The Electric Field

Chapter 23

The Electric Field

Group of fixed charges exert a force F, given by
Coulombs law, on a test charge qtest at position r.
qtest
r

The electric field E (at a given point in space) is the

force per unit charge that would be experienced by a
test charge at that point.

E = F / qtest

This is a vector function of position.

Electric Field of a Point Charge

qtest

r
F

1 Qqtest
r
2
4 0 r

Dividing out qtest gives the electric field at r:

r r
E( r)

1 Q
2 r
4 0 r

Radially outward,
falling off as 1/r2

Electric Field Lines (Point Charge)

Electric Field
(vector)

Field Lines
(Lines of
force)

Electric field lines (lines of force) are continuous lines

whose direction is everywhere that of the electric field

Force Due to an Electric Field

F=qE
Just turn the definition of E around.
If E(r) is known, the force F on a
charge q, at point r is:

F = q E(r)
The electric field at r
points in the direction
that a positive charge
placed at r would be
pushed.

Electric field lines are

bunched closer where
the field is stronger.

The Electric Dipole

+q

-q
An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite
charges (q and -q ) separated a distance d.

The Electric Dipole

+q

p
-q
We define the Dipole Moment

magnitude = qd,

p
direction = from -q to +q

The Electric Dipole

E
+q

-q

Suppose the dipole is placed in a uniform electric

field (i.e., E is the same everywhere in space).
Will the dipole move ??

The Electric Dipole

E
+q

-q

What is the total force acting on the dipole?

The Electric Dipole

F+

E
+q

d
F

-q

What is the total force acting on the dipole?

The Electric Dipole

F+

E
+q

d
F

-q

What is the total force acting on the dipole?

Zero, because the force on the two charges cancel:
both have magnitude qE. The center of mass does not
accelerate.

The Electric Dipole

F+

E
+q

d
F

-q

What is the total force acting on the dipole?

Zero, because the force on the two charges cancel:
both have magnitude qE. The center of mass does not
accelerate.

But the charges start to move. Why?

F+

+q

d
F-

What is the total force acting on the dipole?

Zero, because the force on the two charges cancel: both
have magnitude qE.
The center of mass does not accelerate.
But the charges start to move (rotate). Why?
Theres a torque because the forces arent colinear.

F+

+q

d
F-

d sin

The torque is:

magnitude of force) (moment arm)

(qE)(d sin
and the direction of is (in this case)
into the page

+q

-q

but we have defined : p = q d

and the direction of p is from -q to +q
Then the torque can be written as:
pxE
= p E sin
with an associated potential energy
U= -p.E

Electric fields due to various

charge distributions
The electric field is a vector which
obeys the superposition principle.
Begin with a simple example with
discrete charges: the dipole

Field Due to an Electric Dipole

at a point x straight out from its midpoint
Y
Electric dipole moment
p = qd

+q

x
E+

E-q
E

Calculate E as a function of p, x,and d

Y
+q
d

-q

l
x

X
E-

E+
E

Electric Fields From Continuous

Distributions of Charge
Up to now we have only considered the electric field of point charges.
Now lets look at continuous distributions of charge
lines - surfaces - volumes of charge
and determine the resulting electric fields.

Sphere

Ring

Sheet

Electric Fields Produced by

Continuous Distributions of Charge

For discrete point charges, we can use the

superposition
Principle, and sum the fields due to each point charge:

q2
q1

q3

E
q4

Electric field
experienced
by q4

Electric Fields From Continuous Distributions

For discrete point charges, we can use the superposition

principle and sum the fields due to each point charge:

q2
q1

q3

q4

E(r) Ei
i

What if we now have a continuous charge distribution?

E(r)

Electric Field Produced by a

Continuous Distribution of Charge
In the case of a continuous distribution of charge
we first divide the distribution up into small pieces,
and then we sum the contribution, to the field,
from each piece:

dEi

The small piece of charge dqi

produces a small field dEi at
the point r

Note: dqi and dEi are differentials

dqi
In the limit of very small pieces, the sum is an integral

Electric Field Produced by a

Continuous Distribution of Charge
In the case of a continuous distribution of charge we first
divide the distribution up into small pieces, and then we
sum the contribution, to the field, from each piece:
In the limit of very small pieces, the sum is an integral

dEi

dqi

Each dq

dq
dE(r) k 2 r
r

Then E = dEi

For very small pieces E ( r ) dE

kdq
E( r ) 2 r
r

Example: An infinite thin line of charge.

Y
P
y

Charge per unit length

is

Find the electric

field E at point P

Find the electric

field E at point P

P
y

dq

Example: An infinite thin line of charge.

dE+
y

dq

dq
r
dE k
r2

x 2 y2

x
Consider small element
of charge, dq, at position x.
dq is distance r from P.

Example: An infinite thin line of charge.

dE+

y
dq

dq
r
dE k
r2

x
Consider small element
of charge, dq, at position x.
dq is distance r from P.
For each dq at +x, there
is a dq at -x.

dE
dE+

E yE
dE-

dq

dq
r
dE k
r2
dq
dE y 2k 2 cos
r

dq
-x

x
Consider small element
of charge, dq, at position x.
dq is distance r from P.
For each dq at +x, there
is a dq at -x.

dE
dE+

dE-

dq

dq
r
dE k
r2
dq
dE y 2k 2 cos
r
dq= dx, cos=y/r

dq
-x

dE
dE+

dE-

dq

dq
r
dE k
r2
dq
dE y 2k 2 cos
r
dq= dx, cos=y/r

dq
-x

2k dx y
dE y 2
2
(x y ) r
x

2k y
E y 2 2 3/2 dx
(x y )
x 0

dE
dE+

dE-

dq

dq
r
dE k
r2
dq
dE y 2k 2 cos
r
dq= dx, cos=y/r

dq
-x

2k dx y
dE y 2
2
(x y ) r
x

2k y
2k
E y 2 2 3/2 dx
(x y )
y
x 0

Example of Continuous Distribution:

Ring of Charge
Find the electric field at a point along the axis.
Hint: be sure to use the symmetry of the problem!
dE

r
dq

Thin ring with total charge q

charge per unit length is
q/R

Break the charge up

into little bits, and find
the field due to each
bit at the observation
point. Then integrate.

Continuous Charge Distributions

charge density
units
differential

LINE

AREA

VOLUME

=Q/L

=Q/A

=Q/V

C/m

C / m2

C / m3

dq = dL

Charge differential dq
to be used when finding
the electric field of a
continuous charge distribution

dq = dA dq = dV

kdq
E( r ) 2 r
r