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UNIT THREE
physics has had
aElectricity
greater impact
and
on the way we
live than the
Magnetism
study of
electricity and
magnetism.
Chapter 12
Electrostatic
Phenomena
What does
lightning
have in
common...
kq1q2
F= 2 in units of coulombs (C)
r
Coulomb' s constant k = 9 "10 9 N # m2 /C 2
Two positive charges, one 2 C and the
other 7 C, are separated by a distance
of 20 cm. What is the magnitude of the
electrostatic force that each charge
exerts upon the other?
a) 0.32 N q1 = 2 C q2 = 7 C r = 20 cm = 0.2 m
b) 0.63 N
c) 0.70 N kq1q2
F=
d) 2.02 N r2
e) 3.15 N
=
(9 "10 9
N # m2 /C 2 )(2 "10$6 C)( 7 "10$6 C)
2
(0.2 m)
0.126 N # m2
= 2
= 3.15 N
0.04 m
!
! The electrostatic force has the same inverse-square
dependence on distance as Newtons law of
gravitation.
Gm1m2 kq1q2
Fg = and Fe = 2
r2 r
# If we double the distance between the charges, the force
falls to one-fourth of the original.
# The gravitational force depends on the masses, and the
electrostatic
! force depends on the charges.
# Gravity is always attractive; there is no such thing as
negative mass.
# Gravity is much weaker than the electrostatic force.
# Physicists are still trying to understand the reasons for the
relative strengths of the fundamental forces.
# The search for a unified field theory that would explain the
relationships between all of the fundamental forces is a
major area of research in modern theoretical physics.
Three positive charges are located along a line as
shown. What is the magnitude of the force exerted
on the 0.02-C charge by the 0.10-C charge?
q1 = 0.02 C q2 = 0.10 C r=2m
a) 2.25 x 106 N
kq1q2
b) 4.5 x 106 N F=
c) 9.0 x 106 N r2
d) 1.8 x 107 N
e) 2.7 x 108 N =
(9 "10 9
N # m2 /C 2 )(0.02 C)(0.10 C)
2
(2 m)
= 4.5 "10 6 N (to the right)
!
Three positive charges are located along a line as
shown. What is the magnitude of the force exerted
on the 0.02-C charge by the 0.04-C charge?
q1 = 0.02 C q2 = 0.04 C r =1m
a) 1.8 x 106 N
kq1q2
b) 3.6 x 106 N F=
c) 7.2 x 106 N r2
d) 1.44 x 107 N
e) 2.88 x 107 N =
(9 "10 9
N # m2 /C 2 )(0.02 C)(0.04 C)
2
(1 m)
= 7.2 "10 6 N (to the left)
!
Three positive charges are located along a line as
shown. What is the net force exerted on the 0.02-C
charge by the other two charges?
a) 2.25 x 106 N
F = F1 " F2
b) 4.5 x 106 N
c) 9.0 x 106 N = 7.2 #10 6 N " 4.5 #10 6 N
d) 1.8 x 107 N
e) 2.7 x 108 N = 2.7 #10 6 N (to the left)
!
The Electric Field
! How do the charges exert forces on each
other, when they are not even touching?
# The concept of an electric field describes how
one charge affects the space around it, which then
exerts a force on another charge.
# The electric field at a given point in space is the
electric force per unit positive charge that would
be exerted on a charge if it were placed at that
point. F
E=
q
# It is a vector having the same direction as the
force on a positive charge placed at that point.
!
Two point charges, 3 C and 2 C, are separated
by a distance of 30 cm. A third charge q0 is
placed between them as shown. The force
exerted by q1 on q0 is 10.8 N, and the force
exerted by q2 on q0 is 1.8 N.
What is the net electrostatic force acting on q0?
a) 1.8 N to the left F = F1 " F2
b) 9 N to the right
c) 10.8 N to the right = 10.8 N "1.8 N
d) 12.6 N to the right
e) 12.6 N to the left = 9 N (to the right)
!
What is the electric field at the location of the
charge q0 due to the other two charges?
!
! We can then use the field to find the force on
any other charge placed at that point:
1 J/C = 1 V
"PE = q"V
"PE = W = Fd = qEd
= 0.15 J
What is the change in electric potential from the
bottom to the top plate?
a) 0.15 V
b) 0.3 V
c) 5V
d) 30 V
e) 150 V
"PE 0.15 J
"V = = = 30 V
q 0.005 C
! The potential energy of a positive charge
increases when we move it against the field.
# For a uniform electric field, there is a simple
relationship between the magnitude of the electric
field and the change in electric potential: !V = Ed.