a d sc ete C a e

Module 03: Electric Fields Module 03: Electric Fields

and Discrete Charge g
Distributions
1

Module 03: Outline
Review:
Electric Fields Electric Fields
Charge Charge
Dipoles
2
Last Time:
Gravitational & Electric
Fields
3

Gravitational & Electric Fields

Mass M Charge q ()
M
Mass M
s
Charge q
s
()
SOURCE:
2

g r
s
M
G
r
=

2

E r
s
e
q
k
r
=

CREATE:
r
r

F E

F g
g
m =

F E
E
q =
FEEL:
This is easiest way to envision field,
4
This is easiest way to envision field,
as producing forces!
t t t t
Electric Field Lines
1. Direction of field at any point is tangent to field
li h i line at that point
2. Field lines point away from positive charges
and terminate on negative charges
3. Field lines never cross each other
5
Concept Questions on Concept Questions on
Electric Field Electric Field
6
Concept Question: Force p
The picture shows
the field lines around the field lines around
two charges.
The force between
the two charges is: the two charges is:
1. Attractive
2. Repulsive
3 Cant tell without more information
7
3. Can t tell without more information
4. I dont know
times.
Concept Question: Field Lines p
Electric field lines show:
1. Directions of forces that exist in space at all
times.
2. Directions in which positive charges on those
lines will accelerat lines will accelerate.
3. Paths that charges will follow.
4 M h f h b 4. More than one of the above.
5. I dont know..
8
Checkpoint Problem p
P
s
i

d q
q +
Consider two point charges of equal magnitude but
opposite signs separated by a distance d Point P opposite signs, separated by a distance d. Point P
lies along the perpendicular bisector of the line
joining the charges a distance s above that line
9
joining the charges, a distance s above that line.
What is the E field at P?
Two Concept Two Concept
Questions: Questions:
E Field of Finite # of E Field of Finite # of
Point Charges Point Charges
10
] ]
Concept Question: p
Equal Charges
1
Electric field at P is:
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
2 2

1 2 E j E i
e e
k qs k qd

3/ 2 3/ 2
2 2
2 2
1. 2.
4 4
E j E i
e e
d d
s s
= =
, ] , ]
+ +
, ] , ]
] ]
3/ 2 3/ 2
2 2
2 2

3. 4. E j E i
e e
k qd k qs
d d
= =
, ] , ]

2 2
4 4
d d
s s
, ] , ]
+ +
, ] , ]
] ]
11
5. I Don't Know
Concept Question: 5 p Q
Equal Charges
1. 2
2.
3
3.
4
4.
5
5.
6
Six equal positive charges q sit at the vertices of a
regular hexagon with sides of length R We remove regular hexagon with sides of length R. We remove
the bottom charge. The electric field at the center of
the hexagon (at point P) is:
2 2
2 2

1. 2. E j E j
kq kq
R R
= =

2 2

3. 4. E j E j
kq kq
R R
= =

12
5. 0 6. I Don't Know E =

Charging Charging
13
How Do You Get Charged? g
Friction Friction
Transfer (touching) Transfer (touching)
Induction
+q
Neutral
-
-
-
+
+
+
q
Neutral
-
+
+
14
Demonstrations:
Instruments for
Charging
15
Electric Dipoles
A Special Charge Distribution A Special Charge Distribution
16
t
Electric Dipole p
Two equal but opposite charges +q and q,
t d b di 2 separated by a distance 2a
q
Dipole Moment:
Vector product of charge

2a
Vector product of charge
with displacement
p

2 2 p j j q a qa

-q
2 2 p j j q a qa = =
points from negative to positive charge p

17
points from negative to positive charge p
Why Dipoles? Why Dipoles?
Nature Likes To Make Dipoles! Nature Likes To Make Dipoles!
A i ti
18
Animation
Dipoles make Fields Dipoles make Fields
19
j \
] ]
, (
Electric Field Created by Dipole
Thou shalt use
t ! components!

r r x y

2 3 3 3

r r
i j
x y
r r r r

= = +
j \
r r r r
E
x
= k
e
q
x
r
3

x
r
3
j
(
,
\
,
(
= k
e
q
x
2
+ ( )
2
, ]
3/2

x
2
+ ( + )
2
, ]
3/2
j
(
,
,
\
,
(
(
r
+
r

( ,
E k
y
+
y

j \
x
2
+ (y a)
2
,

]
]
x
2
+ (y + a)
2
,

]
]
(
,
,
(
k
y a y + a
j
,
\
(
20
E
y
= k
e
q
y
+
r
+
3

y

r

3
(
,
,
(
= k
e
q
y
x
2
+ (y a)
2
,

]
]
3/ 2

y
x
2
+ (y + a)
2
,

]
]
3/ 2
(
,
,
,
(
(
Concept Question Question: Concept Question Question:
Dipole Fall-Off p
21
Concept Question: Dipole Field p p
A t l di t f As you move to large distances r away from
a dipole, the electric field will fall-off as:
1. 1/r
2
, just like a point charge
2 M idl th 1/
2
2. More rapidly than 1/r
2
3. More slowly than 1/r
2
y
4. I Dont Know
22
Concept Question Answer: Dipole
Field Field
A 2) M idl th 1/
2
Answer: 2) More rapidly than 1/r
2
We know this must be a case by thinking
about what a dipole looks like from a large about what a dipole looks like from a large
distance. To first order, it isnt there (net
h i 0) h E Fi ld d charge is 0), so the E-Field must decrease
faster than if there were a point charge there. g
23
Point Dipole Approximation p pp
Take the limit r > > a
Fi it Di l
You can show
E
3p
i
Finite Dipole
You can show
E
x

p
4
0
r
3
sin cos
E
p
3cos
2
1
( )
24
E
y

4
0
r
3
3cos 1
( )
Point Dipole
Shockwave for Dipole p
Dipole Visualization
25
p
Dipoles feel Fields Dipoles feel Fields
26
Demonstration: Demonstration:
Dipole in Field Dipole in Field
27
Dipole in Uniform Field Dipole in Uniform Field

E i E =

E i E

2 (cos sin ) p i j qa = +

2 (cos sin ) p i j qa +
( ) 0 F F F E E
net
q q
+
= + = + =

Total Net Force:
Torque on Dipole:
r F =

p E =

( )( )
2 sin( ) a qE =
p

= rF
+
sin()
sin( ) pE =
28
tends to align with the electric field p

Torque on Dipole
Total Field (dipole + background)
shows torque:
Animation Animation
(link)
Field lines transmit tension
Connection between dipole field and
29
p
constant field pulls dipole into alignment
Concept Question Question: Concept Question Question:
Dipole in Non-Uniform Field p
30
Concept Question: Dipole in Non-
Uniform Field Uniform Field
A dipole sits in a non-uniform
E
electric field E, as shown
Due to the electric field this dipole will
feel: feel:
1. force but no torque
2. no force but a torque
3 both a force and a torque 3. both a force and a torque
4. neither a force nor a torque
31
q
MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu
8.02SC Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism
Fall 2010
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