F.Sc.

Physics (2nd Year) Lecture Handouts (Chapter 12 Electrostatics)

12.2 FIELDS OF FORCES
ELECTRIC FIELD (Definition)
The space or region around any charge, in which it
exerts forces of attraction or repulsion on other charges, is
called its electric field.

ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY

The electrostatic force per unit test charge, at a specific point in
the electric field, is called electric field intensity.
If ‘ ⃗ ’ is the electrostatic force acting on a test charge ‘ ’
at a point ‘ ’, then electric field intensity ‘ ⃗⃗’ is expressed as
⃗
⃗⃗

Electric field intensity is a vector quantity and its direction is

same as the direction of the force.

ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY DUE TO POINT CHARGE (Derivation of Expression)

Consider a test charge in the electric field point charge ‘ ’ as shown in the figure. If ‘ ⃗ ’ is the
electrostatic force acting on a test charge ‘ ’ at a point ‘ ’, then electric field intensity ‘ ⃗⃗’ is
expressed as:
⃗
⃗⃗

By Coulomb’s law, the electrostatic force ‘ ’ between point charges ‘ ’ and ‘ ’ is expressed as:

⃗ ̂

Putting value of ‘ ’ in eq. (1), we get

( ̂)
⃗⃗

⃗⃗ ( )( ̂)

⃗⃗ ̂

This is the expression of electric field intensity due to a point charge.

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F.Sc. Physics (2nd Year) Lecture Handouts (Chapter 12 Electrostatics)
EXERCISE SHORT QUESTIONS RELATED TO “12.2 ELECTRIC FIELD”
Exercise Short Question # 4. Describe the force or forces on a positive point charge when
placed between parallel plates: (a) With similar and equal charges, (b) With opposite and
equal charges
Ans.
 When a positive point charge is placed between parallel plates with similar and equal
charges, then the electric force due to one plate is equal in magnitude but opposite in
direction to electric force due to other plate. So the value of resultant electric force is
zero and the charge will remain stationary.
 When a positive point charge is placed between parallel plates with opposite but equal
amount of charge, then electric force due to one plate is equal in magnitude but in same
direction to the electric force due to other plate. So the value of resultant electric force is
non-zero. Hence the point charge will be accelerated towards negative plate.
NUMERICALS RELATED TO “12.2 ELECTRIC FIELD”
12.3 A point charge is placed at the origin. Calculate electric field at a
point 2.0 m from the origin on the z-axis.
Given Data: Charge , Distance , Direction: z-axis ̂ ̂

To Determine: Electric Field

⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ( ̂)

12.4 Determine the electric field at the position ⃗ ̂ ̂ caused by a point

charge placed at origin.
Given Data: Position Vector ⃗ ̂ ̂ , Charge
To Determine: Electric Field ⃗⃗
Calculations: ⃗⃗ ̂

⃗ ̂ ̂
| | √ ̂
| |
Equation (1) becomes:
̂ ̂
⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂

12.5 Two point charges, and , are separated by a

distance of 3.0 m. Find and justify the zero-field location.
Given Data: Charges , , Distance between Charges
To Determine: Zero Field Location
Calculations: Let P is zero field location, then at point P (distant x from ):
Electric Field due to Electric Field due to

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F.Sc. Physics (2nd Year) Lecture Handouts (Chapter 12 Electrostatics)

Let Distance of P from | | and Distance of P from | |

Now consider

So the correct answer is

Example 12.2: Two positive point charges and are separated

by a distance of 3 m, as shown in the figure. Find the spot on the line joining the
two charges where the electric field is zero.
Given Data: First Charge ,

Second Charge , Distance between charges = 3 m

To Determine: Zero Field Location
Calculations: Let P is zero field location, then at point P (distant x from ):
Electric Field due to Electric Field due to
Let Distance of P from and Distance of P from

Now consider

Which gives . Here is not possible.

Hence

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F.Sc. Physics (2nd Year) Lecture Handouts (Chapter 12 Electrostatics)
MCQs Related to the Article “12.2 FIELDS OF FORCE”
1. A charge at rest creates around it
(a) Electric field (b) Magnetic field (c) Gravitational field (d) Nuclear field
2. The force experience by a unit positive charge placed at a point in an electric field is
called:
(a) Coulomb’s force (b) Faraday’s force (c) Lorentz’s force (d) Electric field intensity
3. is a unit of
(a) Force (b) Charge (c) Current (d) Electric Intensity
4. If we move away from a charge, the magnitude to electric intensity
(a) Remains constant (b) Increases (c) Decreases (d) Vanish
5. Of the following quantities, the one that is vector in character is an
(a) Electric Charge (b) Electric Field Intensity
(c) Electric Energy (d) Electric Potential Difference
6. A charge of experiences electrostatic force of , the electric field intensity at
that point
(a) (b) (c) (d)
7. The electric intensity at infinite distance from point charge is
(a) Infinite (b) zero (c) positive (d) negative
MCQ # 1: (a) MCQ # 2: (d) MCQ # 3: (d) MCQ # 4: (c) MCQ # 5: (b) MCQ # 6: (d) MCQ # 7: (b)

ARTICLE “12.2 FIELDS OF FORCES” IN PAST PAPERS

Short Questions

1. Define electric intensity and give its units.

2. Distinguish between electric field and field intensity.

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F.Sc. Physics (2nd Year) Lecture Handouts (Chapter 12 Electrostatics)

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