Physics 4B Lecture Notes

Chapter 23 - Electric Fields

Problem Set #2 - due:
Ch 23 - 1, 2, 5, 8, 14, 19, 26, 30, 31, 35, 38, 39, 50, 58, 61, 62
The motion of an electric charge is determined by the forces that act on it. The forces it feels that are
exerted by all the other charges can be described in terms of the electric field due to the other charges.
Lecture Outline
1. The Definition of Electric Field
2. Electric Field Lines
3. The Electric Field Due to Point Charges
4. The Electric Field Due to Continuous Charge Distributions
5. The Force on Charges in Electric Fields
1. The Definition of Electric Field
The idea of a field is required in order to explain the "action at a distance."
Recall the idea of gravitational field.
m
Fg

M
In this view, Earth creates a force on the mass m. This is insane. Earth isnt even touching the mass.
So we introduce the idea of a gravitational field.
m
Fg
g

Now we take the view that the field due to Earth, g, is exerting rthe gravitational force on the mass. Since
r
r
F
the force is Fg = mg , the gravitational field is defined as, gr g .
m
Lets take the same approach with the electric force.
q
q
1
2

Instead of thinking of q1 exerting the force on q2 , we think of q1 creating a field and the field exerting the
force on q2 .
q

F
E

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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

r
r
r
r
F21
Mathematically, we can write F 21 = q2 E1 E1
which is the definition of the electric field.
q2
r
r F
E
The Definition of Electric Field
q
Note that the field is the force felt by each Coulomb of charge.
2. Electric Field Lines
We need a more descriptive image of the field. The most useful idea is Electric Field Lines.
Beyond the Mechanical Universe (vol. 29 ch 11 & 12)
Field Lines or Lines of Force are used to visualize the field. The rules for drawing them are:
1. The tangent to the field line points in the direction of the force on a positive test charge.
2. The density of lines is proportional to the strength of the field (bigger charges make more lines).
Example 1: Sketch the field due to a positive point charge.

strong
field

+ test charge

weak
field

Example 2: Sketch the field due to a dipole.

A dipole consists of two

equal and opposite charges.
Notice that all the field lines that
leave the positive charge end
on the negative charge.

Beyond the Mechanical Universe (vol. 29 ch 14)

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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

3. The Electric Field Due to Point Charges
We have now reduced the problem of figuring out what a charge will do, to a problem of finding the field
that it feels. The next step is to develop techniques to calculate the fields created by charges.

E1
F21

q2

q1

r
q
E = k 2 r
r

Starting with the definition

r of the electric field
r
F
E 1 21 .
q2
r
qq
Using Coulomb's Rule, F e = k 1 2 2 r , we get the
r
electric field caused by the point charge, q1 ,
qq
k 1 2 2 r
r
q
r
E1 =
= k 12 r
q2
r
E-Field of a Point Charge

Example 3: Calculate the electric field felt by the electron in a hydrogen atom.
r = 0.052nm and q p = 1.6 x 10-19C
-

Using the definition of electric field,

r
r
qp
q
E k 2 r E p k 2 r
r
r
11
Ep = 5.3 x 10 N/C
r
r
Notice the directions of E p and F e .

Ep

Fe

r r
r
r
For a collection of point charges, E = E1 + E 2 +L+ E N . Note that this is a vector sum.
Example 4: Find the electric field felt by the charge on the bottom-left corner of the square shown
below.
+
+
a
+q 2
y
1 +q

a
45

y
E2
E2

-q
E3

E3

E1

-q 3
-

45 E1
r
q
Using the field due to a point charge, E = k 2 r , find the magnitude of each field vector.
r
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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

q
q
E1
q
, E 3 = k 2 = E1 .
2 , E2 = k
2 =
a
2a
2
a
Adding up the vector components,
1
1
E x = E 3 E 2 cos = E1 E 1
= E1 (1
)
2 2
2 2
1
1
E y = E1 E 2 sin = E1 E1
= E1 (1+
)
2 2
2 2
r
1
1
E = E1 (1
)i (1+
) j or in terms of magnitude and direction ,

2 2
2 2
1
(1+
)
1 2
1 2 3
2
2
E = E1 (1
) + (1+
) = E1 and = arctan
= 64 from the x -axis
1
2 2
2 2
2
(1
)
2 2
E1 = k

Example 5: Find the electric field due to a dipole along the perpendicular bisector of its axis.
y
+q +
a

E-

-q -

E+

r
q
Use the field due to a point charge, E = k 2 r , to find the magnitude of both field vectors. Notice
r
q
they are the same magnitude, E+ = E = k 2
.
a + x2
Adding up the vector components,
E x = E + cos E cos = 0
q
a
E y = E + sin E sin = 2E + sin = 2k 2
2
a + x a2 + x 2
r
2qa
p

E = k
3 j = k
3 j where p 2qa is the dipole moment.
2
2 2
2
2 2
(x + a )
(x + a )
Check the limits as x 0 and x .
r
r
p qd

The Definition of Electric Dipole Moment

r
where d is the displacement vector from the negative charge to the positive charge.

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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

4. The Electric Field Due to Continuous Charge Distributions
Consider a charge distribution as a collection of small point charges, qi .
E1

r2

q2

E2

r1

q1

The total electric field is just the sum of the fields of the small (point) charges q's.
r
E=

E i = k

qi
r
r 2i i

For maximum accuracy we want the q's to become smaller and smaller. In this limit, the sum becomes
an integral.
r
dq
E = k 2 r E-Field of a Continuous Charge Distribution
r

Example 6: Find the electric field due to a line of total charge, q, and length, l, at a distance, l,
from the center of the line (a)along the line and (b)perpendicular from the center.
y
dq

l
dE

dx
l

(a)

r
dq
We need the field due to a continuous charge distribution, E = k 2 r
r
The field is along the x-direction so we can ignore the vector signs. The charge in a small
segment, dq, is to the total charge, q, as the length of the segment, dx, is to the total length, l,
dq dx
q
=
dq = dx
q
l
l
The distance between the charge element, dq, and the point where we want the field is, r = l x .
E=k

l
2

dx

l l ( l x)2

let u = l - x then du = - dx

l
q 2
q 1
q 1 + 2
q 1 1
q 2 2 4 q
E = k u du = k
=k
=
k

=
k

= k
l
3l
l
l u
l l x l
l
l l 3l 3 l2
2 2
2

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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

y
(b)Using the field due to the point charge dq,
r
dq
dE = k 2 r . The symmetry of this problem
r
requires that the x components will cancel out
dq
leaving only the y components,dE y = k 2 cos .
r
Again, the charge in a small segment, dq, is to the
total charge, q, as the length of the segment, dx, is
to the total length, l,
dq dx
q
=
dq = dx
q
l
l

dE

l
r

dq
The distance between the charge element, dq, and
dx
the point where we want the field is, r = l2 + x2 .
x
q
dx
l
dE y = k 2
2 cos
l l +x
Now we need to express x in terms of to complete the integration.
l 2 + x 2 = l2 1 + tan 2 = l 2 sec 2
x = l tan
2
dx = lsec d
q l sec2 d
q
dE y = k 2 2 cos = k 2 cos d
l l sec
l
Now we can add up the contributions from all the other dq's by integrating over the angle,
q + o
q
1
2
q
Ey = k 2
cos d = 2k 2 sin o where sin 0 =
Ey =
k 2.
l o
l
5
5 l

Example 7: Find the field on the axis of a ring of charge, q, and radius, a, as a function of the
distance from the center, x.
dq
a

dE

r
dq
Using the field due to the point charge dq, dE = k 2 r . By the symmetry of this problem the field
r
will only point in the x-direction so we only have to worry about the x-components,

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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

dq
cos . Notice that r is the same for all the dq's and cos is also the same for all dq's
r2
so the integral is straight forward.
dq
cos
q
E x = k 2 cos = k 2 dq = k 2 cos
r
r
r
x
q x
2
2
2
Note that r = a + x and cos =
so we can write E x = k
3 .
a 2 + x2
a 2 + x2 2
dE x = k

