Chapter 19

Electric Force and Electric Field

Interaction of Electric Charge
Charging an object
A glass rod is rubbed with
silk
Electrons are transferred
from the glass to the silk
Each electron adds a
negative charge to the silk
An equal positive charge is
left on the rod
Charge
Unit:
C, Coulomb
+
Electric Charge
Electric charge is one of the fundamental attributes of the
particles of which matter is made.

q
proton
= +e
q
electron
= e
e =1.6 10
19
C
Electric Field
Like charges (++)
Electric dipole:
Opposite charges (+)
Vectors are arrows

j
v
1
= 2

i +

j
v
3
=

i +

j
v
2
= 1.5

i 0.5

j
v
4
= 2

j
What are these vectors?

j
v
1
= 2

i
v
3
=

i 2

j
v
2
=

i 1.5

j
v
4
= 3

i + 2

j
Magnitude of a vector
= Length of the arrow
4
3
v = 4

i + 3

j
v = 4
2
+ 3
2
= 5
If
r
v = a

i + b

v
v = a
2
+ b
2
What are the magnitudes?

j
v
1
= 2

i
v
3
=

i 2

j
v
2
=

i 1.5

j
v
4
= 3

i + 2

j
Magnitudes (solution)

j
v
1
= 2

i
r
v
1
= 2
v
3
=

i 2

r
v
3
= (1)
2
+ (2)
2
= 1
2
+ 2
2
= 5 = 2.24
v
2
=

i 1.5

r
v
2
= 1
2
+1.5
2
=1.80
v
4
= 3

i + 2

r
v
4
= 3
2
+ 2
2
= 13 = 3.61
Adding and subtracting vectors
u = 2

i + 9

j
r
v = 5

i + 7.2

j
r
u +
r
v = 7

i +16.2

j
r
u
r
v = 3

i +1.8

j
Add and subtract

j
v
1
= 2

i
v
3
=

i 2

j
v
2
=

i 1.5

j
v
4
= 3

i + 2

j
Find:
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
,
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
,
r
v
4

r
v
3
v
1
= 2

i
v
3
=

i 2

j
v
4
= 3

i + 2

j
Find
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
,
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
,
r
v
4

r
v
3
Solution
v
2
=

i 1.5

j
Very important!!!
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
=
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
r
v
4

r
v
3
=
r
v
4

r
v
3

r
v
1
+
r
v
2
= 3

i 1.5

j
r
v
1
+
r
v
2
= (3)
2
+ (1.5)
2
= 3
2
+1.5
2
= 3.35
r
v
4

r
v
3
= (3

i + 2

j ) (

i 2

j )
= 3

i + 2

j +

i + 2

j = 2

i + 4

j
r
v
4

r
v
3
= (2)
2
+ (4)
2
= 2
2
+ 4
2
= 4.47
Notations
The following are all common notations of a vector:
r
v, v, v
The following are common notations of the magnitude
(i.e. the length of the arrow):
v,
r
v
Vector Components
5
4
-3

j
v = 4

i 3

j
Terminology
v = 4

i 3

j
The x-component of
r
v is 4, not 4

i .
The y-component of
r
v is -3, not -3

j.
Usually written as:
v
x
= 4, v
y
= 3
Decomposing a vector
v
Given
r
v = 7, u = 40
o
,
what are the x, y components of
r
v?
v
x
v
y
It means finding v
x
, v
y
!
Hint: Once you know
one side of a right-
angle triangle and
one other angle, you
can find all the
lengths using cos,
sin or tan.
u
A quick reminder

u

hcosu

hsinu

h
Trigonometry
cosu =
b
h
sinu =
a
h
tanu =
a
b
Solution
v = 7
Given
r
v = 7, u = 40
o
,
what are the x, y components of
r
v?
v
x
=
r
v cosu
= 7cos 40
o
= 5.36
v
y
=
r
v sinu
= 7sin40
o
= 4.50

u

r
v = 5.36

i + 4.5

j
Check
On the other hand, given
r
v = 5.36

i + 4.50

j,
you can deduce
r
v and u.
v
v
x
v
y
v = 5.36
2
+ 4.5
2
= 7 (as expected)
tanu =
opposite
adjacent
=
v
y
v
x
=
4.5
5.36
= 0.8396
u = tan
1
(0.8396) = 40
o
(as expected)

u
Angles of a vector
x
Find the angles the four vectors make with the positive x-axis.

u
1
= 30
o

u
2
=180
o
30
o
=150
o

u
3
=180
o
+ 30
o
= 210
o
or u
3
= (180
o
30
o
) = 150
o

u
4
= 360
o
30
o
= 330
o
or u
4
= 30
o
y

r
v
1

r
v
4

r
v
2

r
v
3
30
Calculating the angles

r
v = a

i + b

j
u = tan
1
(
b
a
) +| , where | =
0
o
if a > 0
180
o
if a < 0




Examples :
r
v = 2

i + 3

j u = tan
1
(
3
2
) + 0
o
= 56.3
o
r
v = 2

i + 3

j u = tan
1
(
3
2
) +180
o
=123.7
o
r
v = 2

i 3

j u = tan
1
(
3
2
) +180
o
= 236.3
o
r
v = 2

i 3

j u = tan
1
(
3
2
) + 0
o
= 56.3
o
(= 360
o
56.3
o
= 303.7
o
)
Write down the following three vectors in i j
notation. Find the sum of these vectors also.
60
o

