TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

1. ELECTRIC CHARGE
2. COULOMB’S LAW
3. ELECTRIC FIELDS
4. ELECTRIC FLUX
TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
1. ELECTRIC CHARGE
2. COULOMB’S LAW
3. ELECTRIC FIELDS
4. ELECTRIC FLUX
Records from at least 600 B. C. show
evidence of the knowledge of static
electricity.
The Greeks were responsible for the
term “electricity”, derived from their word
for amber, and they spent many leisure
hours rubbing a small piece of amber on
their sleeves and observing how it would
then attract pieces of fluff and stuffs.
However, their main interest lay in philosophy and logic, not
in experimental science, and it was many centuries before
the attracting effect was considered to be anything other
than magic or a “life force.”
Dr. Gilbert, physician to the Queen of England, was the first
to do any true experimental work with this effect and in
1600 stated that glass, sulfur, amber, and other materials
which he named would “not only draw to themselves straws
and chaff, but all metals, woods, leaves, stone, earth even
water and oil.”
Shortly, thereafter a colonel in the French Army Engineers,
Colonel Charles Coulomb, a precise and orderly minded
officer, performed an elaborate series of experiments using
a delicate torsion balance, invented by himself, to determine
quantitatively the force exerted between two objects, each
having a static charge of electricity.
STATIC ELECTRICITY
Static electricity is a stationary electrical charge that
is built-up on the surface of any material. It is the
result of an imbalance between electric charges.

The word electricity comes from the Greek word

“elektron” which means amber and is coined by
English physician, William Gilbert.

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STATIC ELECTRICITY
Typically, objects does not have a net charge. It is
neither negatively or positively charged.

In order for the object to accumulate a charge, a

transfer of electrons is required.

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CAUSES: STATIC ELECTRICITY
In order for the object to have a charged, a transfer
of electrons is required.

Ways of Charging:
1. Charging by Friction
2. Charging by Conduction and Induction

<<
CHARGING BY FRICTION
One process to charge an object is through friction or
known as triboelectric effect. It refers to the transfer
of electrons from one object to another when both
objects are rubbed together.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONDUCTION AND INDUCTION
• CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
Conduction just means that the two objects will come into actual
physical contact with each other (this is why it is sometimes called
“charging by contact”).
• CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Induction is the process in which, when we bring two substances
near to each other due to the property of induction, there is a
movement of charge carriers from one substance to another
substance.
CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
CHARGING BY INDUCTION
ELECTRIC CHARGE
Electric charge, basic property of matter carried by some
elementary particles. Electric charge, which can be positive or
negative, occurs in discrete natural units and is neither created nor
destroyed.
Electric charges are of two general types: positive and negative.
Two objects that have an excess of one type of charge exert
a force of repulsion on each other when relatively close together.
Two objects that have excess opposite charges, one positively
charged and the other negatively charged, attract each other when
relatively near.
ELECTRIC CHARGE

 Symbol Q/q.
 It’s known since ancient time that if amber is
rubbed on cloth, it can attract light objects,
i.e. feather.
 This phenomenon is due to a property of
matter called “electric charge”.
TYPE OF ELECTRIC CHARGE
• There are two types of electric charge :
Positive and Negative
• The terms “positive” and “negative” are given
by Benjamin Franklin
• Rubbing glass with silk cloth : the sign of electric
charges on glass is defined as “positive”.
• Rubbing plastic with fur cloth : sign of electric
charges on plastic is defined as “negative”.
TRIBOELECTRIC EFFECT
Triboelectric effect tends to occur when both objects
are electrically insulating, meaning the electrons
cannot flow freely.

When two objects are rubbed together and then

separated, the surface of one object has gained a
positive charge, while the surface of the other has
gained a negative charge.

<<
TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES
Triboelectric series is a list that ranks materials
according to their tendency to gain or lose electrons
or what we called, electronegativity.

<<
The further away two materials
from each other, the greater the
charge transferred.

Materials next to each other

might not have become charged
at all.

Materials in neutral (middle) do

not have strong tendency to
give up or accept electrons.

<<
FORCE AMONG TWO ELECTRIC CHARGES

• Experiments on charged objects

show that
• Charged objects with same sign
repel each other
• Charged objects with different sign
attract each other
 ATOM
• In 18th century, it was assumed that
electric charge is some type of
weightless continuous fluid.
• Later on 20th century, Ernest
Rutherford investigated structure of
atom and revealed its constituents.

 Atom consists of electron and nuclei (proton and neutron).

