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Chapter 16 Lecture Notes

Formulas:

Constants:

e = 1.60×10-19 C
k = 1/(4πεo) = 8.988×109 N×m2/C2
εo = 8.85×10-12 C2/(N×m2)

Demonstrations:

1. Electrostatics
z Rub rubber and glass rods with wool, etc.
Positive is defined as glass rubbed with
silk. Negative is defined as rubber rubbed
with fur.
z Rub balloon on hair and stick to wall to
show transfer of charge.
z Van de Graaff.
z Wintergreen Life Savers
2. Electric Field
z Bend a candle toward a negative plate.
z Field breakdown between two metal spheres.

Electric Charges

The Greek philosopher Thales observed that if a person rubbed amber (a

petrified tree resin) with wool or fur, then the amber would attract small pieces of
leaf or cloth. Our word "electricity" comes from the Greek elektron - which
means "amber."

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Characteristics

Positive and Negative, Attractive and Repulsive

There are two kinds of charge. Benjamin Franklin named them positive and
negative and defined the charge on the rubbed glass rod to be positive.

Demonstration: Positive and Negative Static Charges. Show how like charges
repel and unlike charges attract.

Like Charges Repel and Unlike Charges Attract. This is one case where the
phrase "Opposites Attract" is absolutely true.

When two thing are attracted this could occur for one of two reasons. Either they are of
different charges, or one is charged and the other is attracted to it due to an induced
polarizationof the charge. Induced polarization is when the charge within an object separates, so
part of the object is slightly positively charged and some of the object is slightly negatively
charged, even though the whole object has no net charge.

Conserved

We don't create or destroy charge, just transfer it. In accelerators it can be created in pairs so
that the total charge is always the same. During any process, the net electric charge of an
isolated system remains constant. So if a charged object touches an uncharged object, some of
the extra charge from the charged object transfers to the uncharged object. But the total charge
stays the same. If the two objects are identical in composition, size, and shape, then after
touching each other they will both have exactly the same amount of charge on them.

Quantized with Small magnitude, Including Atomic Origin

Charges that we can observe are due to atomic electrons and protons. Electrons are
negatively charged and protons are positively charged. Electrons can move from one atom to
another, so a negative charge means an excess of electrons and a positive charge is a deficiency
of electrons. Ions are produced when an atom loses or gains electron(s). The value of quantized
charge is very small since e = 1.60×10-19 C. All charges come in integral multiples of e. We
measure charge using the unit (SI) of Coulombs (C). An electron has a charge of e = 1.60×10-19
C, so there are (1.60×10-19 C)-1 = 6.25×1018 electrons per Coulomb. Charge is usually
measured in millicoulombs (mC) 1×10-3 or in microcoulombs (mC) 1×10-6.

Electrical Interactions

Conductors and Insulators

Why don't you stand outside during an electrical storm hold a long tall metal object?
Conductors easily conduct electric charge. Insulators do not easily conduct electric charge.
Metals are usually good conductors. Plastics, rubber and wood are usually insulators. Electrical
cords illustrate this well. The metal inside is a good conductor. The rubber on the outside is a
good insulator.

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Charging by Contact and Induction

What happens to multiple conductors and insulators next to each other? What is the
difference between objects touching each other and not touching? When they touch, charge is
transferred from one object to the other so that if the objects are the same shape and size, their
charges equal each other. When they are brought near, their charge moves within the object so
the object becomes electrically polarized, but charge does not transfer from one object to
another.

We have an intuitive handle on "charge."

z We know we can give an object a "charge."

z We know we can transfer charge around (conduct, insulate).
z We know opposite charges attract [(+) to (-)].
z We know alike charges repel [(-) to (-) : (+) to (+)].
z We know of conductors and insulators.
z Atoms & Charge?
z Coulombs

Here is a rather interesting observation. What is charge? – No one really knows. There are
ideas as to what may cause charge but that involves "quarks," quantum mechanics, and a
property called "color." – But that is a bigger can of worms.

Show induced charge with rubber and glass rods.

Force Between Point Charges

Coulomb's Law: Charles Coulomb (1736-1806)

We want to know how strong the attraction or repulsion is between charged objects - this is
given by Coulomb's Law that gives the strength of force between two charged objects. (Point
charges – charge's physical size is much smaller than the distance between them.)

