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ELECTROSTATICS - 1
1
Chapter Outline

1.1. Electric Charge

1.2. Coulomb’s Law
1.3. Origin of Coulombic Force
1.4 Electric Field Strength or Intensity of Electric
Field
1.5 Electric Field Intensity of Electric Dipole in
Transverse And Axial Positions

CHAPTER REVIEW

1.1 Electric Charge

The primordial stuff of electricity is electric charge. It is the essence of

electrical phenomena. It is so basic that it is difficult to describe except in the
context of the effects that are ascribed to its existence. These effects are only
manifested as forces of interaction. We experience something and
consequently seek to “explain” our experience in terms of something more
elementary. We may say that charge is simply property of certain of nature’s
elementary particles and does not exist “outside” of these particles (as in the
case of the electron, the µ meson, etc). However, we will talk of charge as if
possessing independent existence and so far as we know, electric charge
has the following characteristics

1.1.1 Nomenclature
There are two kinds of electric charge, denoted arbitrarily as positive charge
and negative charge. The magnitude of the charge is given by a positive real
number, and its type is denoted by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign. All charges
are equivalent, however, in the sense that charges may be added to each
other algebraically just like real (positive or negative) numbers to get other
charges. It is found that charges of opposite sign attract each other and
charges of similar signs repel each other.

Benjamin Franklin is credited with being the first to use the names positive
and negative to designate the two different kinds of charge. He arbitrarily
called the charged glass rod positive and a charged hard rubber rod
negative. (Plastics, which were not around in Franklin’s day, behave like hard
rubber). Franklin’s definitions have persisted so we say that the electrons
stripped from the glass rod are negative. If Franklin had called the glass rod
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negative, all our sign nomenclature would be reversed and we would call an
electron positive (and a positron negative).

1.1.2 Principle of Charge Conservation

In nature, the total amount of positive charge just balances the total amount
of negative charge; electrical neutrality of objects is the most common
occurrence. Moreover, it is not possible to create (or annihilate) positive (or
negative) charge without creating or annihilating an equal amount of negative
(or positive) charge. This may be regarded as a principle of conservation of
charge.
This is also called global conservation of charge. Actually, it is much stronger.
Global conservation would allow for a charge to disappear in New Delhi and
instantly reappear in Bombay (that wouldn’t affect the total), and yet we know
that this doesn’t happen. If the charge was in New Delhi and it went to
Bombay, then it must have passed along some continuous path from one
place to the other. This is called local conservation of charge. Later in higher
level physics it will be studied how to formulate a precise mathematical law
expressing local conservation of charge – it’s the continuity equation.

1.1.3 Charge Symmetry

Physically, we also would like to believe in what may be called as “Charge
Symmetry.” This means that two worlds that differ only in that signs of all
charges in one will be opposite to the signs of charges in the other and
otherwise they would be physically indistinguishable. We see “approximate”
manifestations of this effect in the realm of elementary particle physics.
There, it has been found that for every elementary particle with a positive
charge, there exists another “identical” elementary particle that has a
negative charge of equal magnitude. Thus, we have electrons and positrons,
protons and antiprotons, + mesons and - mesons, and so on.

