AS Physics

11/11/2013

Topic 17:

Electric Fields

Objectives
Show an understanding of the concept of an
electric field as an example of a field of force and
define electric field strength as force per unit
positive charge acting on a stationary point charge
Represent an electric field by means of field lines
Recall and use E = to calculate the field strength
of the uniform field between charged parallel
plates in terms of potential difference and
separation
A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Objectives (cont )
Calculate the force on charges in uniform electric
fields
Describe the effect of a uniform electric field on
the motion of charged particles

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Electric Field
Types of fields
Definition of Field of Force
Therefore, what is the definition of Electric
Fields?
Electric Field Strength, E?
How to draw Electric Field Strength?

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Electric Field
Line of force / flux line:
Imaginary line of force that represent electric field
When it is getting closer to the centre, what
happen to the density of line? What does it mean?
Why the flux line for positive charge is pointing
out and negative charge is pointing in?

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Electric Field
Science convention: use positive test charge (only)
Flux follow how the force acted on test charged
By the
Is charge
fieldorstrength
scalar or vector quantity?
test
charge?
Two formula for Electric Field Strength, E:
Force acting on test charge
i. E =
for both uniform and non-uniform
test charge
ii. E = for uniform field

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Electric Field
Diagram below shows an arrangement of parallel
plates, each at a different voltage. The electric
field lines are shown between the 1st pair. Copy
and complete the diagram.

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Electric Field
According to the two formula, what are the
possible units for electric field strength?
Example:
What is the electric field strength of Lithium at
point A?
- What is the charge of proton?
Li
- (not +1 only for chemistry)
- Should be 1.6 1019 C
A
- E=
Charge on Lithium or
proton?
A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Electric Field
To calculate the force F on a charge Q in the
uniform field between 2 parallel plates, we have to
combine the two formulas:
Example:
A charge of +1.6 1019 C has a force of 8.7
1015 N exerted on it when placed at a point in an
electric field. Find the electric field strength at the
point.

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Electric Field

Air is usually a good insulator. However, a spark can jump

through dry air when the electric field strength is greater than
about 40 000 V cm1. This is called electrical breakdown. The
spark shows that electrical charge is passing through the air, a
current is flowing
a. A Van de Graff generator is found to be able to make sparks
jump across a 4 cm gap. What is the voltage produced by the
generator?
b. The highest voltage reached by the live wire of a
conventional mains supply is 325 V. In theory how close
would you have to get to a live wire to get a shock from it?
c. Estimate the voltage of a thunder-cloud from which lightning
strikes the ground 100 m below.

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Electric Field
A particle of charge +2 C is placed between 2
parallel plates, 10 cm apart, and with a potential
difference of 5 kV between them. Calculate the
field strength between the plates, and the force
exerted on the charge.

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Effect of Electric Field

Direction of flux line?

Electron projected in, deflected towards?
Curve inside, straight outside
Same way of solving as in projectile motion

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Effect of Electric Field

A-Level Physics.

Horizontal motion

Vertical motion

Constant velocity:
V=

All the motion equations

Ignore effect of gravity
(except oil drop
experiment, cause it is a
not a charge)
How to find a?
F = ma
EQ = ma
Eleanor Cheah

Effect of Electric Field

Calculate the acceleration of an electron (charge, e
= 1.6 1019 C, mass me = 9.11 1031 kg) in a
television tube where the electric field strength is
50,000 V cm1.

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Milikans Oil Drop

Purpose of
experiment?
To measure charge
How to produce or
charge up oil droplet?
Gamma ray radiation
When oil droplet goes through nozzle, friction
between oil droplet with nozzle causes it charged.

A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Milikans Oil Drop

A-Level Physics.

Direction of E?
Direction of F?
When FE = W
FE = mg
EQ = mg
Q = vg
Remember there are
different v

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

Electron Gun

Draw the diagram

Positive and negative
plate?
Direction of E?
Direction of motion of
e?

Direction of force?
When electron accelerates to positive plate, what
does it gain?
A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

Electron Gun
From V =
W = VQ
W = change in energy
Gain in K.E. = lost in
electrical potential
energy
Therefore, speed
approaching +ve plate
=?
A-Level Physics.

Eleanor Cheah

AS Physics

11/11/2013

* The end *

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