7.

3 Electric Fields
If you have typed a letter on a computer, heard musical tones from a cellphone, or
even just pressed a floor button in an elevator, then you have applied an electric
force. In fact, almost everywhere you go you will find a device that, in one way or
another, uses electric fields. An electric field is what causes the electric force. At the
dentist’s office, the X-ray machine uses an electric field to accelerate electrons as part
of the process for producing X-rays. At coal-burning power plants, electric fields in
smokestack scrubbers remove soot and other pollutants before gases are released into
the air. Even when you are speaking into a telephone or listening to the other person
on the line, electric fields help convert sound to electricity and back to sound again.
The liquid crystal display (LCD) is a device that uses electric fields. Nearly all
computer monitors, digital cameras, and smart phones use LCDs for their visual
components (Figure 1). LCDs consist of a liquid crystal between two transparent
sheets of glass or plastic, with a thin conducting material on the outside of the sheets.
An electric field across the crystal causes its molecular arrangement to change, so that
light passing through it is made either lighter or darker, depending on the design of
the device. In this way, small changes in the electric field can make nearly any pattern
appear on the LCD.

Figure 1 LCDs use changing electric fields to alter the crystal’s optical properties, creating images.

Properties of Electric Fields

We can describe the electric force between a pair of charges using Coulomb’s law,
but there is another way to describe electric forces. Suppose there is a single isolated
electric field (e$) the region in which a point charge that is far from any other charges. This charge produces an electric field,
force is exerted on an electric charge; a region in which a force is exerted on an electric charge. The electric field is similar
the electric force per unit positive charge; to the gravitational field near an isolated mass, as discussed in Chapter 6. Were
unit is N/C another charge to enter this field, the electric field would exert a force on it, much as
a gravitational field exerts a force on a mass. The electric field has both magnitude
>
and direction, so electric field is a vector denoted by e .
>
Consider a particular point in space where there is a uniform electric field e
(Figure 2). A point charge or an arrangement of several charges may have produced
this field. A charge q at this location in the field will be affected by the electric field
and experience an electric force given by
> >
F E 5 qe
> >
The electric force, F E, is thus parallel to e , with direction depending on whether
the charge is positive or negative.

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 The charge q1, or the charge affected by the field, in Figure 2 is called a test charge. As
a convention, physicists use a positive test charge to determine direction. By measuring
the force on a positive test charge, you can determine the magnitude and direction of
the electric field at the location of the test charge. Since we are working with a positive
test charge, q1, the electric field points in the same direction as the force that the test
charge experiences. If q1 happens to be a negative charge, then the direction of the elec-
tric field is in the opposite direction of the force that the negative charge experiences.
The units for the electric field can be determined from the equation relating electric
force to electric field. Force is measured in newtons (N), and charge is measured in
coulombs (C), so the electric field is expressed in newtons per coulomb (N/C).

force on test charge

FE  q1e
e
q1
test charge
q2

Figure 2 The electric field at a particular point in space is related to the electric force on a test
charge q1 at that location.
>
The electric field e also relates to Coulomb’s law for electric force. Coulomb’s
law for electric force allows you to calculate the electric field using the amount of
charge that produces the field, q2, and the distance of the field from the charge. As
an example, calculate the magnitude of the electric field at a distance r from a charge
q2. The test charge is, once again, q1. According to Coulomb’s law, the electric force
exerted on q1 has a magnitude of
kq 1q 2
FE 5
r2
kq 2
FE 5 q 1 2
r
Inserting this expression into the equation relating electric force to the electric
field gives the result
qe 5 FE
kq 2
qe 5 q 1
r2
In this equation q 5 q1, so we get
kq2
e5
r2

This is the magnitude of the electric field at a distance r from a point charge q2.
>
The direction of e lies along the line that connects the charge producing the field,
q2, to the point where the field is measured. The direction of the electric field is
determined by a positive test charge. If q2 is positive, then a positive test charge will
be repelled away from it, and thus the electric field points in a direction away from a
positive charge. If q2 is negative, then a positive test charge will be attracted toward it
and thus the electric field points in a direction toward a negative charge. As a result
of the direction of the electric field depending on the type of charge and the location
in relation to the charge, we do not include the signs of charges in the equations to
avoid implying a direction.

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 In Tutorial 1, you will solve problems related to the electric field in both one
and two dimensions. When using the equation for electric field, the symbol q really
means the absolute value of q, just like it does for Coulomb’s law.

Tutorial 1 Determining Electric Fields

This Tutorial shows how to determine the electric field due to charge distribution at a point some
distance from the charge.