1.1.4 Quantisation of Charge

Charge is quantized. This means that there seems to be a minimum
magnitude (nonzero) to electric charge. This minimum magnitude is
associated, for example, with the charge of a positron or electron. The
lightest charged particle that we know of is the electron. Its (rest) mass is
9.1091 ×10-31 kilogram. The rest mass of a nucleon (proton or neutron) is
approximately 1840 times larger.
Quantization of charge or atomicity of charge means that there is a minimum
value of free charge and all charges are integral multiples of this elementary
charge. Mathematically, then, charge may be put into correspondence with
the integers, if only we agree to call the magnitude of the electron charge
unity .So far as we know, all the “elementary particles” of nature have a
charge magnitude equal to the unit electron charge or zero charge, though it
has recently been proved that an elementary particle of sub electronic charge
exists. (These particle named quarks, have one third or two thirds of the unit
electronic charge.) However, if quarks exist, free charge will still be quantized
because quarks cannot exist in free State.
Although nothing in classical electrodynamics requires that charge be
quantized, the fact is that electric charge comes only in discrete lumps –
integer multiples of the basic unit of charge. This fundamental unit of charge
is extremely small, so for practical purposes it is usually appropriate to ignore
quantization altogether. It is just like water which, “really” consists of discrete
lumps (molecules); yet, if we are dealing with reasonably large quantities of it
we can treat it as a continuous fluid. This is in fact much closer to Maxwell’s
own view; he knew nothing of electrons and proton- he must have pictured
charge as a kind of “jelly” that could be divided up into portions of any size
and smeared out at will.

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1.1.5 Massiveness
Anything that has charge, has some mass. Since mass is a form of energy.
So, one might state this by saying that electricity is a form of energy or is
always associated with energy. Objects with zero (rest) mass have no
charge. It is just like phenomenon of gravitation which is impossible without
mass.

1.1.6 Invariance of Charge

Charge is invariant to reference frame. For all reference frames, classical
(inertial or non inertial) or relativistic, value of charge remains same.
But we know that mass of a particle is variant to reference frame. In
relativistic reference frame mass of a particle is given as
m0
m=
1  (v 2 / c 2 )
So, charge to mass ratio called specific charge, can vary with respect to
relativistic reference frame. It is given as

q q 1  (v / c )
2 2

m m0

1.1.7 Electromagnetic Field of Accelerating Charges

When a charge undergoes acceleration a point of the field “detaches” itself, in
a sense, and travels off at the speed of light. Carrying with it energy,
momentum and angular momentum. We call this electromagnetic radiation.
Its existence invites (if not compels) us to regard the fields as independent
dynamical entities in their own right, every bit as ‘‘real” as atoms or baseballs.
Our interest accordingly shifts from the study of force between charges to the
theory of the fields themselves. But it takes a charge to produce an
electromagnetic field, and it takes another charge to detect one, so we had
best begin by reviewing the essential properties of electric charge.
These characteristics of charge are not its only characteristics. We shall not
answer questions such as “What is the geometrical size or shape of the
elementary charge?” The characteristic we have listed, however, are those
that are important to our understanding of electricity

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1.2 Coulomb’s Law

1.2.1 Introduction
Charles Augustus de Coulomb (1736-1806) was the first to accurately
measure the forces between electric charges and publish his results, which
appeared in a journal of the French Royal Academy in 1785. Coulomb was a
French military engineer and superintendent of waters and fountains.
The inverse square relationship had been suspected prior to Coulomb by
Joseph Priestley, English minister and scientist, who investigated the matter
at Benjamin Franklin’s suggestion. Also John Robinson of Edinburgh and
Henry Cavendish, an English Physicist, determined experimentally that the
force between charge varied inversely as a power between about 1.98 and
2.02, but their results were not made public until long after Coulomb’s
publication. More recent measurements have established that the exponent
is within one part in a million billion (1015) of 2.0. Of course, if the exponent is
not exactly equal to 2, then Gauss’s law would not be valid.

1.2.2 Coulomb’s Experimental Results

Coulomb invented the torsion balance shown in the fig. The primary
component of this device is a beam suspended horizontally from a vertical
fiber. On one end of the beam is a sphere that can be charged by some
object (perhaps a rubbed piece of glass or rubber). The beam is balanced by
a counter weight on the other end. When a second charged sphere is brought
near the first as shown in fig the electrostatic force causes the beam to
rotate. This device can be calibrated independently of the Coulomb force so
that the force necessary to cause a given rotation is known. With this device
coulomb was able to firmly establish the following properties for the
electrostatic forces between stationary point charges.
(1) The magnitude of the force is proportional to the product of stationary
point charges and does not depend on individual value of charges.
(2) The magnitude of the force is inversely proportional to the square of
distance separating the point charges and directed along the line connecting
the two charges.
(3) The force depends on the medium between the charges.
(4) The force is repulsive if the charges have the same sign and attractive if
their signs are opposite.

