5)CoulombsLaw

a) form

F kq1q2 /r

F kq1q2 /r

b)Units
Twopossibilities:
definekandderiveq(esu)
defineqandderivek(SI)

Definecoulomb(C)asthequantityofchargethat
producesaforceof9x109Nonobjects1mapart.

F kq
9 10 N
k(1C)
1q2 /r/(1m)
9

2 2

k 9 10 N
9

 Forpracticalreasons,thecoulombisdefined
usingcurrentandmagnetismgiving
k=8.988x109Nm2/C2
Permittivityoffreespace
1
12 2
2
0
8.84 10 C /Nm
4 k
Then

1 q1q2
F
2
4 0 r

c)Fundamentalunitofcharge
e=1.602x1019C

Example:Forcebetweentwo1Ccharges
1mmapart

F=kq1q2/r2=9109(106)2/(103)2N=9000N

~weightof1000kgobject(1tonne))
sameasforcebetweentwo1Ccharges1kmapart

Example:Coulombforcevsgravityforelectrons
m,e
Fg

FC=ke2/r2

m,e

FC

FN=Gm2/r2

Ratio:
2
9
19 2
FC
ke
(9 10 )(1.6 10 ) N

2
FN Gm
(6.7 10 11 )(9.11031 ) 2 N

4 10

42

Example:VelocityofanelectronintheBohrAtom

Coulombforce:F=kq1q2/r2(attractive)
Circularmotionrequires:F=mv2/r
So,
v2=kq1q2/mr
Forr=5.29x1011m,v=2.18x106m/s

d)Superpositionofelectricforces
Netforceisthevectorsumofforcesfromeach
charge
F3

q1
q2

q3

F2
F1

Netforceonq:F=F1+F2+F3

6)ElectricField
abstraction
separatescauseandeffectinCoulombslaw
a)Definition

r
r F
E
q0
Units:N/C

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

b)Fieldduetoapointcharge
q0

Q
r

Coulombslaw:
ElectricField:

r r
E//
F

Qq0
Fk 2
r

Q
E F /q0 k 2
r
directionisradial

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

r kQ

E 2 r
r

c)Superpositionofelectricfields
Netfieldisthevectorsumoffieldsfromeachcharge

E3

q1
q2

q3

E2
E1

NetfieldatP:E=E1+E2+E3

Example

D=3m

d
16C

4C

q2

FinddtogiveE=0atP

E P E1 E 2 0
q411
q12 2
kq
kq

22
2
(D d)
d

E2

E1 E 2

E1

2(D d) d
4(D
d
2

d 2Dor D 6mor2m
2
3

7)ElectricFieldLines(linesofforce)
a)Directionofforceonpositivecharge

radialforpointcharges
outforpositive(begin)
infornegative(end)

b)Numberoflinesproportionaltocharge

2Q

c)Beginandendonlyoncharges;nevercross
E?

d)Linedensityproportionaltofieldstrength
Linedensityatradiusr:
N
1
Numberoflines

2 2
4r
r
areaofsphere

Linesofforcemodel<==>inversesquarelaw

8)Applicationsoflinesofforcemodel
a)dipole

b)twopositivecharges

c)Unequalcharges

d)Infiniteplaneofcharge
+

+ +
+
+ +
+
+ +
+ q,A
+

Bycomparisonwiththe
fieldfromapointcharge,
wefind:

Fieldisuniformandconstantto?,
inbothdirections
Electricfieldisproportionaltotheline
density,andthereforetothecharge
density,=q/A

E
2 0

e)Parallelplatecapacitor(assumeseparationsmallcomparedtothesize)
E+
E

EL=0

+
+
+
+

E+
E

E=2E+

Stronguniformfieldbetween:
Fieldzerooutside

E+
E

ER=0

E / 0

Fringingfieldsneartheedges

f)Sphericallysymmetricchargedistribution
Symmetry==>radial
numberoflinesprop.tocharge
+

+
+

Outsidethesphere:

r kq

E 2 r
r

asthoughallchargeconcentratedatthe
centre(likegravity)

9)ElectricFieldsandConductors
Excesschargeresidesonsurface
atequilibrium
Fieldinsideiszeroateqm;
chargesmoveuntil|E1|=|E2|

E1

E1
E2

 Closedconductorshieldsexternalfields
E

E=0

Fieldlines
perpendicularat
surface

Fieldoutside
conductingshell
notshielded

 Fieldoutsidegrounded
shellisshielded
Fieldlargerforsmaller
radiusE=kq/r2
(concentratedatsharp
tips)

Demonstration:Vande
Graafgenerator
purpose:toproducehighfieldby
concentratingchargeusedto
accelerateparticlesforphysicsexpts
principle:chargeonconductors
movestothesurface