CHAPTER 12 Notes

CHAPTER 12
ELECTROSTATICS
12.1 COULOMB’SLAW
What is Electric Charge?
• - An intrinsic property of protons and
electrons, which make up all matter, is electric
charge.
• - A proton has a positive charge, and an
electron has a negative charge.
- The SI unit for measuring the magnitude of
electric charge is the coulomb (C).
- The electric charge is said to be
quantized(discrete values or individual parts).
The smallest amount of free charge is
e=1.6×10-19 C. Any electric charge, q, occurs
as integer multiples of the elementary charge
e, Q = ne
- Two electrically charged objects exert a force
on one another, called as electrostatic force:
like charges repel and unlike charges attract
each other.
The strength of electrical force depends on
- The distance between charges
- The amount of charge on each object
• Coulomb’s law states that the magnitude of electrostatic
force between two charged objects is directly
proportional to the product of the two charges and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between charges.
Where
k= =Coulombs constant
Difference and Similarities between Electricity
and Gravity
• Mathematical form of the Coulomb law and
law of gravitation very similar
EXAMPLE 1
What is the electrostatic force between two
positive charges? [q1 = 4 μC, q2 = 8 μC, r = 10
cm]
ANSWER
= (8.99 x 10^9) (4 x 10^-6) (8 x 10^-6) / (0.1)^2

= 28.8 N
The force on a point charge due to two or more other point
charges
• There are three charges q1, q2 and q3. What would be the
net force on q1 due to both q2 and q3?
• First, find the magnitude and direction of the force exerted
on q1 by q2 (ignoring q3).
• Then, determine the force exerted on q1 by q3 (ignoring q2).
• The net force on q1 is the vector sum of these forces.
• If we have n charged particles, they interact independently in
pairs, and the force on any one of them, let us say particle 1,
is given by the vector sum
• F1,net = F12 + F13 + F14 etc.
EXAMPLE 2
Forces F1 and F2 act independently on test
charge (q0). Find Fnet
[q1 = 2 μC, q2 = 5 μC, q0 = 4 μC ]
F1 = kqq/r2 = 7.2 N (to right)
F2 = kqq/r2 = 2.9 N (to left)
So, Fnet = F1 – F2 = 7.2 – 2.9 = 4.3 N (to right)
• Note, the larger effect of F1 (even though the

charge was smaller) is due to its closer
proximity to q0.
EXAMPLE 3
Three point charges are arranged as shown in the figure
below. (Take q1 = 5.46 nC, q2 = 4.95 nC, and q3 = -2.97 nC.)
a) Find the magnitude of the electric force on the particle at

the origin.
b) Find the direction of the electric force on the particle at
the origin.
ANSWER
a) F=kq1q2 / r^2 (k=9 x 10^9, q=charge of particle, r=distance between
particles)
Force due to q1:

F1=(9 x 10^9)(5.46 x 10^-9)(4.95 x 10^-9) / (0.3)^2
F1 = 2.7027 x 10^-6 N to the left since repulsive force
Force due to q3:

F2=(9 x 10^9)(4.95 x 10^-9)(2.97 x 10^-9) / (0.1)^2
F2 = 1.323 x 10^-5 N downwards since attractive force
• To find magnitude, use pythagorean theorem
F^2 = (2.7027 x 10-6)^2 + (1.323 x 10-5)^2

F = 1.35 x 10-5 N
b) To find direction, use trigonometry
tan α= 1.323 x 10^-5 / 2.7027 x 10^-6
= 78.454⁰ from the negative x-axis
=180 + 78.454 = 258.454 ⁰ from positive x-

axis
EXAMPLE 4
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 5
Assume that a hydrogen atom consists of an
electron of charge e- orbiting a proton of charge
e+. Calculate the ratio of the electrostatics force
between the electron and proton to the
gravitational force between them. (Mass of
electron, m=9.1x10^-31 kg, mass of proton,
m=1.67x10^-27 kg)
12.2 Electric Fields
Definition of Electric Field
• We define the electric field in terms of the force it
exerts on a positive point charge
• Unit of the electric field: N/C (newtons per coulomb)

