CH 21 ELECTRIC FIELD AND ELECTRIC FORCES II

Intended Learning Outcomes – after this lecture you will learn:

1. To visualize electric field using electric field lines.
2. To use the principle of superposition to calculate electric fields due to some standard charge
distributions.
3. The torque and potential energy of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field.

Electric Field Lines

An elegant idea to visualize the field by Michael Faraday
Imaginary lines whose tangent gives the
direction of the electric field at that point.
They must:
1. Start from a positive charge
2. End at a negative charge
3. Repel (not cross) each other

Some examples:

larger density of field lines indicates strong field

field line is NOT trajectory of a test charge, because they indicate the direction of
acceleration, not velocity

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 1

Superposition of Electric Fields
Total field is the vector sum of fields due to individual point charges

�𝑭𝑭⃗0 = �𝑭𝑭⃗1 + �𝑭𝑭⃗2 + �𝑭𝑭⃗3 + ⋯

�⃗1 + 𝑞𝑞0 𝑬𝑬
= 𝑞𝑞0 𝑬𝑬 �⃗2 + 𝑞𝑞0 𝑬𝑬
�⃗3 + ⋯
�𝑭𝑭⃗0
�⃗ =
𝑬𝑬 = �𝑬𝑬⃗1 + �𝑬𝑬⃗2 + �𝑬𝑬⃗3 + ⋯
𝑞𝑞0

Field of a charged line segment Example 21.10

A line segment 2𝑎𝑎 with charge Q distributed uniformly throughout. Divide it into an infinite
number of small segments dy, each like a point charge.

Linear charge density (charge per unit length)

is 𝜆𝜆 = 𝑄𝑄/2𝑎𝑎

dy carries a charge 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆, creating a field

at P

1 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 =
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑟𝑟 2

1 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆 𝑥𝑥 1 𝑄𝑄 𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝐸𝐸𝑥𝑥 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 cos 𝛼𝛼 = = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑟𝑟 2 𝑟𝑟 4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 2𝑎𝑎 (𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 )3/2
1 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 𝑎𝑎 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 𝑄𝑄
𝐸𝐸𝑥𝑥 = � =
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 2𝑎𝑎 −𝑎𝑎 (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 )
2 2 3/2 4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑥𝑥√𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑎2

= 2𝑎𝑎/𝑥𝑥 2 √𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑎2 , check integral table or

Wolfram Alpha (see Appendix)

By symmetry, 𝐸𝐸𝑦𝑦 = 0, therefore

1 𝑄𝑄
��⃗ =
𝑬𝑬 𝒊𝒊̂
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑥𝑥√𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑎2

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 2

 1 𝑄𝑄
For 𝑥𝑥 ≫ 𝑎𝑎, the segment behaves like a point charge, 𝐸𝐸 = 4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖 𝑥𝑥 2
0
For 𝑥𝑥 ≪ 𝑎𝑎 (infinitely long segment),
1 𝑄𝑄/𝑎𝑎 𝜆𝜆
𝐸𝐸 = =
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑥𝑥 2𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑥𝑥
2
decreases as 1/𝑥𝑥, as oppose to 1/𝑥𝑥 for point charge

Question: if the segment has charge +𝑄𝑄 uniformly distributed from 0 to 𝑎𝑎, and – 𝑄𝑄 from 0 to – 𝑎𝑎,
the field at P will be (in +x direction / in –x direction / in +y direction / in –y direction / zero).

Field due to a ring of charge along its axis Example 21.9

A ring with charge Q distributed uniformly around it. Divide into an infinite number of small arc
segments ds, each like a point charge at the same distance away from P
Linear charge density (charge per unit
length) is 𝜆𝜆 = 𝑄𝑄/2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋

A small arc segment ds carries a charge

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆, creating a field at P

1 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 =
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑟𝑟 2

1 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆 𝑥𝑥 1 𝑄𝑄 𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝐸𝐸𝑥𝑥 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 cos 𝛼𝛼 = = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟 4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑎𝑎2 )3/2
2 2

1 𝑄𝑄 𝑥𝑥 1 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄
𝐸𝐸𝑥𝑥 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 =
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑎𝑎 )
2 2 3/2 4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑎𝑎2 )3/2
2

2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋

By symmetry, 𝐸𝐸𝑦𝑦 = 0, therefore

1 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄
�⃗ =
𝑬𝑬 𝒊𝒊̂
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑎𝑎2 )3/2
2

At the center of the ring, x = 0, and �𝑬𝑬⃗ = 0 by symmetry

1 𝑄𝑄
For 𝑥𝑥 ≫ 𝑎𝑎, the ring behaves like a point charge, 𝐸𝐸 = 4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖 2
0 𝑥𝑥

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 3

Field of a uniformly charged disk Example 21.11
Total charge Q, surface charge density (charge per unit area) is 𝜎𝜎 = 𝑄𝑄/𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅 2 . Divide into an
infinite number of small rings, each with radius r and width dr, charge 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋

Field due to an infinitesimal ring

1 𝑥𝑥(2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 =
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 (𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑟𝑟 2 )3/2

𝜎𝜎𝜎𝜎 𝑅𝑅 2𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝜎𝜎 1
𝐸𝐸 = � = �1 − �
4𝜖𝜖0 0 (𝑥𝑥 + 𝑟𝑟 )
2 2 3/2 2𝜖𝜖0 �(𝑅𝑅 2 ⁄𝑥𝑥 2 ) + 1

If the plate is infinitely large, 𝑅𝑅 → ∞, 𝐸𝐸 = 𝜎𝜎/2𝜖𝜖0 , independent of distance!