1.2.3 Definition of Coulomb’s Law

On the basis of above experimental results, Coulomb’s law may be defined
as
The electrostatic force between two stationary point charges is
proportional to the product of charges and inversely proportional
the square of the distance between them.
The complete, mathematical statement of Coulomb’s Law can be given as
F  q1q2 / r 2
If we introduce a proportionality constant, then we can write
F = (1/ 4o ) (q1 q 2 / r 2 )
It is noticeable that coulomb’s law gives electrostatic forces between two
point charges whether they are placed in medium or they are palced in Coulomb’s torsion balance
vaccuum. But if they are placed in a medium then the medium gets induced
charges because of which also each charge experiences a force. So if q1
and q2 are palced in a meduium then q2 will experience one coulombic force
due to q1 and another coulombic force due to charge induced around q1 so
net force on q2 is due to q1 and due to the charge induced in the medium

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The vector form of
Coulomb’s law applied
to three difference pairs
of points charge .In each
2
|F12|=|F21|=(/40)(|q1q2|/r )
Electrostatic - I
because of field of q1. This net force on q2 in the presence of medium is
expressed methematically as given below:

F = (1/ 4o r ) (q1 q 2 / r 2 ) r̂
Here r is a medium constant. It is called dielectric constant of the medium or
relative permittivity of the medium. It expresses the extent of electrostatic
induction or polarisation of charge in a medium due to some other free
charge place in the medium.
Above equation for force on the point q2 due to q1 and medium can also be
expressed as
K q1q2
F= (here
r r 2
K= 1/40)
And vectorially above expression may be written as,
 K q1q2
F = r̂
r r 2
1.2.4 Noticeable Points About Coulomb’s Law
Following points are noticeable about use of Coulomb’s
Digging Law.
Deeper 1.2.4.1 Proportionality Constant: We shall use the
Into 1.2.3 MKS (meter-kilogram-second) system of units, wherein force
is measured in Newtons (1N = 1 kg.m.s-2; that is, in units of
mass (M)  length (L) time-2 (T -2). Energy is measured in
joules (units of ML2T -2). In the System International (SI) or MKSA*system of
units, charge is measured in coulombs [abbreviation, C] or ampere-seconds
(A.s). Charge Q, or charge per unit of time (current), is considered on an
equal footing with mass, length, or time. Because the units of M, L, T, and Q,
are independently specified, K as it appears in our formula is found from
experiment to be
K  1/ 40 107 c 2 ~ 9 109 N.m2 / C2
Here c is the speed of light in vacuum which is equal to 2.99792458  108
m/s ~ 3  108 m/s. The quantity 0 is sometimes called the permittivity of free
space, and has the value 8.854  10-12 C2/N.m2; that is, with the dimensions
Q2T2M1L3. The 4 is inserted to make certain expressions to be
encountered simpler (as compared to expressions that are without a factor of
4  ), and the system is therefore said to be rationalized.
In the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system of units, K  1, and the unit
of charge is set by Coulomb’s Law. It has the dimensions dyne1/2-centimeter;
that is, M1/2LT1. It is called the “stat coulomb” and is equal to (1/2.998)  10 9
coulomb.
1.2.4.2 Direction of Force
Value of the force between two charges can be written as

F = (1/ 40 r )(q q / r 2 )rˆ
1 2
The force of q1 on q2 is along r̂ and directed from q1 to q2 if they are
same in nature and directed opposite to r̂ if they are opposite in nature.
1.2.4.3 Super Position of Coulombic Force
So if we consider N point charges 1, 2,3 ...,N with scalar magnitudes q1,
   
q2,....,qN located at displacements r1 ,r2 ,r3 ,........rN , respectively, from some

fixed origin O. The force exerted on the charge q located at position r by all
of these other charges is obtained by summing vectorially the forces by
individual charges. So,
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  
N
qi (r  ri )
Fq= q 
i 1
 
