STATIC ELECTRICITY

Coulomb's Law
F =
(K |q
1
q
2
|)
r
2

where: q
1
& q
2
= electric charges in coulomb, C
r = distance between two charges
K = 8.99 x 10
9
N m
2
/ C
2
F = electric force in newton, N
in CGS units:
K= 1 dyne cm
2
/ statC
2

r = cm
F = dyne
other units:
1 C = 3 x 10
9
statC
1 N = 1 x 10
5
dynes
1 C = 10
-6
C
1 nC = 10
-9
C
1 C = 10
-12
C

Determination of Direction of F
Like charges, REPEL
Unlike charges, ATTRACT

Resultant Force
vector sum of electric forces in a system of
charges

GAUSS' LAW
Electric Flux (lines of force) produced at a spot normal
to the surface where electric field exists due to electric
charge q.

= q

for spherical surface with area, A
n
= 4R
2

=
o
E A
n

where:

o
= 1 / 4K = 8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
/ N m
2

UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD
E =
F
q
=
ma
q


y = V
o
t + at
2

H = (V
o
sin)
2
/ 2a

t
H
= V
o
sin / a

R = (V
o
cos) (t
R
)





SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. Two particles with electric charges Q and 3Q are
separated by a distance of 1.2 m. (a) If Q 4.5 C, what is
the electric force between the two particles? (b) If Q 4.5
C, how does the answer change?
2. Two small, identical particles have charges Q1 3.0 mC
and Q2 5.0 mC. If the electric force between the particles
is 120 N, what is the distance between the particles?
Answer: 0.034 m
3. Three charges with q 7.5 mC are located in the positive
and negative x-axis and in the negative y-axis, with L=25
cm from the origin. (a) What are the magnitude and
direction of the total electric force on the charge at the
bottom? (b) What are the magnitude and direction of the
total electric force on the charge at the right?
Answer: 5.7 N downward (b) 5.7 N at 30.4 above horizontal
4. Particles of charge Q and 3Q are placed on the x axis at
x= -L and x= +L, respectively. A third particle of charge q
is placed on the x axis, and it is found that the total
electric force on this particle is zero. Where is the
particle?
Answer: At x = 0.27L
5. What is the magnitude of the electric field at a distance
of 1.5 m from a point charge with Q = 3.5 C?
Answer: 1.4 x 10
10
N/C
6. A charged paint is spread in a very thin uniform layer
over the surface of a plastic sphere of diameter 12 cm,
giving it a charge of -15C. Find the electric field (a) just
inside the paint layer; (b) just outside the paint layer; (c)
5cm outside the surface of the paint layer.
Answer: (a) 0 (b) 3.75 x 10
7
N/C radially inward (c) 1.11 x
10
7
N/C radially inward

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Due to an isolated charge q

V =

Due to two or more point charges q
1
, q
2,
q
3


V = V
1
+ V
2
+ V
3
+

V = k

Potential energy due to two charges Q and q

PE = Fr =

(J, ergs)
Note: Include signs of charges in computation

PE due to three charges

PE = kq

Example:


1.) Two point charges +40nC and -30nC are 10 cm apart. Point
A is midway between the charges and point B is 6 cm from
+40nC and 8 cm from +30 nC.
a. Electric potential at point A
b. Electric potential at point B

SOLUTION:
a. V
a(+40)
=
910
9
(40 10
9
)
0.05
= 7200 volts

V
a(-30)
=
(9 10
9
) (30 10
9
)
0.05
= -5400 volts

V
a
= 7200 5400
V
a
= 1, 800 volts

b. V
b(+40)
=
9 10
9
(40 10
9
)
0.06
= 6000 volts

V
b(-30)
=
9 10
9
(30 10
9
)
0.08
= -3375 volts

V
b
= 6000 3375
V
b
= 2625 volts


POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

= V
a
- V
b

V
ab
= V
a
- V
b
V
ba
= V
b
- V
a
V
ab
= -V
ba

* Referring to example 1, determine the potential difference
between A and B, V
ab


V
ab
= V
a
- V
b
= 1800 2625
V
ab
= -825 volts

WORK DONE, W

W = q
Signs of W:
W is + :V
a
>V
b

W is -: V
a
<V
b

W is 0: V
a
= V
b



Referring to example 1, determine the work done in
transferring +20C from A to B

W = (20 x 10
-6
) (-825 volts)
W = -0.0165 J
W = -1.65 x 10
-2
J


ELECRIC POTENTAIL ENERGY

EPE = qV
EPE = k

12


Due to 3 or more point charges
EPE = k

Referring to example 1, what must be the electric potential
energy of the system?

EPE =
9 10
9
40 10
9
(30 10
9
)
0.1

EPE = -1.08 x 10
-4
J

2.) Three point charges +5C, -2 C and -6 C initially are
infinitely far apart. They are then brought together and
placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle, 50 cm on a
side.

