Chapter 21.

The Electric Field I: Discrete Charge Distribution

Introduction Fundamental Forces (Interactions) of Nature: 1. Gravitational Force: Force between masses

M1
r

G: Gravitational Constant (=
2. Strong Nuclear Force: Holds Nuclei together

M2

3. Weak Nuclear forces: it is responsible for radioactive decay of subatomic particles. 4. Electromagnetic Force. (Electricity and Magnetism are linked together) - a force between charges - responsible for all familiar forces (except gravity) friction, normal, magnetic When charges at rest (Static), the magnetic force due them is Zero but have Electrostatic Interaction.
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What is a Charge - A charge is an intrinsic (a Fundamental) property of matters. - It comes in two types: - a positive charge such as a proton (+e) - a negative charge such as an electron (-e) where e = is the fundamental unit of charge. (C reads Coulomb) - A charge is quantized: any observable charge (Q)occurring in nature is equal an integer number (N) multiply the fundamental unit of charge.

- Charge is conserved: when a negative charge is created, a positive charge is spontaneously created so that the net charge of the universe is kept constant.

Question: How many electrons you need to add on a particle with positive charge of 1.28 C to have neutral (net charge = 0).

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1. Electrostatic Interaction (Coulombs Interaction): Coulombs Law Question :How do charges see (or feel) each other. Answer: Through electrostatic interaction (Electrostatic Force, or Coulombs Force) Consider two point charges q1 and q2 a distance r away as shown in the figure. The magnitude of electrostatic force between these charges o is directly proportional to the magnitude of each charge q2 o is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two charges.

q1

The electric force is directed along the line joining the two charges: o Charges with the same sign repel each other ( the force on either charge is directed away from the other o Charges with opposite signs attract each other (the force in either charge is directed toward the other) q2 + q1 + q2 +
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F12

F21

F12

F21

q1 3

Electrostatic Interaction (Coulombs Interaction): Coulombs Law The magnitude of the electric force exerted by a point charges q1 on another point charge q2 a distance r away is thus can be written in the form:

q1
and vice versa

q2

K : Coulomb constant ( =

Note: Compare the mathematical form of the electrostatic force to the one of the gravitational force on page 1.

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Example 1. Consider the electric force between a pair of charged particles a certain distance apart. By Coulombs law: 1) If the charge on one of the particles is doubled, the force is a) unchanged b) halved c) doubled d) quadrupled 2) If, instead, the charge on both particles is doubled, the force is a) unchanged b) halved c) doubled d) quadrupled

3) If, instead, the distance between the particles is halved, the force is a) unchanged b) halved c) doubled d) quadrupled
4) If the distance is halved, and the charge of both particles is doubled, The force is ______ times as great.

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Example 2. Hydrogne Atom In a hydrogen atom, the electron is separated from the proton by an average distance of about 0.53 X 10-10 m.

a) Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force of attraction exerted by the proton on the electron. b) Compare this electric force with the gravitational force between the same electron and proton. What is the ratio of these two forces?

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Example 3. (Home work) Three charged particles are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side 1.20 m. The charges are +7.0 C, -8.0 C, and -6.0 C. Calculate the force on each due to the other two.

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Example 4. (Problem 74, Page 74 of the text book) Two identical point articles, each of mass m and charge q, are suspended from a common point by threads of length L. Each thread makes an angle with the vertical as shown in the side figure . Show that where k is Coulomb constant.

L q m

q m

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