40 | r  ri |3

Coulomb’s law thus states that between charges q1 and q2 the force (a) is
proportional to q1, (b) is proportional to q2, (c) is proportional to 1/r212, and (d)
lies along the straight line connecting q1 and q2. If q1 q2 is a negative number,
then F12 is in the direction of ( r̂12 ) and F21 is in the direction of (+ r̂12 ). That
is, we have attraction; otherwise we have repulsion.

1.2.4.4 Newtonian Force

Coulomb’s Law follows Newton’s Third Law.

1.2.4.5 Importance of Medium

Coulomb’s Law is applicable to the charges when they are present in an
infinitely extended medium.

1.2.4.6 Presence of Small Medium Between Charges

Slab of thickness and dielectric constant r has been introduced between the
charges placed in air at a separation of r. If the medium between the charges
changes in moving from one charge to another, such as shown in the fig,
then first we find the equivalent air thickness corresponding to thickness “t” of
medium of dielectric constant r. This air distance equivalent to the medium of
dielectric constant r is that distance which should have been for the same
Coulombic force between charges as they would experience when they had
been separated by thickness t in an extended medium of constant r. So, the
equivalent air distance ta is given as
q1q2 / 40 t 2a  q1q2 / 40 r t 2
or ta = r t
So, in the presence of dielectric slab of thickness t and dielectric constant r,
total air distance between the charges in given as
ra = r – t + t r
So, the force between the charges in the presence of slab of dielectric
constant r and thickness t and remaining space of air is given as
F = (1/ 40 ) (q1q2 / r 2 )
1 q1q2
or, F =
40 r  t  t  2
 r 
If r is varying with distance in the slab, then we take a very small thickness dt
of the medium where dielectric constant is r. Then according to above
discussion, the equivalent air distance is given as
dta = dt r
t
or, ta =
 0
dt r

So, the total equivalent distance between the charges is given as

ra = r – t + ta
t
ra = r  t +  0
dt r

So, the force between the charges in this situation is given as

1 q1q2
F=
40  t 
2

 r  t  0 dt r 
  

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Coulombic Force Varies With Reference Frame

So, Coulomb’s law will give the correct total force on q1 due to q2 if both q1
and q2 are stationary. If q2 is moving with respect to our reference system,

then the total force F 12 on a stationary q1 is modified from that predicted by
Coulomb’s law. However, if the speeds of travel are small compared to the
speed of light (c = 3 108 m/s), the modifications are small. An analogous

remark pertains to the force F 21. At one time it was thought that the electric
forces acted instantaneously across the distance r21 that no time interval .
intervened in the Coulomb interaction of the particles.
We know now that this “action at a distance” concept is not valid, and that the
effects on one charge due to another are propagated in time with speed of
light, across the intervening space separating them. If the charges are
stationary, however, we need not consider these effects.

Range of Coulombic Force

Also it is noticeable that the inverse-square character of this law seems to be
verified over a very large range of distances, from the submicroscopic to the
macroscopic. For distances which are familiar to us, the exponent 2 of the
inverse-square dependence has been shown* to be accurate to better than
one part in 1015. For submicroscopic distances also, down to the order of at
least 10-13 cm, we have found that the physical effects predicted by this force
law seem true. Because of lack of evidence to the contrary we assume
Coulomb’s law to be true universally.