Sample Problem 1: Electric Field Due to Two Point Charges in One Dimension
Two point charges are 45 cm apart (Figure 3). The charge on q1 Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at a distance r2
is 3.3 3 1029 C, and the charge on q2 is 21.00 3 1028 C. from charge q2 and determine the field’s direction.
kq2
q1 q2 e2 5 2
P r2
 
N # m2
r1 r2 a8.99 3 109 2 b 11.00 3 1028 C2
C
5
Figure 3 10.18 m2 2
e2 5 2.775 3 103 N/C 1two extra digits carried2
(a) Calculate the net electric field at point P, 27 cm from the
positive charge, on the line connecting the charges. Since q2 is a negative charge, the electric field on a positive
–12
(b) A new charge of 12.0 3 10 C is placed at P. Determine test charge at P will be directed toward q2.
>
the electric force on this new charge. e2 5 2.775 3 103 N/C 3 right 4
Now determine the vector sum of the two electric fields.
Solution
Choose right as positive, so left is negative.
 iven: r12 5 45 cm; r1 5 27 cm; q1 5 3.3 3 10–9 C;
(a) G > > >
enet 5 e1 1 e2
q2 5 21.00 3 10–8 C; k 5 8.99 3 109 N.m2/C2
> 5 14.070 3 102 N/C 1 2.775 3 103 N/C
Required: net electric field enet at point P
5 13.182 3 103 N/C 1two extra digits carried2
Analysis: The net electric field at point P equals the vector >
enet 5 3.2 3 103 N/C 3 right 4
sum of the electric fields from the charges producing the
kq Statement: The net electric field is 3.2 3 103 N/C to the right
fields. Use the equation e 5 2 to calculate e for each
r of point P.
of the charges q1 and q2 at point P. Then determine the >
(b) Given: enet 5 3.182 3 103 N/C, directed to the right of point P;
direction of each field based on the signs of the charges.
> q 5 12.0 3 10–12 C
Combine the two vector quantities to calculate enet. >
r2 5 r12 2 r1 5 45 cm 2 27 cm 5 18 cm 5 0.18 m Required: net electric force F Enet
> >
Solution: Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at a Analysis: Use the equation F E 5 qe to calculate the net
distance r1 from charge q1 and determine the field’s direction. electric force for the test charge q at point P.
kq1 Solution: Use the sign of the charge to determine the direction
e1 5 2 of the electric field. Since the charge is positive, the electric
r1
N # m2 force is directed to the right. Choose right as positive, so left
a8.99 3 109 2 b 13.3 3 1029 C2 is negative.
C > >
5 F Enet 5 qenet
10.27 m2 2
e1 5 4.070 3 102 N/C 1two extra digits carried2 5 112.0 3 10212 C 2 113.182 3 103 N/C2
5 16.4 3 1029 N
Since q1 is a positive charge, the electric field on a positive >
test charge at P will be directed away from q1. F Enet 5 6.4 3 1029 N 3 right 4
> Statement: The electric force acting on the new charge at
e1 5 4.070 3 102 N/C 3 right 4
point P is 6.4 3 1029 N to the right of point P.

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 Sample Problem 2: Electric Field Due to Two Point Charges in Two Dimensions
Two point charges are arranged as shown in Figure 4. Solution: First, calculate the magnitudes of the electric fields along
q1 5 4.0 3 10 –6 C, q2 5 22.0 3 10 –6 C, and r 5 3.0 cm. the horizontal and vertical directions. The electric field of q2 has
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the origin. only an x-component.
y ex 5 ex
kq2
q1 5 2
r
N # m2
r a8.99 3 109 2 b 12.0 3 1026 C2
C
q2 5
x 10.030 m2 2
r ex 5 1.998 3 107 N/C 1two extra digits carried2
The electric field of q1 has only a y-component.
Figure 4
eynet 5 ey
Given: r 5 3.0 cm 5 0.030 m; q1 5 4.0 3 1026 C; kq1
q2 5 22.0 3 1026 C; k 5 8.99 3 109 N.m2/C2 5 2
r
Required: magnitude of net electric field at the origin, enet N # m2
a8.99 3 109 2 b 14.0 3 1026 C2
Analysis: The electric field at the origin results from the C
5
kq 10.030 m2 2
electric fields of charges q1 and q2. Use the equation e 5
r2 eynet 5 3.996 3 107 N/C 1two extra digits carried2
for a point charge q to calculate the magnitudes of the net
electric fields at the origin along the horizontal and vertical Then calculate the magnitude of the net electric field at
directions due to the charges q1 and q2. Then use the equation the origin.
enet 5 "e2x net 1 e2ynet to calculate the magnitude of the net enet 5 "e2x net 1 e2y net
electric field at the origin.
5 " 11.998 3 107 N/C2 2 1 13.996 3 107 N/C2 2
enet 5 4.5 3 107 N/C
Statement: The magnitude of the net electric field at the origin is
4.5 3 107 N/C.

