Chapter 2.

Coulomb’s Law and Electric Field Intensity

The Experimental Law of Coulomb

Coulomb’s Law
The magnitude of force between two very small objects
separated in free space by a distance which is large compared to
their size is given by
Q1Q2
F=
4 πε0R 2
Q1 and Q2: positive or negative quantities of charge (coulomb)
R: separation (meters)
ε0: permittivity of free space = 8.854 x 10-12 F/m
= 1/36π x 10-9 F/m
1/4πε0 ≈ 9 x 109
In vector form:
If Q1 is in r1 and Q2 is in r2, then R12 = r2 - r1 is the directed line
segment from Q1 to Q2. z
F2 = force experienced by Q2: F2
Q1Q2 R12
F2 = 2
a12 Q 1
4 πε0R12 Q2
r2
F1 r1 y

x
r2 − r1
a12 is the unit vector in the direction of R12 =
| r2 − r1 |
Q1Q2 Q2Q1
F1 = −F2 = − a =
2 12 2
a21
4 πε0R12 4 πε0R 21
Electric Field Intensity

Consider a charge Qi located at Pi, and another charge Qt situated in

the vicinity of Qi. The position of Qt with respect to Qi is Pit. At
any position Pit, Qt experiences a force due to Qi

Qi Q t Qt
Ft = 2
ait Ft
4 πε0Pit

The force exerted by Qi per unit

charge is Pit
Ft Qi
= a
2 it
Qi
Q t 4 πε0Pit

The right side of the equation is a vector field called the electric field
intensity due to Qi.
The unit of electric field intensity E is N/C, or V/m
For a charge Q at the origin and using the spherical coordinate
system, the electric field E at any given point is given by

Q
E= a
2 r
4 πε0r

Note: If Q is positive, E “radiates” from z

the charge. If Q is negative, E points
into the charge.

For a charge at rm, E at r is

r
Q
E= a
2 m
4 πε0 | r − rm |
y
am is a unit vector in the direction
rm
of r - rm
x Q
In there an n charges, the electric field at r is
n Qi
E(r ) = ∑ a
2 i
i=1 4 πε0 | r − ri |
 Example:
A 1uC charge is at the origin and a 2uC charge is at P(0,10,0). What
is the electric field at Q(6,4,5)? If a –0.5 uC charge is placed at Q,
how much force would it experience?

Q
ROQ RPQ
P

1 uC 2 uC

ROQ = <6,4,5> RPQ = <6,4,5> - <0,10,0> = <6,-6,5>

R OQ = 6 2 + 4 2 + 52 = 77 = 8.775
R PQ = 6 2 + (−6) 2 + 52 = 97 = 9.849
 R OQ 6a x + 4 a y + 5αz
aOQ = = = 0.684a x + 0.456a y + 0.570αz
R OQ 8.77
R PQ 6a x − 6a y + 5αz
aPQ = = = 0.609a x − 0.609a y + 0.508αz
R PQ 9.85

1 × 10 −6
EQO = (0.684a x + 0.456a y + 0.570az )
4 πε0 (77)
= 79.84 a x + 53.23a y + 66.53az V/m
2 × 10 −6
E QP = (0.609a x − 0.609a y + 0.508az )
4 πε0 (97)
= 112.91a x − 112.91a y + 94.18az V/m

EQ = E QO + E QP =
= 192.75a x − 59.68a y + 160.71az V/m
 EQ
-0.5 uC
EOQ EPQ
FQ P

1 uC 2 uC

r
r F v v
Since E = , then F = QE :
Q
v
FQ = −0.5 × 10 − 6 (192.75a x − 59.68a y + 160.71az )
= −96.38a x + 29.84a y − 80.36az uN
Cathode Ray Tube

The electric fields

formed by the
parallel plates
deflect the electron
beam generated at
the back of the
tube.
Electric Field Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution

Define ρv = volume charge density = lim ∆Q

∆v → 0 ∆v
∆v contains the charge ∆Q
The total charge Q is
Q = ∫ dQ = ∫ ρ v dv
vol vol

Due to an incremental charge ∆Q, the incremental electric field ∆E is

∆Q r − r' ρ v (r' )∆v r − r'

∆E = = ∆Q
4 πε0 | r − r'|2 | r − r'| 4 πε0 | r − r'|2 | r − r'|

r = position of the point in question

r’ = location of ∆Q
r' r - r' ∆E
To get the field at the point, add the r
contribution of all ∆Qs origin
 ρ v (r' )∆v r − r'
∆E =
4πε 0 | r − r'|2 | r − r'|
N ρ v (r' )∆v r − r'
E(r ) = ∑ 2
i=1 4 πε0 | r − r'| | r − r'|

If ∆v is shrunk so it will approach zero (N will approach infinity), the

summation becomes an integral:
ρ v (r' )dv r − r'
E(r ) = ∫ 2
vol 4 πε0 | r − r'| | r − r'|
Field of a Line Charge

Define ρL = line charge density (C/m)

Consider a uniform line charge along the z-axis:

z-axis

dQ1 = ρL dL

dE2
Due to symmetry, the electric
field is a function of ρ and in the
aρ direction only.
dE1

dQ2 = ρL dL
 z
r = ρ aρ
(0, 0, z) dQ = ρL dz r’ = z az
R = r - r’ = ρ aρ - z az

ρL dz ρaρ − zaz
R = r - r' dE =
r' 4 πε0 (ρ2 + z2 ) ρ2 + z2
Since E is directed along aρ only, the
z-component may be ignored when
y
solving for the total electric field:
r
ρL ρdz
dEρ dE = aρ
2 2 3/2
x 4 πε0 (ρ + z )
dEz dE
 ρL ρdz ∞
ρL ρdz
dE = aρ Eρ = E = ∫ a
2 3/2 ρ
4 πε 0 (ρ2 + z 2 ) 3 / 2
2
− ∞ 4 πε0 (ρ + z )