Determine the electric potential energy of the system of
charges.














EPE = k

= (9 x 10
9
)

12
+

13
+

23


=
9 10
9

0.5
52 + 26 + (6)(5) 10
12


EPE = -0.504 J

3.) Three charges q
1
= +12nC and q
2
= -12nC are 10cm apart.
Point A is 6 cm from q
1
and 4 cm from q
2
. Point B is 4 cm from
q
1
and 14 cm from q
2
. Point C is 10 cm from both q
1
and q
2
.

a. Electric potential at A, B, C
b. EPE at A, B, C when +4nC is placed at each point
c. V
ab
, V
ba
, V
bc
, V
cb

d. Work done in moving a charge of +4nC from A to
B, from C to B

SOLUTION:
q
1
q
2
q
3




a. V
a(12)
=
9 10
9
(12 10
9
)
0.06
= 1800 V

V
a(-12)
=
9 10
9
(12 10
9
)
0.04
= -2700 V

V
a
= -900 V


V
b(12)
=
9 10
9
(12 10
9
)
0.04
= 2700 V

V
b(-12)
=
9 10
9
(12 10
9
)
0.14
= -771. 43 V

V
b
= 1928.57 V


V
c(12)
=
9 10
9
(12 10
9
)
0.1
= 1080 V

V
c(-12)
=
9 10
9
(12 10
9
)
0.1
= -1080 V

V
c
= 0V

b. EPE
a
= (4 x 10
-9
) (-900) = -3.6 x 10
-6
J

EPE
b
= (4 x 10
-9
) (1928.57) = 7.71 x 10
-6
J

EPE
c
= (4 x 10
-9
) (0) = 0

c. V
ab
= (-900 V) (1928.57) = -2828.57 V
V
ba
= 2828.57 V
V
bc
= (1928.57) (0) = 1928.57 V
V
cb
= -1928.57 V

d. W
ab
= (4 x 10
-9
) (-2828.57) = 1.13 x 10
-5
J
W
cb
= (4 x 10
-9
) (-1928.57) = -7.71 x 10
-6
J


DC CIRCUITS

Electric Current I = q/t Ampere (A)
Resistance R = V/I Ohms
Voltage V = IR Volts (V)
Power P = IV
P = I
2
R
P = V
2
/R
Watts (W)
Energy W = Pt = JQ Joule (J)
Heat Q = Pt/J
Q = 0.24 VIt
Cal

MEH 4.186 J/cal J/cal






Examples:
1. What is the current when a charge of 15 coulombs flows in
a circuit in 1.5 seconds?

I = q/t
I = 15/1.5
I = 10 A

2. How much heat is developed in one minute in an electric
heater which draws a current of 5 A when connected to a 110
V line?

Q = 0.24 VIt
Q = (0.24) (110) (5) (60 s)
Q = 7920 calories

SERIES CIRCUIT
I is the same
V is subdivided
R is the sum of R
is


PARALLEL CIRCUIT
I is subdivided
V is the same
R is less than the lesser/least value of R
s


Example

1.) In the circuit, let R
1
= 5, R
2
= 10 , R
3
= 4 and V = 2V.
Find the currents I
1
, I
2
, I
3.












V
12
= V
1
= V
2
R = R
12
+ R
3


R
12
=
5(10)
15
= 3.33

R = 3.33 + 4 = 7.33

I = I
12
= I
3

I = 2/3.33 = 0.27 A
I
3
= 0.27 A

V
12
= I
12
R
12

= (0.27 A) (3.33)
= 0.9 V
V
1
= 0.9 V
2 V
5
10
4

i

`1

R
1

`2

R
2

`1

R
1

`2

R
2

A
C
D B
A
B
C
D
V
12
= 0.9 V

I
1
= 0.9 / 5 = 0.18 A
I
2
= 0.9 / 10 = 0.09 A

2.) In the circuit, (a) Find the currents through each resistor.
R
1
= 3 , R
2
= 6, R
3
= 6 , R
4
= 12 , V = 18 V. (b) What is the
total current i?






I = I
12
= I
34

V
12
= V
1
=
V
2
V
34
= V
3
=
V
4
R = R
12
+
R
34

R
12
= (3 x 6) / 9 = 2
R
34
= (6 x 12) /18 = 4

R = 6

I = V/R = 18 V/6
I = 3 A

V
12
= I
12
R
12
= 3 (2) = 6V
V
34
= I
34
R
34
= 3(4) = 12 V

I
1
= 6V / 3 = 2 A
I
2
= 6 V / 6 = 1 A
I
3
= 12V / 6 = 2 A
I
4
= 12V / 12 = 1 A

BATTERY WITH EMF



V
ab
= terminal voltage
r = internal resistance














Example:










Determine:
a) Current delivered by the battery
b) Terminal voltage of the battery
c) Power delivered by the battery

a. I =

+
=
12
1+5
= 2 A, clockwise

b. V
ab
= Ir
= 12 2r
= 10 V

c. P = IV
= 12 (2)
= 24 watts

2 OR MORE EMFS:
Series circuit (aiding)












I =

Series Circuit (opposing)











I =

V
R
3 R
1

R3
R
2
R
4
R = 5
12 V
1

loop
loop
loop
loop

Example:
R
1
= 4, R
2
= 6

1
= 12 V, 1

2
= 6 V, 0.5

Find:
a. Current in the circuit and its direction
b. Terminal voltage
*Refer to the figures above

*Series circuit opposing

I =
126
1+ 0.5+4+6
= 0.52 A, clockwise

V
ab
= 12 (0.52) = 11.48 V

V
cd
= 6 + 0.52 (0.5) = 6.26 V

*Series circuit aiding
I =
12+6
1+0.5+4+6
= 1.57 A, clockwise


Recall: Terminal Voltage
(potential difference between 2 points)














V
ab
= E
1
Ir V
ab
= E
2
+ Ir

Where E = emf
Ir = voltage drop
Example:

The current I through R
1
in the circuit diagram is 40 mA. (a)
What is the current through R
2
, R
3
and R
4
? (b) What is the
potential difference between A and B?





0.04 =

2
1.5
2+3.75+4


V
2
= 1.89 V

V
23
= I
23
R
23

V
23
= (0.04) (3.75)
V
23
= 0.15 V

V
23
= V
2
= V
3
I
2
= V
2
/ R
2
= 0.15 / 5 = 0.03 A
I
3
= 0.15 / 15 = 0.01 A
V
ba
= 1.5 + 0.04 (3.75)
= 1.65 V
V
ab
= -1.65 V

KIRCHHOFFS RULES

KVL:
V = 0

KCL:
I = 0

LOOP DIRECTION:






+E







-E







-IR







+IR



Example:

The voltage drop across R
3
in the circuit diagram is 4 V. (a)
Find the currents through the resistor R
1
, R
2
and R
3
. (b) What
is the resistance of R
2
?












V = 0

Loop ACDA

6 i
1
R
1
i
3
R
3
= 0
6 4i (0.8)(0.5) = 0
I = (4-6) / 4
I
1
= 0.5 A

Loop ABCA

1.5 i
2
R
2
i
1
R
1
= 0
1.5 i
2
R
2
= 2
I
2
R
2
= 0.5

I = i
1
+ i
2

I
2
= i i
1
I
2
= 0.8 0.5 = 0.3 A

R
2
= 1.67

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1.) A charge of +16nC is fixed at the origin of coordinates. A
second charge of +12nC is at x= 4m, y = 0 and a third
unknown charge is at x = 11 m,y = 0. If the resultant electric
field at x = 8 m, y = 0 is 24.25 N/C directed to the right:

a. What is the magnitude of the electric field at x = 8m, y = 0
due to the +16nC charge?
b. What is the magnitude of the elctric field at x = 8m, y=0
due to the +12nC charge?
c. What are the sign and magnitude of the third charge?
d. How far from the origin should the third charge be placed
so that the resultant electric field at x= 8m, y=0 is zero?

2.) A charge of +20nC is 20 cm from a second charge of -20nC.
Point A is 12 cm from the 20nC charge and 8 cm from the -
20nC. Point B is 8cm from the 20 C charge and 28 cmfrom the
-20C. Point C is 20 cm from the 20nC chrge and 20 cm from
the -20nC.

a. What is the potential difference V
ab
?
b. What is the potential difference V
bc
?
c. How much work is done on the electric field I moving a
charge of 4nC from A to B?
d. How much work is done by the electric field in moving a
charge of 4nC from B to C?

3. I the circuit shown, R
1
= 1, R
2
= 10, I
1
= 3.5 A and I
4
= 2A.
The battery has negligible internal resistance. If the rate at
which R
4
is dissipating electrical energy is 20 W;

a. What is R
4
?
b. What is R
3
?
c. What is I
3
?
d. What is the emf of the battery?










4. A uniform electric filed of 5000 N/C exists in the region
between two oppositely charged parallel plates separated by
a distance of 0.05 m. An electron is released from rest at the
surface of the negative plate.

a. What is the magnitude of the force experienced by the
electron as it moves toward the positive plate?
b. What is the work done against the electric field in moving
the electron across the plates?
c. What is the poential difference between the plates?
d. What is the speed of the electro as it strikes the opposite
plate?

5. If the internal resistances of the batteries in the circuit
below are
r
1
= 0.1,
r
2
= and
r
3
= 0.3
respective
ly.

a. What is
the
current
through
the 3 V
battery?
b. What is the current through the 8 V battery?
c. What is the current through the 12 V battery?
d. What is the terminal voltage of the 3 V battery?