Practice
1. An electric force with a magnitude of 2.5 N, directed to the left, acts on a negative charge
of 25.0 C. T/I
(a) Determine the electric field in which the charge is located. [ans: 0.50 N/C [toward the right]]
(b) Calculate the electric field when the force is the same but the charge is 20.75 C.
[ans: 3.3 N/C [toward the right]]

2. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field at a point 2.50 m to the right of a
positive point charge q 5 6.25 3 1026 C. T/I [ans: 8.99 3 103 N/C [toward the right]]
3. Calculate the electric field at point Z in Figure 5, due to the point charges q1 5 5.56 3 1029 C
at point X and q2 5 21.23 3 1029 C at point Y. T/I [ans: 250.3 N/C, or 50.3 N/C [toward the left]]
q1 q2

0.668 m 0.332 m
X Y Z
Figure 5

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 Electric Field Lines
An electric field exists in a region around a charge. The field and its properties can be
electric field lines the continuous lines represented with electric field lines. These electric field lines can help us determine the
of force around charges that show the direction of the force on a nearby test charge.
direction of the electric force at all points As was stated earlier, electric fields point away from positive charges and toward
in the electric field negative charges. This convention is based on using a positive test charge to deter-
mine direction. To show what the electric field would look like around a positive
point charge, we draw electric field lines that extend radially outward from the
charge, as shown in Figure 6(a). For a negative charge, the field lines are directed
inward, toward the charge (Figure 6(b)). As you may expect, the electric field lines
>
are parallel to e , and the density of the field lines is proportional to the magnitude of
>
e . In both parts of Figure 6, the field lines are densest near the charges. In both cases,
>
the magnitude of e increases as the distance to the charge decreases.

e e

q q

(a) (b)
Figure 6 Electric field lines near a point charge placed at the origin. (a) If the charge is positive,
the electric field lines are directed outward, away from the charge. (b) If the charge is negative,
the electric field lines are directed inward, toward the charge.

1
According to Coulomb’s law, the force between two point charges varies as ,
r2
where r is the separation between the two charges. In a similar way, the electric field
1
produced by a point charge also varies as 2 . The electric field thus obeys an inverse-
r
square law, just as the gravitational force does (Figure 7(a)).
The magnitude of the electric force is proportional to the density of field lines—that
is, the number of field lines per unit area of space—at some distance r from the charge
or charges producing the field. For a point charge q (Figure 7(b)), the density of field
lines decreases farther away from the charge. The field lines from q spread out through
a surface area. Therefore, the number of field lines per unit area (A), and thus the
respective strengths of the electric field and electric force, decreases as r2 increases.

A 1 ∝ r12
A 2 ∝ r22
r1 r1

M q
r2 r2

portions of a
spherical surface
(a) (b)
Figure 7 (a) The gravitational force lines from a mass M spread out as r increases in all directions.
(b) The electric field lines from a charge q also spread out in all directions. Both types of field lines
pass through larger spherical surface areas at greater distances. The surface areas (A) over which
the fields act increase as r 2 increases, so the fields themselves exert inverse-square forces.

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 Another interesting aspect of the electric force relates to the question of action at
a distance. How do two point charges that interact through Coulomb’s law “know”
about each other? In other words, how does one charge transmit electric force to
another charge? In terms of the electric field lines, every charge generates (or carries
with it) an electric field, through which the electric force is transmitted.

Electric Dipoles
Consider the two point particles with equal but opposite charge in Figure 8. Charges electric dipole a pair of equal and
2q and 1q, where q is the positive magnitude of the charge, are separated by a small opposite electric charges with centres
distance r. This charge configuration is called an electric dipole. separated by a small distance

q q
r
Figure 8 Two opposite charges separated by a distance r form an electric dipole.