Newton’s Inverse Square Law

Newton based his law on Johannes Kepler’s laws of planetary motion (1619)
which Kepler deduced from 30 years of methodical, precise observational
measurements of the planets’ motions by Tycho Brahe beginning in 1582.
Tycho Brahe’s work was sponsored by king Frederick of Denmark, and
Johannes Kepler’s work by Emperor Rudolph the second of Bohemia. It is
interesting to recall that Newton’s law was not generally accepted by the
scientists of his day. It was, in fact, vigorously attacked because it implied
action at a distance, that is, it suggested that one mass could affect another
mass without being physically connected to it (as with an iron bar),an idea
abhorrent to most scientists of the time. A century later when Coulomb
published his law, which also implies action at a distance, the world was at
last ready for it.
It is interesting to note that Coulomb’s law deduced from electric charges at
close range is of the same form as Newton’s law of gravitation deduced from
the motion of celestial bodies at great distances.

Micro and Macroscopic Nature of Coulombic Force

The Coulomb force between charged particle extends beyond such
macroscopic situations even to the force that bind the electrons of an atom to
its nucleus, the atoms into molecules, and the atoms of molecules into larger
aggregations of liquid or solid form. It is literally the force that holds solids,
including you and me together
It is the attractive electrical Coulomb forces acting between the adjacent
atoms of a steel bar under tension that keep the bar from being pulled apart.
For example if you could separate one electron from each copper atom in a
penny and move all electrons to one side of the penny and all positively
charged atoms to the other side, the attractive force between the electrons
and the atoms would be mega-megaton! Thus, the electrical forces of our
world are even more pervasive. In fact most of the forces of our world that
are not gravitational are electrical.
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Coulombic force1.3. Origin

has been of Coulombic
explained Force theories
on the basis of following

1.3.1 Action at a distance view

According to this idea two charges apply force on each other due to their
nature when they are kept at certain distance. This may be represented as
charge q1 charge q2
So, this theory attributes the coulombic force to the nature of charge and
does not explain why and how the force is arising due to the nature of
charge.

1.3.2. Electric Field Theory

Electric Field:- According to this theory the region around any charge in
which some other charge experiences force of attraction or repulsion is called
electric field.
So, according to this theory charges have their fields around them
and if some other charge is brought in this region it experiences
force of attraction or repulsion. This interaction of charges with each
other through electric field may be represented as
charge q1 field charge q2

Electric field is a macroscopic way of explaining the electric force between the
charges and infact more microscopic phenomenon which takes place is the
exchange of energy particles between the charges because of which this force
arises. So, we may say that
The region around a given charge in which some other charge
participates in exchange of energy particles with the given charge is
called electric field.

So, now we can say that the coulombic force is developed due to exchange
of energy particles.
It is further noticeable that the exchange of energy particles between point
charges falls inversely with the square of distance between them and is
proportional to their amounts. So, we have Coulomb’s law for point charges
and the force between point charges act till infinite separation between them.

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If another point charge q2 is
placed at P, it experiences
 
a force F21= q2 E1
Electric field vectors due
to the positive charge q1
at two points P and S. In
each case the electric
field points directly away
from q1
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1.4 Electric Field Strength or Intensity of Electric Field
Electric field intensity is a mathematical way of expressing the
electric field strength. The concept of electric field can be
described as given below.
1.4.1 Definition of intensity of field
It is an easier way of calculating the force on a particular charge due to a
given charge configuration. Its definition is given below
“The electric field intensity at a point in the field of certain charge is
equal to the force acting on unit positive charge kept at that point”
So, electric field intensity is vector definition of the electric field strength of a
charge. It is the characteristic of a point in the field of certain charge. Its
direction at that point is the direction of a force which a positive point charge
at that point will experience.
If electric field intensity had been defined in terms of force on unit negative
charge then also we could have calculated the force on any other charge due
to this field. The only thing that had occurred is one minus sign in all the
formula which we develop by taking unit positive charge as the reference.
1.4.2 Electric Field Intensity of Stationary Point Charge
According to this definition of electric field, we can find the electric field of
charge (+q) at a point P distant r from it. This is given as
 1 q 1 
E r
40 r r 2
 q 
or, E r
40 r r 2

Here origin of r is taken at the source charge (+q) (The charge
 whose field is
calculated is called source charge) and field intensity E of (+q) is directed
 
along r . If it had been (q) then field would have been directed opposite to r.
 