 Electron (e) is negatively charged.
 Proton (p) is positively charged.
 Neutron (n) is neutral (zero charge).
ELECTRIC CHARGE
Matter is made up of atoms which contain three
fundamental particles:
1. Electrons coined by George Stoney
discovered by J.J. Thomson

2. Protons coined by Ernest Rutherford

discovered by Ernest Rutherford

3. Neutrons coined by James Chadwick

discovered by James Chadwick
<<
CHARGE QUANTIZATION
The net charge (𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 ) of any object is quantized,
that is , the integral number of electron unit or
elementary charge.

Net charge (𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 ) contained by electrons (𝑁𝑒 ),

protons (𝑁𝑝 ), and neutrons 𝑁𝑛 is given by:

𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 = −𝑒𝑁𝑒 + 𝑒𝑁𝑝 + 0𝑁𝑛 = 𝑒 𝑁𝑝 − 𝑁𝑒 = ± 𝑛𝑒

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 CHARGE QUANTIZATION
 The electric charge , q, is quantized : it exists as a discrete packets. (i.e. q=Ne)
 The unit of charge is Coulomb (C).
Neutron (n) : Mass m = 1.67510-27 kg ;
Charge q = 0
Proton (p) : Mass m = 1.67310-27 kg ;
Charge q = +1.60210-19 C
Electron (e) : Mass m = 9.1110-31 kg ;
Charge q = -1.60210-19 C
 Note : We use the symbol “-e” and “+e” for the electron and proton charge, respectively. This is
known as the elementary charge
 CHARGE QUANTIZATION

Amber: +3e and -3e Amber: +3e and -5e

𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 = +3e − 3e = 0e 𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 = +3e − 5e = −2e

Wool: +3e and -3e Wool: +3e and -1e

𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 = +3e − 3e = 0e 𝑄𝑛𝑒𝑡 = +3e − 1e = +2e
<<
CONSERVATION OF CHARGE
silk
• Electric charge is always conserved in an
isolated system
• For example, charge is not created in the
process of rubbing two objects together, it is
just a transfer of charge. glass rod

Net charge before = Net charge after silk

+
+
- -
Qi = Q f - -
+
+

glass rod
CONDUCTORS, INSULATORS and
SEMICONDUCTORS
• Electrical conductors are materials that have free electrons
(electrons that can move freely in material), i.e. copper, iron.
• Electrical insulators are materials that most or all of there are
bound electrons (electrons that are bound to atom and cannot
move freely in material). i.e. glass, rubber
• Semiconductor are materials contain bound electrons that, under
certain conditions, can turn into free electrons. i.e. silicon,
germanium .
COULOMB’S LAW

His published result is known to many and bears a great

similarity to Newton’s gravitational law.

Coulomb stated that the force between two very small

objects separated in a vacuum or free space by a distance
which is large compared to their size is proportional to the
charge on each and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between them.
Coulomb’s Law:

𝑸𝟏 𝑸 𝟐
𝑭=𝒌 𝟐
𝑹

where:
𝑸𝟏 and 𝑸𝟐 =positive or negative quantities of charge
R= separation
k = proportionality constant
If the International System of Units (SI) is used, Q is
measured in coulombs (C), R is in meters (m), and the force
should be newtons (N). This will be achieved if the constant
of proportionality k is written as:

𝟏
𝒌=
𝟒𝝅 ∈𝒐
The constant ∈𝒐 is called the permittivity of free space and
has the magnitude, measured in farads per meter (F/m).
 𝟏
∈𝒐 = 𝟖. 𝟖𝟓𝟒𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 F/m
𝟑𝟔𝝅
Hence,
𝒌 = 𝟖. 𝟗𝟗𝒙𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝑵 ⋅ 𝒎𝟐 Τ𝑪𝟐

The quantity is not dimensionless, for Coulomb’s law shows that it has
label 𝑪𝟐 Τ𝑵 ⋅ 𝒎𝟐.

Coulomb’s Law is now:

𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑭=
𝟒𝝅 ∈𝒐 𝑹𝟐
Remember that force is a vector!