• We can then write F=qE
• Note that the electric force is parallel to the electric
field and is proportional to the charge
• The force on a negative charge will be in the opposite
direction
Electric Field Lines
• We can represent the electric field graphically by
electric field lines — i.e., curves that represent
the vector force exerted on a positive test charge.
• Electric field lines will originate on positive
charges and terminate on negative charges.
• Electric field lines do not cross.
• The electric force at a given point in space is
tangent to the electric field line through that
point.
- What would happen to a charge in each field?
• A charge creates an electric field around itself and the other charge
feels that field.
• Test charge: point object with a very small positive charge so that it
does not modify the original field
• Electric field at a given point in space: place a positive test charge q
at the point and measure the electrostatic force that acts on the
test charge; then
• A field is not just an abstract concept that we use to describe forces.

The field is real.
• If we place a positive point charge in an electric field, there will be a
vector force on that charge in the direction of the electric field
• The magnitude of the force depends on the strength of the electric
MOTION OF A POINT CHARGE IN A
UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD
• Figure (a) shows a particle of charge +q moving with a velocity v in the
direction of the electric field E. The force F=qE which is in the direction of v
causes the particle of charge +q to accelerate along the direction of the
electric field E.
• Acceleration , a = F/m = qE/m
(m=mass of charged particle)
• A negative point charge such as an electron moving with a velocity v in the

direction of E experiences a force F=eE in the direction opposite to that of E.
This force causes the electron to decelerate.
• Figure (b) shows a particle of charge +q entering a
uniform electric field E with a velocity v which is
perpendicular to E. The force F=qE on the particle is
constantand the direction of E. This is identical to the
motion of projectile under gravity.
 The horizontal componenet of velocity of the particle
remains constant, v
 The vertical component of velocity increases with an
acceleration
a=F/m =qE/m
.
EXAMPLE 6
A point charge of -25 𝝁C is placed at a point
having an electric field strength of 2400 N
directed in an upward direction. Determine the
magnitude and direction of the force acting on
the charge.
ANSWER
N
=0.06 N (Downward)
EXAMPLE 7
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 8
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 9
ANSWER
a)
b)
c)
EXAMPLE 10
The figure shows three ink drops in a bubble-jet printer that
have the same mass but different charge entering a uniform
electric field E with the same velocity v perpendicular to the
electric field. Sketch the paths of the particles in the electric
field. Explain for the differences in the paths.
,
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 11
ANSWER
12.3 Gauss’ law
Electric Flux
• The electric flux is defined to be
or
Where E is the electric field and A is the area
• .
•If surface area is not perpendicular to the electric field we have to
slightly change our definition of the flux
Where is the angle between the field and the unit vector that is
perpendicular to the surface
.
Gauss’ law
Gauss’s law states that the net electric flux, 𝝓, passing through a closed
surface (Gaussian surface) is equal to the total net charge Q inside the
closed surface divided by the permittivity, 𝜺, of the medium
𝝓=
Where = permittivity of the medium
If the charge is in vacuum, then Gauss’s law is written as
𝝓=
Where = permittivity of vacuum =

• For a closed surface, the unit vector is taken as being
pointed outward
• Where flux lines enter the surface, the surface normal

and the electric field lines are anti-parallel
• If the area is not planar, then the evaluation of
the flux generally requires an area integral
since the angle will be continually changing.
Gaussian Surfaces
Electric Field of Point Charge
• The electric field of a point charge Q can be obtained by a
straightforward application of Gauss' law. Considering a Gaussian
surface in the form of a sphere at radius r, the electric field has the
same magnitude at every point of the sphere and is directed
outward. The electric flux is then just the electric field times the
area of the sphere.
.
Electric Field of Conducting Sphere
EXAMPLE 12
ANSWER
a) Use
= (1x10^-7)/(4π x 8.85x10^-12 x (0.015)^2)

