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Electric Charge
Electric Field
Objectives
To describe the properties of electric
charges
To analyze electrical forces using
Coulombs Law
To define and quantify electric field
Charge
Amber rubbed with wool
caused it to attract certain
objects
Amber becomes electrically
charged
The term electric charge
came from elektron (greek for
amber)
Charge - basic unit from
which electrical forces comes
from
Charge - basis of electricity
Lookup: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity
Electrical Properties of Materials
Everything is made up of
atoms
When two materials are
rubbed against each other,
electrons jump from one
material to the other
The behavior of the two
materials depend on their
position in the triboelectric
series
The Triboelectric Series
Electrostatics may
be used to
separate mixture of
plastics.
In the figure, the
rotating drum
separates crushed
polyvynil chloride
(PVC) and
polyethelyne
plastic (PE)
Coulombs Law
1
k = 8.98755 x 109 Nm2/C2 =
= permitivitty of free space
40
o
Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
F F F F
r
r
Like charges Unlike charges
Coulombs Law
q1
Fq3 q1q 2
+ Fq1q3
Fq3 q 2
Fq3 q1
Fq1q 2
Fq1q 2 q3 q3
Fq 2 q1q3 Fq 2 q1
Superposition principle: force
experienced by a single charge is
the vector sum of individual
q2
Fq 2 q3 forces by other charges
Example
Q1 = +2 nC; Q2 = -3 nC; Q3 = +1 nC
9 9
( 2 10 )(1 10 )
F13 = 9 10 9
= 4.5nN
Q3 2 2
9 9
F23 Q2 9 (3 10 )(1 10 )
F23 = 9 10 2
= 6.75nN
2
FR
F13
FR = (4.5 10 9 ) 2 + (6.75 10 9 ) 2
= 8.11nN 4.5
= tan 1 = 33.7
6.75
Electric Field
Electric field
represents a region
of electric force in
space - vector field
E symbol for the
electric field
Electric Field Intensity
Force on a charge in
electric field : F = qe
Direction of force same
as direction of field
E represents the force +
+
An electron gun at
the back end of
the tube fires
electrons
The electric field
between two pairs
of metal sheets
deflect the
electron beam
Electric Field Intensity
E = F/q; Units: newtons/coulomb
Take a point charge q1 and consider a point charge q2 a
distance r from q1
kq1q 2
F= 2
r
F kq1
E= = 2
q2 r
Example
10 nC 1 nC
F F
2m
Q1Q 2 10 10 9 110 9
F=k 2
= 9 109 2
= 22.5 nN
r 2
Example
10 nC
2m
F 22.5 nN N V
E= = = 22.5 = 22.5
Q 1 nC C m
Electric Lines of Force
Graphically represent
the direction and
magnitude of electric
fields
Direction of a tangent
at a point corresponds
to the direction of the
electric field
Spacing between the
field lines gives a
relative magnitude of
the electric field
Electric Lines of Force
Isolated point charge, q :
kq
E=
2
r
Spherically radial outward
direction
Positive point charge - would
be pushed outward
Density of field lines - shows
electric field is stronger for
smaller radial distances
Electric Lines of Force