- For problems involving two charges, the direction is either

“attractive” or “repulsive”

- the direction of the force between a positive charge and

negative charge is attractive
- the direction of the force between two negative charges is
repulsive
PROBLEM 1:
The force between two identical charges separated by 1cm
is equal to 90 N. What is the magnitude of the two
charges?
Solution:

Since two charges are identical,

𝑸𝟏 = 𝑸𝟐 = 𝑸

𝑸𝟐
𝑭=
𝟒𝝅 ∈𝒐 𝑹𝟐
Solution:
Solving for Q,

𝑸= (𝑭)𝟒𝝅 ∈𝒐 𝑹𝟐

Substituting the values,

𝑸= ൫𝟗𝟎𝑵)𝟒𝝅 ∈𝒐 (0.01m)𝟐

𝑸 = ±𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒔

Since the charges are identical, the are either both positive
or negative. This force will be repulsive.
PROBLEM 2:
Two charges attract each other with a force of 1.5 N. What
will be the force if the distance between them is reduced
to one-ninth of its original value.
TRIANGLE LAW OF VECTORS

If two vectors are represented by the sides of a triangle

both in magnitude and direction taken in order, the resultant
(sum) of the vectors is given by the closing (third) side of the
triangle taken in the reverse order both in the magnitude
and direction.
PROBLEM 3:
Two identical conducting spheres are placed with their centers 0.30 m apart.
One is given a charge of +12 x 10-9 C and the other is given a charge of
-18 x 10-9 C.

• A. Find the electric force exerted on one sphere by the other

• B. The spheres are connected by a conducting wire. After
equilibrium has occurred, find the electric force between the two
spheres.
SOLUTION:
A.
 q1q2 
Felectric = kC  2 
 r 


F =  8.99 x10 9 Nm 

(
2  +12 x10 −9 C
)( −18 x10 −9
C) 
 = −5
 2.2 x10 N Attractive
C  ( 0.30m ) 
2 2
  
SOLUTION:
B. What does it mean “after equilibrium has
occurred”?
*The charge on each sphere is the same

 Nm  
2
F =  8.99 x109 2  
( −3 x10 −9
C )( −3 x 10 −9
C ) 
 = 8.99 x10 −7
N Repulsive
C  ( ) 
2
  0.30 m 
PROBLEM 4: Three charges in a line
Three charges are arranged in a line as shown below. The distance between
Q1 and Q2 is 0.35 m and the distance between Q2 and Q3 is 0.45 m.
What is the net electrostatic force acting on Q3?

Q1 Q2 Q3
+4 µC -5 µC +8µC
SOLUTION:
• Find the force acting on Q3 from Q1
 9 Nm 
( )( )
2
−6 −6
 9 x10 2 
 4 x10 C 8 x10 C
F13 = 
C 
= 0.45 N Right
(0.8m ) 2

• Find the force acting on Q3 from Q2

 Nm 
(5 x10 C )(8 x10 C )
2
−6 −6
 9 x109
2
F23 =  
C
= 1.78 N Left
(0.45m )2
• Net force acting on Q3= 1.33 N Left
PROBLEM 5: Two -Dimensional Problem
Three charges are arranged in a triangular pattern as shown below. The
distance between Q1 and Q2 is 0.35 m and the distance between Q2
and Q3 is 0.45 m. Find the net electrostatic force on Q2.

Q1
+4 µC

Q2 Q3
-5 µC +8µC
SOLUTION:
• We already have the numerical values for the force acting
on Q2from Q3…but the direction is different
• F32= 1.78 N Right

• Find the force from Q1 on Q2

 9 Nm 
( )( )
2
−6 −6
 9 x10 2 
 4 x10 C 5 x10 C
F12 =  C 
= 1.47 N Up
(0.35m ) 2
FINISH THE PROBLEM:
• Use vector addition (Pythagorean theorem) to find the
net force acting on Q2.

Fnet = 1.782 + 1.47 2 = 2.31 N 1.47 N

• Direction? 1.78 N

 1.47 
 = tan 
−1
 = 39 . 6 
N of E
 1.78 
In order to write the vector form of the equation, we need
the additional fact that the force acts along the line joining
two charges and is repulsive if the charges are alike in sign
and attractive if they are of opposite sign.
Let the vector r1 locate Q1 while r2 locates Q2. Then the
vector r12 = r2- r1 represents the directed line segment from
Q1 to Q2 as shown in the figure. The vector F2 is the force on
Q2 and is shown for the case where Q1 and Q2 have the
same sign.
The vector form of Coulomb’s Law is:

𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑭= 𝒂𝟏𝟐
𝟒𝝅∈𝒐 𝑹𝟐
where:
𝒂𝟏𝟐 = a unit vector in the direction of 𝑹𝟏𝟐 , or
𝑹12 𝑹12 r2− r1
𝒂𝟏𝟐 = = =
|𝑹12 | 𝑅12 |r2−r1|
PROBLEM 5:
Solution: