Electric Field

PH 203 Professor Lee Carkner Lecture 2

Force on Charges
Fy = 8.99X109(4)(2)/(22) = 1.8X1010N Fx = 8.99X109(2)(5)/(32) = 1X1010 N F2 = Fx2 + Fy2 F = 2.1X1010 N tan q = (Fy/Fx) q = arctan (Fy/Fx) q = 61 degrees
q3 = 4 C

2m
q1 =-2 C
q

3m

q2 = 5 C

The electric force is an inverse square law. This means that if the distance is doubled the new force compared to the old force F is A) B) C) D) E) F F 1F (force is unchanged) 2F 4F

A free charge +Q is placed exactly midway between a fixed charge Q to its left and a fixed charge +Q to the right. Which direction will the free charge move in (all Qs have the same magnitude)?

A) B) C) D) E)

Left Right It will not move It depends on the specific value of Q You cant tell from the information given

The Electric Field

Charges produce the potential for force at points in space around the charge

The area where a force may exist is said to be occupied by an electric field

We imagine a small test charge (q0) at various locations around the main charge (q)

Defining the Electric Field

The electric field is defined as the force on the test charge per unit charge or: Suppose that the field is generated by a point charge We can then write the force on the object with Coulombs law and so we get: E = k q/r2

This equation is only true for point charges

Electric Field Direction

Where e0 is the permittivity of free space = 8.85 X 10-12 C2/Nm2

E also has a direction

Note that free charges are often negative and so move in the opposite direction as the field

Calculating the Electric Field

What is the electric field near several charges?

Just like force

Note that once you find the value of the electric field, the force on a charge q0 at that point is just F=Eq0

Field Lines

The field lines are a map of how the charge will effect other charges

Field lines indicate how a charge will move

Field Lines and the Field

What is the force on a small positive test charge? Direction:

At any point the F vector is tangential to the field lines

Strength:
Density of lines proportional to field strength

Example of Fields

Dipole

Called a dipole

Occurs naturally in molecules or when charges are pulled apart but cant physically separate

Dipolar Field

How to Draw Field Lines

Lines determine the force experienced by a positive charge

Number of lines touching a charge proportional to the magnitude of the charge

More charge, more lines

Next Time
Read 22.5-22.9 Problems: Ch 22, P: 9, 12, 13, 30, 50