
,#

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23.4 Electric Field of a Continuous Charge Distribution
The Superposition
To find the electric field created by a continuous charge distribution:
1- Divide the charge distribution into small elements, each of which
contains a small charge ΔG. Δ*#
2- Calculate the electric field due to one of these elements at a point P. .(̂
3- Evaluate the total electric field at P due to the charge distribution by Δ*"
summing the contributions of all the charge elements. .!̂
Δ*$

The total field at P is .+̂

H/, K/
E=- lim ∑ 5Ê = - ∫ $" 5̂
H/, →J E $, " .! .(
.&
where the integration is over the entire charge distribution.
P
Volume charge density Surface charge density Linear charge density Δ+$
- Δ+"
- Δ+#
-

) ) )
L≡ → NG = LNO P≡ → NG = PNQ R≡ → NG = RNS
* + ,

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Example 23.6
The Electric Field Due to a Charged Rod
A rod of length D has a uniform positive charge per unit length E and a total charge
Q. Calculate the electric field at a point P that is located along the long axis of the rod and
a distance a from one end
Solution

GA JGI
GH = - . = - .
UVT
I I UVT
JGI 1
H = K - . = -J −
T I I T
-L
H=
M(N + M)

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Example 23.7
The Electric Field of a Uniform Ring of Charge
A ring of radius a carries a uniformly distributed positive total charge Q.
Calculate the electric field due to the ring at a point P lying a distance x from its
center along the central axis perpendicular to the plane of the ring.
Solution
89 89
!"7 = $ - cos ( = $ cos (
: ;- <7 -
) )
cos ( = = =
* (, + ) = )>/=
)
!"7 = $ = = @/=
!/
(, + ) )
)
"7 = $ = 0 !/
(, + ) = )@/=

$)
"= = = @/=
1
(, + ) )
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Example 23.8
The Electric Field of a Uniformly Charged Disk
A disk of radius R has a uniform surface charge density 9. Calculate the
electric field at a point P that lies along the central perpendicular axis of the disk
and a distance x from the center of the disk.
Solution
:' = 9 :; = 2<9 = :=
(
:.( = & # # "/#
(2<9 = :=)
= +(
2
2 = :=
.( = &(<9 @ # + ( # "/#
1 =

(
.( = 2<&9 1 − #
(B + ( # )$/#

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23.6 Electric Field Lines

Number of lines per unit area in a plane perpendicular

to the electric field lines is proportional to the
magnitude of the electric field.

Electric field lines represent the field at various locations

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23.6 Electric Field Lines

The rules for drawing lines

• The lines must begin on a positive charge and terminate on a negative
charge.
• The number of lines drawn leaving a positive charge or approaching a
negative charge is proportional to the magnitude of the charge.
• No two field lines can cross.

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23.7 Motion of a Charged Particle in a Uniform Electric Field

When a particle of charge q and mass m is placed in an electric field E the electric
force exerted on the charge is q E

If that is the only force exerted on the particle

F = AE = Qa

The acceleration of the particle is

5E
a=
6

If E is uniform (that is, constant in magnitude and direction), the electric force on
the particle is constant and we can apply the particle under constant acceleration
model

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Example 23.9
An Accelerating Positive Charge: Two Models
A uniform electric field E is directed along the x axis between parallel plates of
charge separated by a distance d. A positive point charge q of mass m is released
from rest at point A and accelerates to point B. Find the speed of the particle
Solution
First method:
2A = = 2B = + 2, )A − )B = 2,!
2/"!
2A =
5
Second method:
6 = ΔK = 9C − 9D
1
:Δ) = 52A =
2
2/"!
2A =
5

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Example 23.10
An Accelerated Electron
An electron enters the region of a uniform electric field, with F/ = 3.00×100 m/s
and E=200 N/C. The horizontal length of the plates is D = 0.100 m. a) Find the
acceleration b) Find t at which it leaves the field c) Find y when it leaves the field
Solution
∑ 8% :;
a) 4, = 9
= − 9 = −3.51×10$" m/s2

(& >('
b) (< = (= + F( G → G = = 3.33×10>@ s
?(

$
c) 5< = 5= + F,= G + 4G # = −1.95 cm
#

23
Summary
Coulomb’s law states that the electric force exerted by a point charge q1 on a second point charge q2 is
' '
F⃗./ = W $# # YX ./
(

The electric field E at some point in space is defined as the electric force F⃗ that acts on a small positive test charge
placed at that point divided by the magnitude q0 of the test charge:
F
E=
Z0

The electric force on a charge q placed in an electric field E is

F = ZE
The electric field due to a group of point charges
G1
E = 2[ 1̂
11 ! 1
1

The electric field due to a due to a continuous charge distribution

]Z
E = 2 \ ! YX
Y

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Problem 9
Three point charges are arranged. Find (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction of the
electric force on the particle at the origin.
Solution

25
Problem 25
Four charged particles are at the corners of a square of side a. Determine (a)
the electric field at the location of charge q and (b) the total electric force exerted on
q.
Solution

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