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CH 22

The document defines electric fields and describes their key properties: 1) An electric field is a region of space around a charged object where another charged object experiences an electric force. The electric field points in the direction of the force on a positive test charge placed at that point. 2) The electric field is quantified as the electric force on a test charge divided by the test charge. It has units of Newtons per Coulomb. 3) The relationship between electric force F and electric field E is: F=qE, where q is the test charge. If q is positive, F and E point in the same direction, and if q is negative they point in opposite directions.

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17 views

CH 22

The document defines electric fields and describes their key properties: 1) An electric field is a region of space around a charged object where another charged object experiences an electric force. The electric field points in the direction of the force on a positive test charge placed at that point. 2) The electric field is quantified as the electric force on a test charge divided by the test charge. It has units of Newtons per Coulomb. 3) The relationship between electric force F and electric field E is: F=qE, where q is the test charge. If q is positive, F and E point in the same direction, and if q is negative they point in opposite directions.

Uploaded by

Mahmoud Samahin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 22

Electric Fields
Electric Field – Definition
An electric field is said to exist in the region of space
around a charged object

This charged object is the source charge When another


charged object, the test charge, enters this electric field, an
electric force acts on it
Electric Field – Definition

• The electric field is defined as the electric


force on the test charge per unit charge

• The electric field vector,E , at a point in
space is defined as: the electric force F
acting on a positive test charge, qo placed at
that point divided by the test charge:
Electric Field, Notes

• The direction of E is that of
the force on a positive test
charge

• The SI units of E are N/C
• We can also say that an
electric field exists at a point
if a test charge at that point
experiences an electric force
Relationship Between F and E
 
• Fe  qE
– This is valid for a point charge only
– One of zero size
– For larger objects, the field may vary over the size of the
object
• If q is positive, the force and the field are in the same
direction
• If q is negative, the force and the field are in opposite
directions
Electric Field Lines, Positive Point
Charge
• The field lines radiate
outward in all directions
– In three dimensions, the
distribution is spherical
• The lines are directed away
from the source charge
– A positive test charge would
be repelled away from the
positive source charge
Electric Field Lines, Negative Point
Charge
• The field lines radiate inward
in all directions
• The lines are directed toward
the source charge
– A positive test charge
would be attracted toward
the negative source charge
Electric Field Lines – Dipole

• The charges are equal and


opposite
• The number of field lines
leaving the positive
charge equals the number
of lines terminating on the
negative charge
Electric Field Lines – Like Charges

• The charges are equal and


positive
• The same number of lines
leave each charge since
they are equal in
magnitude
• At a great distance, the
field is approximately
equal to that of a single
charge of 2q
Electric Field Lines – sheet with uniform
positive charge
The Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
To find the electric field due to a point charge q (or charged particle) at any
point a distance r from the point charge, we put a positive test charge q0 at
that point.

The direction of E is directly away from the point charge if q is positive, and
directly toward the point charge if q is negative. The electric field vector is:
Superposition with Electric Fields

• At any point P, the total electric field due to


a group of source charges equals the vector
sum of the electric fields of all the charges
22.8: A Point Charge in an Electric Field
The Electric Field Due To A Line Of Charge
The Electric Field Due To A Line Of Charge(charged Rod)
Q) A rod of length L, has a uniform positive charge per unit length λ 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.
The Electric Field of a Uniform Ring of Charge

Q) 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.
The Electric Field of a Uniformly Charged Disk
Q) A disk of radius R has a uniform surface charge density σ. 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 .
Selected Problems

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