50
o

10
o

5
4
4.5
v
1
= 5cos60
o

i + 5sin60
o

j
= 2.5

i + 4.3

j
v
2
= 4sin50
o

i 4cos50
o

j
= 3.1

i 2.6

j
v
3
= 4.5cos10
o

i 4.5sin10
o

j
= 4.4

i 0.8

j
v
total
= 1.2

i + 0.9

j
(-1) times a vector?
5
4
3

j
v = 4

i + 3

j
What is -
v
v?
v = 4

i + 3

j
v
v = 4

i 3

j
Points in the OPPOSITE direction!
What is -
v
v?
5
4
3
v = 4

i + 3

j
5
4
3

v
v = 4

i 3

j
In General
If this is
r
v
This is -
r
v
Adding Vectors Diagrammatically
u
v
u +
r
v
v
You are allowed to move an arrow around as
long as you do not change its direction and
length.
Method for adding vectors:

1. Move the arrows until
the tail of one arrow is at
the tip of the other
arrow.
2. Trace out the resultant
arrow.
Addition of vectors
You are allowed to move an arrow around as
long as you do not change its direction.
Adding in a different order
Order does not matter
Subtracting Vectors Diagrammatically
u
v
u
v

r
v
u +
r
v
u
r
v
What about
r
u
r
v?
v
u
r
v =
r
u + (
r
v)
If we know (
r
v) we know
r
u
r
v
Example
Example
What is
r
A+
r
B+
r
C?
A
C
B
D
A+
r
B+
r
C
A+
r
B+
r
C =
r
D
Adding vectors 1
Add the three vectors to find the
total displacement.

r
s
1
= 2.6

j
r
s
2
= 4

i

r
s
3
= 3.1cos(45
o
)

i + 3.1sin(45
o
)

j = 2.19

i + 2.19

j

r
s
total
=
r
s
1
+
r
s
2
+
r
s
3
= (4 + 2.19)

i + (2.6 + 2.19)

j = 6.19

i + 4.79

j
or more precisely:
r
s
total
= (6.19

i + 4.79

j )km
Adding Vectors 2

Find
r
A 2
r
B .

r
A = 2.8cos(60
o
)

i + 2.8sin(60
o
)

j =1.40

i + 2.42

j
r
B =1.9cos(60
o
)

i 1.9sin(60
o
)

j = 0.95

i 1.65

j

2
r
B = 2(0.95

i 1.65

j ) =1.90

i 3.30

j

r
A 2
r
B = (1.401.90)

i + (2.42 + 3.30)

j
= 0.50

i + 5.72

j
Electric field is a vector
The direction of the electric field is given below:
Vector Notation of E field

r : Unit vector pointing from the charge to the observer.

r =1
q

r

r
E =
q
4tc
0
r
2

r
Charges produce electric field. The closer you are to the
charge, the stronger is the electric field.
Unit: V/m = N/C
c
0
= 8.85 10
12
C
2
N
1
m
2
: Permittivity
Another Notation

r
E =
q
4tc
0
r
2

r =
1
4tc
0
q
r
2

r =
kq
r
2

r
k =
1
4tc
0
= 8.99 10
9
Nm
2
C
2
Store k in your calculator
Type:
8.99E9 then STO
then ALPHA then K
then ENTER
If q=2C, r=1.3m, to
find the E field, type:
K*2/1.3
2

Electric Field (Magnitude)
The magnitude of the electric field produced by a single
point charge q is give by:
E =
q
4tc
0
r
2
Dont forget the absolute value!
Magnitude is always positive.
Warnings
Do not confuse the displacement vector

r with
r
E.

r (blue arrow) points from the charge to the observer.

r
E (red arrow) is ALWAYS drawn with its tail at the obeserver,
and can point either away from OR toward the charge.
+
Observer

r E

r E
Direction of E (one
charge)
If q > 0,
r
E is in the SAME direction as

r.
If q < 0,
r
E is in the OPPOSITE direction as

r.

r
E =
q
4tc
0
r
2

r
What is

r?
Example

q
1
= 1nC

Observer at P.
r
r
P1
is the displacement vector from q
1
to P.

r
P1
is the corresponding unit vector.

r
r
P1
=1

i 0.5

j
r
r
P1
= 1
2
+ 0.5
2
=1.12

r
P1
=
1

i 0.5

j
1.12
= 0.89

i 0.45

j


r
P1
=
r
r
P1
r
r
P1
Example (Continued)
The electric field vector is given by the red
arrow.

q
1
= 1nC

r
E
1
=
q
1
4tc
0
r
P1
2

r
P1
=
10
9
4tc
0
(1.12)
2
(0.89

i 0.45

j )
= (6.38

i + 3.22

j )V / m
The strategy in finding the electric field vector
1. Draw an arrow from the charge to the observer
2. Write down the vector
r
r and its magnitude
r
r
3. Calculate

r =
r
r
r
r
4. Calculate
r
E =
q
4tc
0
r
2

r
5. If there are more than one charge, repeat for each one
6.
r
E
total
=
r
E
1
+
r
E
2
+L +
r
E
N
Find the unit vectors

A

B

C

D

E

q
1

Find :
r
r
A1
r
r
A1

r
A1
then do the same
for the other points.
Warnings
Do not confuse the displacement vector
r
r with
r
E.
r
r (blue arrow) points from the charge to the observer, and is
used to calculate

r.
r
E (red arrow) is ALWAYS drawn with its tail at the obeserver.

q
1
= 1nC
Example - Two Charges
See supplementary notes
-1nC
+1nC
More about r:
Sometimes it is easier to find

r using angles, for example:

\ \
\

r = cosu

i + sinu

r = cosu

i + sinu

r = sinu

i + cosu

j
Example
4 cm
3 cm
q
1

q
2

P
q
1
= 110
8
C, q
2
= 2 10
8
C
Find the E field at point P
Solution
4 cm
3 cm
q
1
q
2

P
q
1
= 110
8
C, q
2
= 2 10
8
C
E
1
=
q
1
4tc
0
r
1
2

r
1
=
q
1
4tc
0
r
1
2

i
=
(110
8
)
4t(8.85 10
12
)(0.04)
2

i = (56.2

i )kV / m
E
1
E
2
E
2
=
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
2

r
2
=
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
2
(

i )
=
(2 10
8
)
4t(8.85 10
12
)(0.03)
2
(

i ) = (199.8

i )kV / m

r
1

r
2

r
1
=

i ,

r
2
=

r
E
total
=
r
E
1
+
r
E
2
= (56.2

i +199.8

i )kV / m = (256.0

i )kV / m
Example
x
7-x
q
1

q
2
P
q
1
= 110
8
C, q
2
= 2 10
8
C
Find the point P such that E = 0.
7 cm
Exampl
e
x
7-x
q
1

q
2

P
q
1
= 110
8
C, q
2
= 2 10
8
C
q
1
4tc
0
x
2
=
q
2
4tc
0
(7 x)
2

q
1
x
2
=
q
2
(7 x)
2

(7 x)
2
x
2
=
q
2
q
1

7 x
x
=
q
2
q
1
= 2
7 x = 2x
x =
7
1 2
= 16.9cm (rejected) or 2.9cm
The difference between
field vectors and field lines
Field vectors
Field lines
Properties of field lines
Field lines never cross each other
Field lines never terminate in vacuum
Field lines originate from positive charges and
terminate at negative charge
Field lines may go off to infinity
The tangent of a field line gives the direction of
the E field at that particular point
Dipole
Field vectors
Field lines
Similar to this
You connects the field vectors to
find the field lines.
Electric Field and Electric Force
Electric field can be used to calculate the electric force:

r
F = q
r
E
F and E are parallel when q is positive.
F and E are opposite when q is negative.

Example :
A charge q = 2C in an electric field
r
E = (2

i 3

j )N/C will feel a force:
r
F = (2C)(2

i 3

j )N/C = (4

i + 6

j )N
Two point charges
q
1
q
2

r
E
21
E
12

The E field (magnitude) at
point 2 due to charge 1:
E
21
=
q
1
4tc
0
r
2
The force (magnitude) on
charge 2 due to charge 1:
F
21
= q
2
E
21
=
q
1
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
The E field (magnitude) at
point 1 due to charge 2:
E
12
=
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
The force (magnitude) on
charge 1 due to charge 2:
F
12
= q
1
E
12
=
q
1
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
Coulombs Law
F =
q
1
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
The mutual force due to two point charges has
magnitude:
Another Notation
F =
q
1
q
2
4tc
0
r
2
F = k
q
1
q
2
r
2
k =
1
4tc
0
= 8.99 10
9
Nm
2
C
2
Finding the Electric Force

q
1

q
2

q
3
There are two (equivalent) methods of
finding the force on a charge (say, q
1
).

Method 1 (using E field - recommended) :
Find the electric field at point 1 due to the other two charges
r
E
1
=
r
E
12
+
r
E
13
(Field at point 1 due to q
2
and q
3
)

r
F
1
= q
1
r
E
1

Method 2 (using Coulomb' s Law):
Find the force vectors on charge 1 due to the other two charges using Coulomb' s Law
r
F
1
=
r
F
12
+
r
F
13
(Forces at point 1 due to q
2
and q
3
)
Note that you must first write the forces as vectors, cannot add the magnitude instead
r
F
1
=
r
F
12
+
r
F
13
Finding the force on a
charge

At point P :
r
E = (9.60

i 3.16

j )N/C
P
-1nC
+1nC

If a charge q
3
= 2nC is placed at point P,
the force on it will be given by :
r
F
3
= q
3
r
E = (2nC)(9.60

i 3.16

j )N /C
= (19.20

i 6.32

j ) 10
9
N