If the origin of coordinates system is such that r0 and r are the positions of
(+q) and P respectively, then electric field intensity at P is given as
 
 q (r  r0 )
E
4  r r   3
| r  r0 |
1.4.3 Problem with Unit Positive Charge and Concept of Test Charge
Using above definition of electric field intensity in terms of the force on unit
positive charge is an easier way of calculating the force on any other charge
kept at that point in the
 field of the given charge. The only thing that we have
to do is to multiply E by the magnitude and sign of that charge kept at that
point.
This definition works well as far as theoretical calculations of it are
concerned. But if we use this definition to practically determine the field of a
charge configuration (say a point charge (+q) by placing (+1) coulomb charge
then our purpose gets defeated because 1C charge is a very large amount
and will apply strong force on the given charge configuration. So, the charge
configuration will not remain as it was and the field intensity that we will
measure in terms of the force on +1C charge will be the field intensity of the
altered charge configuration, which we do not want. But at the same time we
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wish to preserve this definition of intensity in terms of force on unit positive

charge because of its mathematical advantage in quicker calculations.

To get rid of this practical problem we take a very small positive charge
(called test charge). It is so small that it is not able to change the original
charge configuration, whose force we are measuring.
 We find the force on
this (+qtest) charge and take the ratio of F to qtest to get the electric field
intensity due to a given charge q at a point where + qtest is placed. This again
gives the force due to q on unit positive charge at the point in the field of q.
So, we can say that

The electric field intensity at a point in the field of a given charge is

the ratio of the force acting on positive test charge to the magnitude The electric field at point P
of test charge when test charge is quite small. a distance r from a point
charge. The direction of
 the field is determined by
 F the direction of force on a
So, E  lim test charge qt. (a) The
qtest 0 qtest electric field of the
charge(+qt) points radially
 outward. (b) The electric
So, the electric field intensity due to (+q) point charge at a point P distant r is field of the charge
given by (– qt ) points radially
q qtest  inward
r
 40 r r 2
E  lim
qtest  0 qtest
 
qr
E ……[1.4.3.1]
40 r r 2
This formula is same as we defined in the beginning but now it is free from
any practical discrepancy and it actually gives the field’s strength of original
charge configuration.

1.4.4 Superposition of The Electric Field Intensity

To compute the electric field due to several point-charges we must apply the
principle of superposition. This process is shown in Figure. 1.4.4.2 where we
want to find the total electric field at point P due to the charges shown. We
begin by applying Equation (1.4.3.1) to find the field at P from each charge.
Then, we must compute the vector sum of the individual field vectors. In
general, for N charges we have
    N 
E1  E 2  E3 + ...+ EN =  Ei
i 1
where
 1 qi
Ei = r̂i The total electric field at a
40 ri2 point in space is the vector
sum of the fields from
each point – charge.

The distance ri is that from the charge qi to the point P, and r̂ i is a unit vector  
directed from qi to P. This technique is illustrated in Examples 1.4.6.1 and F' = q E the force a

1.4.4.2. Both are very important, so work through each carefully! The first, charge q by a field E
created by charges
Example 1.4.4.2 introduces a model that is the basis for the charge
distributions of many molecules. Example 1.4.4.2 is important because the  
charges are distributed so that the resultant electric field gives an F' = m g the force on

understanding of the symmetry feature. a mass m  by a field g
created by other masses
1.4.5 Intensity is Characteristic of The Field
It’s worthwhile to examine Equation (1.4.3.1) with a different view point.
Notice qtest does not appear in this equation. The charge qtest is absent
because the electric field is a property of the charge q only and has nothing
whatsoever to do with the test charge qtest. By writing Equation (1.4.3.1) we
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are taking the view that charge q establishes about itself a field whose
intensity E is described by this equation. If you want to find the force caused

by this field on some other charge q, located at position r , use the definition
 the electric field: E is the force per unit charge, so the force by q on q is
of
F = q E . (The force per unit charge times the charge equals the force). You
should also not miss the fact that this approach is exactly parallel to the way
we think about a gravitational field. If you want to calculate the force on a
mass m by the earth of mass m, you can do so by finding the gravitational

field g created by the earth near its surface, which is the force per unit mass,
i.e., equal
 to 9.80 N/kg. Then the force on any other mass m placed in this

field is F = m g .