=4 x 10^6 V m^-1
b) E = 0
EXAMPLE 13
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 14
ANSWER
Using T cos 30 = mg
T sin 30 = qE = q(σ/ℇₒ)
tan 30 = (qσ)/(ℇₒmg)
σ = 2.5 x 10^-9 C m^-2

STPM 2014
ANSWER
12.4 Electric potential
The electric potential V at a point in an electric
field is the work done to bring a unit positive
charge from infinity to the point. The electric
potential at infinity is considered zero.
Effect of a neighbouring conductor
Electric potential energy
Potential Difference (Voltage Drop)
• The potential difference between points A and B is defined as

the change in the potential energy (final value minus initial
value) of a charge q moved from A to B divided by the size of the
charge
• ΔV = VB – VA = ΔPE /q
• Potential difference is not the same as potential energy
• Another way to relate the energy and the potential difference:
ΔPE = q ΔV
• Both electric potential energy and potential difference are scalar
quantities
• Units of potential difference: V = J/C
Relationship between E and V
EXAMPLE 15
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 16
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 17
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 18
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 19
ANSWER
135000 NC^-1
4X 135000 Cos 45
3.8 x 10^5 NC^-1
EXAMPLE 20
ANSWER
12.5 Equipotential surfaces (Ex)
Equipotentials and Electric Fields Lines (Positive Charge)
•The equipotentials for a point charge are a family of spheres centered
on the point charge
•The field lines are perpendicular to the electric potential at all points
•It is convenient to represent by drawing equipotential lines
.
Equipotential Surfaces
• An equipotential surface is a surface on which all points are

at the same potential
• No work is required to move a charge at a constant speed
on an equipotential surface
• The electric field at every point on an equipotential surface
is perpendicular to the surface
• defined as a surface in space on which the potential is the
same for every point (surfaces of constant voltage)
• The electric field at every point of an equipotential surface
is perpendicular to the surface
EXAMPLE 21
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 22
A proton moves from rest in an electric field of
8.0X10^4 V/m along the +x axis for 50 cm. Find
a) the change in the electric potential,
b) the change in the electrical potential energy,
and
c) the speed after it has moved 50 cm. (k = 8.99
X 10^9)
ANSWER
EXAMPLE 23
Consider a proton being accelerated from rest
through a region of electric potential V₁ to V₂.
The final speed of the proton is 2 x 10^6 ms^-
1.
i)Describe the energy change in the proton
ii)Determine the potential difference between
V₁ to V₂
EXAMPLE 24
Electron ‘leak’ from the surface of many stars so that such
stars acquire positive charges. The charging stops when the
charge on the star is too large that protons on the surface also
begin to be repelled. This occurs when the sum of the
gravitational potential energy and the electric energy of a
proton near the surface is zero.
a) Write down the equation relating these two energies
b) Show that, in the steady state, the maximum charge
carried by a star of given mass is independent of its radius.
c) Calculate the maximum charge on the sun whose mass is
2 x 10^30 kg.
ANSWER

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CHAPTER 12

= (8.99 x 10^9) (4 x 10^-6) (8 x 10^-6) / (0.1)^2

So, Fnet = F1 – F2 = 7.2 – 2.9 = 4.3 N (to right)

• Note, the larger effect of F1 (even though the

a) Find the magnitude of the electric force on the particle at

Force due to q1:

Force due to q3:

• To find magnitude, use pythagorean theorem

F^2 = (2.7027 x 10-6)^2 + (1.323 x 10-5)^2

=180 + 78.454 = 258.454 ⁰ from positive x-

• Unit of the electric field: N/C (newtons per coulomb)

• A field is not just an abstract concept that we use to describe forces.

• A negative point charge such as an electron moving with a velocity v in the

Where = permittivity of the medium

If the charge is in vacuum, then Gauss’s law is written as

Where = permittivity of vacuum =

• Where flux lines enter the surface, the surface normal

= (1x10^-7)/(4π x 8.85x10^-12 x (0.015)^2)

σ = 2.5 x 10^-9 C m^-2

• The potential difference between points A and B is defined as

• An equipotential surface is a surface on which all points are

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