The two charges in an electric dipole give rise to a more complicated electric field
than the one associated with a single electric charge. This is because the electric
fields around the individual charges interact most strongly with each other at close
distances, such as those that are similar in size to the dipole separation. Initially, the
fields at the negative charge radiate inward toward the charge, and the fields at the
positive charge radiate outward from the charge (Figure 9(a)). As the fields extend
into the space around the other charge, they interact with each other, producing field
lines that bend toward the other charge (Figure 9(b)).

field lines from field lines from

q alone q alone

q q q q

(a) (b)
Figure 9 The electric field lines around each individual charge of an electric dipole (a) are affected
by the field lines from the other charge, causing them to bend (b). It is important to note that the
field lines extend in three dimensions around the charges, and that the view depicted here is of the
field lines in a plane perpendicular to the line of sight.

Notice that, along the vertical axis midway between the two charges, the electric
field is parallel to the line connecting the two charges. This remains true along the
vertical axis at all distances from the dipole, although the magnitude of the electric
field decreases at distances that are farther from the dipole. The direction of this elec-
tric field always points from the positive charge to the negative charge.
Although the field lines of a dipole merge at the midpoint, field lines do not cross.
Instead, the cumulative effect, or the vector sum, of the electric fields from both
charges produces a net electric field. That net electric field is represented by the elec-
tric field line.

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 Now consider an arrangement of charges slightly different from an electric dipole.
In this case, a positive charge, 1q, replaces the negative charge, 2q, so that the two
charges are equal and alike. Now the electric field lines extend outward from both
charges. Instead of the field lines from a positive charge merging with the lines from
a negative charge, the lines from similar charges do not connect at any point. This
arrangement produces a disk-shaped region of zero electric field everywhere around
the midpoint between the two charges (Figure 10).

q q

Figure 10 Two identical charges separated by a small distance produce this electric field pattern.
Again, the field lines occupy all the space around the charges. This illustration shows how they
appear in a plane. Note that the electric field is zero along the line that bisects the line connecting
the charges.

Notice that, farther away from the charges, the field behaviour starts to resemble
that of a single charge. That is, the field lines appear to be radiating from a single
point charge. This makes sense because, at a large distance from the two charges,
the separation between them is not noticeable, and both charges have the same sign.
Midway between the two charges, there is a gap where there are no field lines. This is
expected because the vector sum of the two electric fields from both charges is zero
at the midpoint.
Note that this electric field pattern would be the same if the two charges were
both negative. The difference would be in the direction in which the field lines were
pointing but not the shape of the combined fields.
Finally, consider a dipole-like arrangement of two charges that have different
magnitudes and signs. If the positive charge 1q is replaced with a charge 12q, the
symmetry of the dipole field is altered (Figure 11 on the next page). This is because
the number of field lines for each charge is proportional to the magnitude of that
charge. The number of field lines leaving the positive charge is therefore twice the
number of field lines meeting at the negative charge. Half of these lines converge on
the negative charge, while the other half emanate outward, as if there were only one
charge (12q). At large distances, where r is much greater than the charge separation,
the electric field radiates outward as it would for a charge of 12q.
The field-line pattern for unequal and opposite charges includes regions near
the charges where the density of field lines becomes very high. Note that this does
not mean that the electric field is stronger in these regions. The electric field is still
strongest along the line connecting the charges. Electric field patterns can become
very complex, but many simulations exist to show what the electric field would look
like in a multi-charge system. WEB LINK

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 2q q

Figure 11 The electric field lines around a dipole consisting of charges 2q and 12q. The number
of lines from the larger charge is twice the number of lines from the smaller charge. Half of these
lines extend from the positive charge to the negative charge. The other half extend outward, as if
there were only one charge, 12q.

Uniform Electric Fields

So far, you have learned about electric fields that vary with distance from a charge.
In the case of a dipole, for instance, the strength of the electric field varies with the
number of charges, their placement, and the distance from the charges.
A different electric field arises from a different type of dipole. Instead of point
charges, suppose you have two parallel planes of charge. As with the dipole, one plane
has a positive charge and the other plane has a negative charge. In both cases, the
charge spreads uniformly along each plane.
Just as the electric field along the line connecting two unlike charges extends
straight from the positive to the negative charge, the electric field between the planes of
charge extends from the positive plane of charge to the negative plane and is uniform.
These field lines are straight, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the planes of
charge. At any location between the planes, the electric field has the same magnitude
and direction. Outside the planes, the vector sum of the electric fields from all the
individual charges in the two parallel planes yields a value of zero.
This description of planes of charges involves “infinite” parallel planes carrying
“infinite” amounts of charge and thus does not exist in real-world scenarios. However,
you can create a close approximation by using two large conducting plates charged by
dry cells. These plates are parallel and carry equal and opposite charges. As long as
the separation between the plates is much smaller than their surface area, the electric
field between the plates remains uniform (Figure 12). In fact, except near the edges of
the plates, the magnitude of the electric field depends only on the amount of charge,
the area of the plates, and the material between the plates.

total charge  q
         

         
total charge  q

Figure 12 The electric field between two parallel conducting plates is uniform in direction
and magnitude.