Evaluate the integral using change of variable:

Let z = ρ tan α -> dz = ρ sec2 α dα

π/2
ρL ρ(ρ sec 2 α)dα
E= ∫ 2 2 2
a
3/2 ρ
− π / 2 4 πε0 (ρ + ρ tan α)
z
ρ π/2
sec 2 α ρL π / 2 sec 2 α
α = L ∫ 2 3/2
dαaρ = ∫ 3
dαaρ
4 πε0 − π / 2 ρ(1 + tan α) 4 πε0 ρ − π / 2 sec α
ρ
ρL π / 2 ρL π/2 ρL
= ∫ cos α dα aρ = aρ sin α − π / 2
= aρ
4 πε0ρ − π / 2 4 πε0ρ 2πε0ρ
tan α = z/ρ
 Therefore, the electric field due to a uniform line charge along
the z-axis is equal to
ρL
E= aρ
2πε0ρ

Note:
1. The electric field due to an infinite line of charge is directed radially
outward or into to the line charge.
2. The electric field varies inversely with the distance from the line
charge
3. If the line charge density is positive, the electric field “emanates”
from the charge. If the line charge density is negative, the electric
field “converges” to the line charge.
Field of a Sheet of Charge

Define ρS = surface charge density

dy Due to symmetry, the electric
field at a point is not a function
of y and z, and does not have
ρs components parallel to the y-z
plane.

y To simplify the solution, treat

the vertical strip as a uniform
line charge. The sheet of
charge may now be regarded as
(x, 0, 0) an infinite number of line
charges placed beside each
Ex other.

If the surface charge density is ρs, the line charge density of a

“vertical” strip is ρs dy
 For a line charge in the z-axis,
dy recall that
ρL
E= aρ
2πε0ρ
ρs
Therefore:
y ρS dy
dE x = cos βax
2 2
2πε0 x + y
β ρS dy x
= ax
(x, 0, 0) 2 2 2 2
2πε0 x + y x +y
dEx ρS xdy
= 2 2
ax
2πε0 ( x + y )
 ρ xdy ∞
ρS x 1
dE x = S 2 2
ax Ex = E = ax ∫ 2 dy
2πε0 x + y 2πε0 2
−∞ x + y

du 1 −1 u
Note: ∫ 2 2
= tan +C
a +u a a

ρS x  1
y = +∞ 
−1 y  ρS  π π 
E= tan ax =  − ( − ) a x
2πε0  x x y = −∞  2πε0  2 2 

ρS
E= ax
2ε0

At the negative x-axis (or at the “back” of the sheet of charge),

ρS
E=− ax
2ε0
In general, the electric field due to an infinite sheet of charge is equal to

ρS
E= aN
2ε 0

Notes:
1. aN is a unit vector perpendicular and pointing away from the
surface
2. The electric field intensity is constant.
3. If the surface charge density is positive, the electric field
“emanates” from the sheet of charge. If the line charge density is
negative, the electric field “is into” to the surface charge.
Example:
A line charge with charge density equal to 10 nC/m is at x = 4, z = 3. A
sheet of charge with surface charge density equal to -1 nC/m2 is at the xy-
plane. What is the electric field at P(2,3,5)?

z EL Side view: EL
P z
ES D
ES

y
x
x
 EL
D = −2a x + 2az
z
D D = (−2) 2 + 2 2 = 2.828
ES − 2a x + 2a z
aD = = −0.707a x + 0.707az
2.828

x
10 × 10 −9
EL = (−0.707a x + 0.707az ) = −44.939a x + 44.939az V/m
2πε0 (2.828)

− 1 × 10 −9
ES = az = −56.472 az V/m
2ε 0
EP = EL + ES = −44.94a x − 11.53az V/m
Streamlines and Sketches of Fields

Given an expression of E, how will one draw (sketch) the field?

Take, for example, a point charge.
The arrows show the direction of the field at every point along the
line, and the separation of the lines is inversely proportional to the
strength of the field.
The lines are called streamlines.
Given a two dimensional field (Ez = 0), the equation of a streamline is
obtained by solving the differential equation

Ey dy
=
Ex dx

Ey E
∆y
∆x
Ex

x
Example. The electric field intensity is given as
E = 5e-2x (sin 2y ax - cos 2y ay) V/m
Find the equation of the streamline passing through the point P(0.5,
π/10, 0).
Ey dy
Solution: Solving the differential equation = :
Ex dx
dy − 5e −2 x cos 2y − dx = tan 2 ydy
= − 2 x
= − cot 2 y
dx 5e sin 2y − ∫ dx = ∫ tan 2ydy
1
− x = ln(sec 2 y) + C
2
− 2 x + C' = ln(sec 2y )
e −2 x + C' = K ' e −2 x = sec 2y
Ke 2 x = cos 2 y
To solve for K, use the fact that the streamline passes through P (0.5,
π/10, 0):
Ke 2 x = cos 2 y
Ke2(0.5) = cos π/5
K = 0.298

Therefore, the equation of the streamline through P is

0.298 e2x = cos 2y