Know what it means. If you double the charge on one object, the force doubles. If you double
the distance, the force decreases by a factor of four. Coulomb's law gives the magnitude of the
force directed along a line between the two charges. The direction is determined from the sign of
the charges. To do problems with Coulomb's law, you must always use the absolute value of
the charges, then determine the direction from the sign of the charges. The constant k has
the value of 8.988×109 N×m2/C2. It is sometimes given in terms of the permittivity of free space
εo as k = 1/(4πεo) where εo = 8.85×10-12 C2/(N×m2).

PROBLEM: (a) What is the force between the two point charges? (q1= +12×10-9 C,
q2= -18×10-9 C)

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F= kq1q2/r2 = 2.2×10-5 N attractive

(b) Suppose q1 and q2 are connected by a conducting wire. Now what is force? When
they are connected the charge flows from one to the other. Because the two objects are
the same size and shape, charge will flow until the total charge on each is the same.

q1 + q2 = 6×10-9 C, so half is on q1 and half in on q2 = -3×10-9 C

Then using Coulomb's Law, F = 8.99×10-7 N repulsive.

The Force is a Vector Force

The electric force is a vector. This means that when working with it, you must separate the
components of the force into x and y components and add them up as vectors.

PROBLEM: Suppose I have more than one charge. What is the total force on q3 from
q2 and q1?

q1 = 6.00×10-9 C
q2 = -2.00×10-9 C
q3 = 5.00×10-9 C

We know θ = tan-1(3m/4m) = 36.9°

F13 = 1.079×10-8 N ( away from q1 )

F23 = 5.617×10-9 N ( toward q2 )

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Now determine the total xy-components.

ΣFy = F13y + F23y

Fy = F13sin(36.9o) + 0 = 6.476×10-9 N

ΣFx = -F23 + F12x

Fx = -F23+ F13cos(36.9o) = 3.011×10-9 N

F = √(Fx2 + Fy2) = 7.14×10-9 N

tan(φ) = Fy /Fx so force makes an angle of φ = 65.1° with respect to the x axis.

Note that you always find the force (direction and magnitude) from each individual charge
first, then you add up the forces using vector components.

The electric force is a force, like other forces we have learned about. Gravitational,
centripetal, spring forces. It can interact like all of the forces learned about in the first semester.
We'll do one example in class.

PROBLEM: What is the angle and tension in the string? At the end of the string the
mass is m = 8.0×10-2kg and the charges are q1 = 0.6×10-6C and q2 = -0.9×10-6 C.

g=9.8 m/s2

Sum the forces acting on q1

ΣFy: Ty – mg = 0 or Tcos(θ) = mg
Σ Fx: F – Tx = 0 or Tsin(θ) = kq1q2/r2

(Divide to get tanθ).

tanθ = kq1q2/mgr2= 0.275

θ = tan-1(0.275) = 15.4o

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Plug into the first equation to get T = .813 N

The electric force is a much larger force than the gravitational force. So why don't we feel
strong electrical forces? - because most of matter is electrically neutral. But what about the case
when the matter is not neutral?

PROBLEM: Compare the electrostatic force to the

gravitational force between the electron and the proton in a
hydrogen atom. Distance between the electron and proton
is about r = 5.29×10-11 m. The masses are me=9.11×10-
31kg. mP=1.67×10-27kg.

qe = qP = 1.6×10-19 C

Electrostatic Force is given by Coulombs law and is:

F=kqeqp/r2
F = (8.99×109 N×m2/C2)(1.6×10-19 C)2/(5.29×10-11 m)2 = 8.22×10-8 N.

Gravitational Force is given by Newton's law of Universal gravitation and is:

F=Gmemp/r2

F = (6.67×10-11 N×m2/kg2)(9.11×10-31kg)(1.67×10-27kg)/(5.29×10-11m)2
F = 3.63×10-47 N.

Ratio = 2.26×1039. In a hydrogen atom, gravity plays basically no role.

Electric Field: Michael Faraday (1791-1867)

Electric Fields and Test Charges

An electric field is a vector quantity meaning it has a magnitude and a direction. The
direction is defined as the direction of the electrical force that would be exerted on a small
positive test charge. The magnitude of the electric field does not depend on the test charge. A
test charge doesn't disturb field. A field leads to a force on a charged object.

Electric Fields from Various Objects

z From a point charge. F = kqoq/r2 and since E=F/qo, E = kq/r2

z A parallel plate capacitor makes a uniform electric field

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z We will look at other electric fields in the next chapter.

