Electric Fields

Electric field strength / intensity at a point is defined as the force per unit positive charge acting at that point {a vector; Unit: N C-1 or V m-1}

E = F / q → F = qE

Representation of electric fields by field lines

 

Coulomb's law:

The (mutual) electric force F acting between 2 point charges Q1 and Q2 separated by a distance r is given by:

F = Q1Q2 / 4πεor2 where ε0: permittivity of free space

or, the (mutual) electric force between two point charges is proportional to the product of their charges & inversely proportional to the square of their separation.

Example 1:

Two positive charges, each 4.18 μC, and a negative charge, -6.36 μC, are fixed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side 13.0 cm. Find the electrostatic force on the negative charge.

F = Q1Q2 / 4πεor2

= (8.99 x 109) [(4.18 x 10-6)(6.36 x 10-6) / (13.0 x 10-2)2]

= 14.1 N

(Note: negative sign for -6.36 μC has been ignored in the calculation)

FR = 2 x Fcos300

= 24.4 N, vertically upwards

Electric field strength due to a Point Charge Q : E = Q / 4πεor2
{NB: Do NOT substitute a negative Q with its negative sign in calculations!}

Example 2:

In the figure below, determine the point (other than at infinity) at which the total electric field strength is zero.

From the diagram, it can be observed that the point where E is zero lies on a straight line where the charges lie, to the left of
the -2.5 μC charge.

Let this point be a distance r from the left charge.

Since the total electric field strength is zero,

E = E-2μ

[6μ / (1 + r)2] / 4πεor2 = [2.5μ / r2] / 4πεor2 (Note: negative sign for -2.5 μC has been ignored here)

6 / (1 + r)2 = 2.5 / r2

√(6r) = 2.5 (1 + r)

r = 1.82 m

The point lies on a straight line where the charges lie, 1.82 m to the left of the -2.5 μC charge.

 

Uniform electric field between 2 Charged Parallel Plates: E = Vd,
d: perpendicular dist between the plates,
V: potential difference between plates

Path of charge moving at 90° to electric field: parabolic.
Beyond the pt where it exits the field, the path is a straight line, at a tangent to the parabola at exit.

 

Example 3:

An electron (m = 9.11 x 10-31 kg; q = -1.6 x 10-19 C) moving with a speed of 1.5 x 107 ms-1, enters a region between 2 parallel plates, which are 20 mm apart and 60 mm long. The top plate is at a potential of 80 V relative to the lower plate. Determine the angle through which the electron has been deflected as a result of passing through the plates.

Time taken for the electron to travel 60 mm horizontally = Distance / Speed = 60 x 10-3 / 1.5 x 107 = 4 x 10-9 s
E = V / d = 80 / 20 x 10-3 = 4000 V m-1
a = F / m = eE / m = (1.6 x 10-19)(4000) / (9.1 x 10-31) = 7.0 x 1014 ms-2
vy = uy + at = 0 + (7.0 x 1014)( 4 x 10-9) = 2.8 x 106 ms-1
tan θ = vy / vx = 2.8 x 106 / 1.5 x 107 = 0.187
Therefore θ = 10.6°

Effect of a uniform electric field on the motion of charged particles

Electric potential at a point: is defined as the work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to that point, { a scalar; unit: V } ie V = W / Q

The electric potential at infinity is defined as zero. At any other point, it may be positive or negative depending on the sign of Q that sets up the field. {Contrast gravitational potential.}

Relation between E and V: E = - dV / dr

i.e. The electric field strength at a pt is numerically equal to the potential gradient at that pt.

NB: Electric field lines point in direction of decreasing potential {ie from high to low pot}.

Electric potential energy U of a charge Q at a pt where the potential is V: U = QV
Work done W on a charge Q in moving it across a pd ΔV: W = Q ΔV

Electric Potential due to a point charge Q : V = Q / 4πεor
{NB: Substitute Q with its sign}