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 Earth’s Electric Field
Energy from the Sun bombards Earth’s upper atmosphere. Some of this energy strips
electrons from atoms, leaving a region of positively charged ions and free electrons.
Some of the electrons recombine with the ions, but others travel into space and other
regions of the atmosphere. This region, appropriately called the ionosphere, therefore
has a positive charge and is able to conduct electricity.
In contrast to the ionosphere, Earth’s surface is more negatively charged. Both
areas tend to stay charged, so that a permanent electric field exists throughout the
atmosphere. Near Earth’s surface, when the sky is clear of storms, the electric field has
an average magnitude of about 120 N/C.
This electric field varies seasonally, but the greatest and most sudden change
occurs during thunderstorms, when the atmospheric electric field can reverse direc-
tion. Cloud-to-ground lightning, which often accompanies these storms, is both very
common and potentially very destructive, so it is essential that scientists understand
how Earth’s electric field changes during storms, and what field conditions are likely
to result in a lightning strike.
One device, called an electric field mill, or just field mill, is widely used to
measure Earth’s electric field. A field mill makes use of the uniform electric field
between two parallel conducting plates and detects changes in the field strength at
a given location.
The design of a field mill incorporates two circular conducting plates (Figure 13).
The conducting plate at the front of the mill is the sensor plate. This part of the mill
is exposed to the atmospheric electric field. A set of motor-driven, rotating shutter
blades (the mill) exposes the sensor plate for a short time and then blocks the plate
from the electric field for an identical length of time. During exposure, the plate
becomes charged. During non-exposure, an analyzer circuit measures the elec-
tric field between the charged sensor plate and the uncharged detector plate. This
process repeats continuously, providing information about variations in the field
strength of Earth’s electric field over a given time interval and in a particular region
of the atmosphere. CAREER LINK
UNIT TASK BOOKMARK
Field mills have fairly simple designs and generally perform reliably. Although
You can apply what you have learned often set up in permanent positions on the ground, field mills located in balloons
about electric fields to the Unit Task and aircraft measure field changes at different elevations. Field mills are used in cases
on page 422. where lightning could do extreme damage, such as to spacecraft before launch.

shutter motor

rotating conducting detector electric field

shutter blade sensor plate analyzer
(the mill) plate circuit
Figure 13 A field mill measures the electric field between two parallel conducting plates to
determine the changes in Earth’s electric field.

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 Electrostatic Precipitators
During the Industrial Age, heavily polluted air resulted from the smoke pouring out
of chimneys and smokestacks. Most of these emissions, called flue gases because they
passed through the flues of chimneys, consisted of gases such as nitrogen and carbon
dioxide, both of which are clear substances. However, tiny particles of carbon, sulfur
compounds, and dust produced by various chemical processes and combustion com-
bined with the gases. These particles gave the air its smoky appearance.
Today, industrial processes continue to pollute our air. Air containing polluting
gases leads to many environmental concerns such as climate change and acid precipi-
tation. Acid precipitation is known to harm both plant and aquatic life. The polluting
gases also affect the respiratory health of not only the people who live nearby but also
those who live where the prevailing winds tend to push the gases.
In recent years, devices called electrostatic precipitators have reduced the numbers
of these particles released into the atmosphere. Electrostatic precipitators use electric
fields to remove extremely small particles of soot, dust, and ash from flue gases and
other emissions produced by combustion, smelting, and refining.
The exact arrangements of different electrostatic precipitators vary, but the basic
principle is the same in all of them. In the design shown in Figure 14, the flue gas
and particles it contains pass between a grid of negatively charged conducting wires
and a conducting plate carrying a positive charge. The wires transfer electrons to the
various particles that come into contact with the wires, making the particles negatively
charged. The electric field between the wires and the plates is about 1 3 106 N/C, so the
force drawing these negatively charged particles toward the positively charged plates
is very large. Shaking the plates from time to time loosens the particles that accumu-
late on them. A storage (collection) hopper below the precipitator collects this refuse.
Repeating the procedure of passing the flue gas through several series of plates and
wires removes about 99 % of the various particles from the gas.

wires (–)

plate (+)

flue gas

collection hopper

Figure 14 An electrostatic precipitator uses electric fields to remove particles from flue gases.