Electric Field Lines (Acting at a distance)

We illustrate electric fields with electric field lines. (Draw objects with field lines)

1. They point in the direction that a positive charge would move.

2. Their density is proportional to the magnitude of the electric field.

Show how charged particles move in an electric field. A constant electric field, usually
produced by a parallel plate capacitor, creates the same kind of motion as a constant gravitational
field..

Bend a candle toward a negatively charged plate.

PROBLEM. A particle with positive charge moves in a certain direction. What will
particle with same mass and negative charge do? How about one with twice the charge?
What about neutral? Why? F = ma = qE.

Force From an Electric Field (Vector Addition)

Electric fields can exist due to a variety of sources. There may be a small charge nearby, or
from a capacitor nearby. If a charge is placed in an electric field, it then feels a force. How big

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is the force? It depends on the size of the field and on the size of the charge since F = Eq.
Remember that both the force and the field are vectors.

PROBLEM: (a) What is the total electric field 30 cm above point charge q2 if q1 = -
25×10-6 C and q2 = 25×10-6 C?

The angle that E1 makes with the x-axis is given by:

cosθ = (40cm)/(50cm) or θ =36.9°.

Electric Field from q1:

E1= kq1/r2 = (9.0×109 N×m2/C2)(25×106C)/(0.50m)2 = 9.0×105 N/C

Electric Field from q2:

E2= kq2/r2 = (9.0×109 N×m2/C2)(25×106C)/(0.30m)2 = 2.5×106 N/C

Sum the Vector xy-components:

ΣEx = E1x = E1cos(36.9o) =7.2×105 N/C

Σ Ey = E2-E1y = E2 - E1sin(36.9o) = 2.0×106 N/C
ETotal= √(Ex2 +Ey2) = 2.1×106 N/C

The angle the field makes with the x axis is given by:
φ= tan-1Ey /Ex = 70°

(b) What is force on a particle there? It depends on the charge of the particle you put
there since F = qE.

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Electric Field From a Point Charge

PROBLEM: Where is electric field zero between two point charges?

You must use magnitudes (absolute values of the two charges) to solve this problem.
(q1=-2.5×10-6 C, q2 = 6×10-6 C).

Where does E1 = E2? Maybe at some position "x?" We will call the location of q1 equal
to 0m, and q2 equal to 1.0m.

E1 = E2

kq1/(r1)2 = kq2/(r2)2 r1 = x; r2 = 1 – x

kq1/x2 = kq2/(1 - x)2

x2(q2-q1) + x(2q1) - q1 = 0

Use quadratic formula and plug in absolute values of the Solutions for Equations:
charges:
ax2+bx+c=0
q2 - q1 = 3.5×10-6, and - q1 = -2.5×10-6
Quadratic Equation:
x = (-5 ±√{52-4(3.5)(-2.5)})/7 = (-5 ± 7.7)/7 = .39m or -1.8m

It is -1.8m because that is the only place that a positive test

charge will not move. The answer can be checked by plugging
into Coulomb's Law.

There is an easier way to solve this problem. The electric field is zero where a positively
charged particle would feel no force since F = qE . If you think about if for a moment
you will realize that this would have to be to the left of q1. So setting the distance x to
the left of q1 we get,

q1/x2 = q2/(1+x)2

Take square root and solve x = √(q1)/{√(q2) - √(q1)}

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PROBLEM/DEMONSTRATION: When will we get a spark between the two metal

spheres on the charge demonstration? Dielectric strength of air is 3.0×106 N/C =V/m. A
spark happens when electric field strength equals the dielectric strength of air.

E field is kq/r2 + kq/r2 where r is ½ the distance between the

balls.

q=Er2/2k = 1.7×10-4 (r2) Coulombs. So if r is .02m (=2 cm)

then q= .06mC.

Field Inside and Field Lines Outside of a Conductor

There is no field inside of a conductor. All of the field lines are

perpendicular to the conductor at the conductor's surface. Like charges
repel and they can move easily so they move away from each other.
Suppose there are two conducting spheres each with 6mC of positive
charge. Where is charge located on the two spheres?

z +6 on outside of inner sphere.

z -6 on inside of outer sphere.
z +12 on outside of outer sphere

Developer: Dr. Joseph W. Howard

Salisbury University
Last modified August 28, 2002 @13:24EST
Copyright © Joseph W. Howard. All rights reserved.
Salisbury, Maryland 21801-6862

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