Field of two oppositely charged infinite sheets Example 21.12

𝐸𝐸 = 𝜎𝜎⁄𝜖𝜖0 , field lines uniform

Demonstration

Electron beam deflection

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 4

Field of an electric dipole Example 21.14
An electric dipole is a pair of equal and opposite charges +q and –q at a fixed distance d apart.
Its electric dipole moment �𝒑𝒑⃗ is defined as 𝑝𝑝 = 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 and points from –q to +q

1 𝑞𝑞 −𝑞𝑞
𝐸𝐸𝑦𝑦 = � + �
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 (𝑦𝑦 − 𝑑𝑑⁄2)2 (𝑦𝑦 + 𝑑𝑑⁄2)2
1 𝑞𝑞 𝑑𝑑 −2 𝑑𝑑 −2
= ��1 − � − �1 + � �
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑦𝑦 2 2𝑦𝑦 2𝑦𝑦

𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑
If 𝑦𝑦 ≫ 𝑑𝑑 ≅1+ ≅1−
𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦

𝑛𝑛(𝑛𝑛 − 1) 2
(1 + 𝑥𝑥)𝑛𝑛 = 1 + 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 + 𝑥𝑥 + ⋯
2
1 𝑞𝑞 2𝑑𝑑 1 𝑝𝑝
∴ 𝐸𝐸𝑦𝑦 ≅ 2
=
4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦 2𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖0 𝑦𝑦 3

decay as 1/𝑦𝑦 3 when far away

A water molecule behaves like an electric dipole

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 5

What if you put an electric dipole in a uniform electric field?
(How to achieve a uniform electric field?)
Define �𝒅𝒅⃗ from –q to +q, i.e., �𝒑𝒑⃗ = 𝑞𝑞𝒅𝒅
�⃗

�⃗+ + 𝑭𝑭
Total force = 𝑭𝑭 �⃗− = 0, center of mass does not move
But tends to rotate, i.e., torque is non-zero
�𝒅𝒅⃗ �⃗
−𝒅𝒅
�⃗ = × 𝑭𝑭
𝝉𝝉 �⃗+ + × �𝑭𝑭⃗−
2 2
= 𝑞𝑞𝒅𝒅�⃗ × 𝑬𝑬
�⃗
i.e. 𝝉𝝉 �⃗ × �𝑬𝑬⃗ torque on a dipole
�⃗ = 𝒑𝒑
��⃗ (still remember how to
Work done by the electric field on the dipole to turn it through angle 𝑑𝑑𝝓𝝓
���⃗?)
define the direction of 𝑑𝑑𝝓𝝓
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = �⃗ ���⃗ = −𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 sin 𝜙𝜙 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝝉𝝉 ⋅ 𝑑𝑑𝝓𝝓
𝜙𝜙2
𝑊𝑊 = − � 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 sin 𝜙𝜙 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 cos 𝜙𝜙2 − 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 cos 𝜙𝜙1
𝜙𝜙1
Since 𝑊𝑊 = −∆𝑈𝑈 = −(𝑈𝑈2 − 𝑈𝑈1 ) (work done by electric field = -ve of change of potential),
define the potential energy of a dipole in an electric field as 𝑈𝑈 = −𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 cos 𝜙𝜙, or
𝑈𝑈 = −𝒑𝒑�⃗ ⋅ �𝑬𝑬⃗
�⃗ align with (parallel to) �𝑬𝑬⃗ to minimize potential energy, and �⃗
𝒑𝒑 𝝉𝝉 = 0

��⃗, then the dipole is (in stable

Question: if the dipole moment �𝒑𝒑⃗ is opposite (anti-parallel) to 𝑬𝑬
equilibrium / in unstable equilibrium / not in equilibrium).

Example 21.13: 𝑞𝑞 = 1.6 × 10−19 C, 𝑑𝑑 = 0.125 × 10−9 m, 𝐸𝐸 = 5.0 × 105 N/C

𝑝𝑝 = 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 = (1.6 × 10−19 C)(0.125 × 10−9 m) = 2.0 × 10−29 Cm

𝜏𝜏 = 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 sin 𝜙𝜙 = (2.0 × 10−29 Cm)(5.0 × 105 N/C) sin 145° = 5.7 × 10−24 Nm

𝑈𝑈 = −𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 cos 𝜙𝜙 = −(2.0 × 10−29 Cm)(5.0 × 105 N/C) cos 145° = 8.2 × 10−24 J

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 6

Clicker Questions

Ans: Q21.9) A, Q21.11)A

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 7

Appendix Doing integration with Wolfram Alpha
It gives you not only the result, but the steps also, all from your smart phone

a) b)

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 8

Video Solutions of Textbook Examples for this Lecture

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 9

Refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Faraday for more information

PHYS1114 Lecture 2 Electric Field and Electric Forces II P. 10