Some of the devices used for home air purification use the basic principles of elec-
trostatic precipitators. However, the results from these air cleaners have been mixed,
partly because of the comparatively low levels of particles in household air, and partly
because the electric fields are not as strong as in industrial precipitators.

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 Electric Fields in Nature
Electric fields are also produced by animals. These fields are often weak and produced
by ordinary actions, such as motion in the muscles. Some animals have organs that
detect and respond to these weak electric fields. Hammerhead sharks, for instance,
detect fields as low as 6 N/C in fish that hide beneath the sand or in tunnelled shelters
along shallow ocean bottoms.
The hammerhead shark swims close to the sandy ocean floor (Figure 15). It preys
on goby, small fish that hide in sand-covered holes. A goby produces electric fields
from muscular movements of its fins or gills. Although the shark cannot see the goby,
it can detect these electric fields up to 25 cm above the sand. Having detected the
goby, the hammerhead shark swims in a figure eight until it pinpoints the location of
greatest electric field strength and then catches and consumes the goby.

Figure 15 A hammerhead shark can detect the electric fields produced by the movements of its prey.

Research This
Fish and Electric Fields
SKILLS
Skills: Researching, Communicating HANDBOOK A4.1

Many fish use electric fields to detect or stun their prey, or to ward off predators. Some
examples are electric eels, electric catfish, elephant fish, Nile knifefish, and torpedo fish.
1. Research one of these fish on the Internet, and determine how it detects or uses
electric fields.
2. Compare this fish’s abilities with those of the hammerhead shark.
3. Write a brief report of your findings that includes answers to the following
questions.
A. What types of behaviours that are related to electric fields are typical for the
organism you chose? T/I
B. Why are fish that stun prey with electric fields typically freshwater species? T/I

C. Many fish are able to detect weak electric fields from prey that live in rivers with
large amounts of silt and soil suspended in the water. Why would an adaptation
such as electric-field detection be beneficial for these fish? T/I
WEB LINK

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 7.3 Review
Summary
• An electric field exists in a region of space when a test charge placed at any
point in the region has a force exerted upon it.
>
• The electric field is a vector> and is denoted by e . A test charge q will experience
>
an electric force given by F E 5 qe . The directions of the electric force and
electric field are determined by a positive test charge.
• For a point charge q2, the magnitude of the electric field at a distance r from
kq 2
the charge is e 5 2 .
r
• Electric field lines are continuous lines of force that show the direction of
electric force at all points in the electric field around a charge or charges.
• An electric dipole consists of two equal but opposite charges separated by some
small distance.
• The electric field between two parallel plates of charge is uniform and
perpendicular to the plates. The electric field outside the parallel plates is zero.
• One application of electric fields is in electrostatic precipitators, which use electric
fields to remove extremely small particles of soot, dust, and ash from flue gases.
• Some organisms can detect the weak electric fields produced by the movement
of other organisms.
Questions
1. A proton and an electron are placed in a uniform 6. Two point particles with charges q1 and q2 are
electric field. Comment on the magnitudes of the separated by a distance L, as shown in Figure 17.
forces experienced by both. K/U The electric field is zero at point A, which is a
L
2. Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at distance from q1. Determine the ratio q1:q2. K/U T/I
4
a distance of 1.5 m from a point charge with y
q 5 3.5 C. K/U
L q1
3. A point particle of charge q1 5 4.5 3 1026 C is placed 4
on the x-axis at x 5 210 cm. A second particle of A
charge q2 is placed on the x-axis at x 5 125 cm. L
The electric field at the origin is zero. Determine
the charge q2. K/U T/I x
q2
4. A ring with a radius of 25 cm and total charge
5.00 3 1024 C is centred at the origin as shown Figure 17
in Figure 16. The charge is distributed uniformly
7. Five point charges, all with q 5 7.5 C, are spaced
around the ring. Calculate the electric field at the
equally along a semicircle with a radius of 2.3 m, as
origin. (Hint: Think of applying symmetry.) K/U T/I
y shown in Figure 18. Calculate the electric field at
the origin. K/U T/I
  y
 
q
 r  q q
x
 
q q
  x
 
Figure 18
Figure 16
8. Draw the electric field lines between the wires and
5. When drawing electric field lines, what determines plates of an electrostatic precipitator. T/I C
the number of lines originating from a charge? K/U

NEL 7.3 Electric Fields   345

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