Check the answer by examining the limits as x goes to zero and to infinity.
Example 8: Find the electric field a distance, x, away from an infinite plate of charge density,
(C/m2 ).
x
dE

x
dq
r

dr

From example 10 we know the field due to a ring of charge, so break the plane up into an infinite
number of rings with charge, dq, radius, r, and thickness dr. Each ring creates a field,
x dq
dE = k
3 .
2
2 2
r +x

The charge on each ring can be found by multiplying the charge density by the area of the ring
dq = 2r dr .

x 2r dr
r dr
dE = k
3 E = 2kx 0
3 .
2
2 2
2
2 2
r +x
r +x

The integration can be completed by letting u = r 2 + x2 du = 2r dr

2
3
2
2
E = kx 2 u du = kx 1 = kx = 2k This is a constant!
x
x
u 2 x2

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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

Example 9: Find the electric field inside and outside two large, parallel, equal but oppositely
charged plates.

EE+

E-

E-

E+

E+

From example 8 we know the field due to a parallel plate. We just need to add the fields from each
plate.

E in = E + + E = 2k + 2k = 4k =
and E out = E + E = 0 .
o
5. The Force on Charges in Electric Fields
The force on a single charge, as shown at the right, can now be written
in terms of
r
r Fe
r
r
the field it feels. According to the definition of electric field, E
Fe = q E .
q

Example 10: The Earth has an electric field of about 150N/C pointed downward. A 1.00m radius
water droplet is suspended in calm air. Find (a)the mass of the water droplet, (b)the charge on the
water droplet and (c)the number of excess electrons on the droplet.
(a)Use the definition of density and the volume of a sphere,
m

m = (vol) = 43 r 3 = (1000) 43 (1.00x10 6) 3 = 4.19x1015 kg

vol

E
F

(b)The forces on the droplet are its weight and the electric force.
Using Newtons Second Law, F = ma Fe Fg = 0 Fe = Fg
Using the definitions of the electric and gravitational fields,
mg (4.19x10 15 )(9.80)
qE = mg q =
=
= 2.74x10 16 C
E
150
q 2.74x10 16
(c)Since charge is quantized, q = Ne N = =
= 1710 electrons
e 1.60x1019
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Physics 4B Lecture Notes

+

E
p

A dipole in a constant electric field as shown at the left. It feels no net

force because the two forces on it caused by the field are equal and
opposite. The dipole does feel a net torque, however. This torque tends
to align it with the field.
= ( asin )(qE ) + (asin )( qE) = 2aqEsin = pEsin
This torque points into the paper so we can write the torque on the dipole
as,
r r r
= p E The Torque on a Dipole

The potential energy of the dipole can be found from the definition of potential energy, U W c .
The work done as the dipole rotates through an angle, d, is, dW = d = pEsin d .

The total work done as the angle goes from /2 to is, W = pEsin d = pEcos .
2
r r
The potential energy is U = U() U( 2 ) = pEcos U = p E , where the zero for potential
energy is = 2 .
r r
U = p E The Potential Energy of a Dipole
Example 11: Water molecules have a dipole moment of 6.20x10-30 Cm. Find (a)the maximum
torque on a water molecule in the E-field of Earth and (b)the potential energy lost as the molecule
moves from the position of maximum torque until it aligns with the field.
r r r
(a)The torque on a dipole in a constant field is = p E . The maximum occurs when the dipole
30
28
moment is perpendicular to the field, = pE = (6.20x10 )(150) = 9.30x10 N m
r r
(b)The potential energy of a dipole is U = p E . When the moment is perpendicular to the field
this is zero. When the moment is aligned with the field U = pE = 9.30x10 28 J. This then is the
energy that is lost U lost = 9.30x1028 J .
Chapter 23 - Summary

r
r F
The Definition of Electric Field E
q
Drawing Field Lines

r
q
The Electric Field due to a Point Charge E = k 2 r
r

r
dq
The Electric Field due to a Continuous Charge Distribution E = k 2 r
r
r
r
The Definition of Electric Dipole Moment p qd
r r r
The Torque on a Dipole = p E
r r
The Potential Energy of a Dipole U = p E

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