1.4.6 Strategy to Calculate the Field Intensity of Multiple Charges

1. Remember that the electric field is a vector.
2. Draw a picture! Locate each charge on a Cartesian coordinate system.
Locate the point P where you wish to know the electric field; label it
clearly.
3. For each charge draw an electric field vector at point P representing the
field contribution from the charge. The field vector is parallel to the line
joining the charge and point P. Determine the direction of each field
vector by imagining a positive test charge at point P and using the
“opposites attract, likes repel” rule.
4. Determine the magnitude of each of the electric field contribution using
1 q
E=
4  0 r 2
5. Find the x, y, z components of each of the electric field values computed
above.
6. Find separately
 Ex, Ey and Ez. You now have the components of the
total E -field at point P. The magnitude of this resultant field intensity is,
as for any vector, the square root of the sum of squares of the
components.
7. Again remember that the electric field is a vector.

Example 1.4.6.1 Electric Field Intensity Due To Point

Charges
Five point-charges, + e each, are distributed at equal intervals along the x-
axis at locations (2a, 0), (a, 0), (0,0), (a, 0) and (+2a, 0). Calculate the
resultant electric field at a point P on the y-axis with coordinates (0,b), if a =
2.00 cm and b = 5.00cm.

Solution 1.4.6.1
+ + + + +
Following
 problem-solving steps (1) and (2) give the charge distribution and
the E -field vectors shown in Figure 1.4.6.1 As we proceed with step (3) we
Figure 1.4.6.1 note from the symmetry of the charge locations, that the field strengths from
charges q1 and q5 are equal, as are the field strengths of charges q2 and q4.
In particular
1 e
E1 = E5 =
40 (2a)2  b2
1 e
and E2 = E4 =
40 a  b2
2

The field strength from charge q3 is

1 e
E3 =
40 b2

Problems on Electrostatics : Phase I, Level I, Type I

Electrostatic - 1 14 – Electrostatic - I

In order to find the total field at point P we must add these five contributions
together vectorially as emphasized in problem-solving step (1 & 7). That is to
say, we must resolve each electric field contribution into its horizontal and
vertical components and then add the components. The simplifying feature
about these fields is that the x-components of E1 and E5 cancel, as do the x-
components of E2 and E4. (We have only shown the components of E2 and
E4.) Hence, only the y-components of all the fields contribute to the total field:
E tot x = 0
Etot y = E1 sin () +E2 sin ( ) +E3 +E4 sin () +E5 sin
()
Etot = Etot y = 2E1 sin () +2E2 sin ( ) +E3
From the geometry of Figure 1.4.6.1, we see that
a 2a
sin () = and sin () =
a  b2
2
(2a)2  b2

Substituting for E1, E2, E3, sin (), and sin (), we have

 1 e  2a  1 e  b 1 e
E =2 
 4 (2a)2  b2 )   2  +
 0  (2a)  b
2 2
 40 a  b  a  b
2 2 2 2 40 b2

1  4a 4a 1 
E    2  2 
40  [(2a)  b ]
2 2 3/2
[a  b ]
2 3/2
b 

Substituting a = 0.0200 m and b = 0.0500 m yields E = 1.75  10-6 N/C. We

reemphasize two important features of this problem: (1) Electric fields must
be added vectorially and (2) the charges were arranged were arranged
symmetrically so that the horizontal components of the E-field from each
charge canceled. Keep eyes open for similar features in some of the
continuous charge distributions to come later!

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Electrostatic-I - 15 Electrostatic - I

1.5 Electric Field Intensity of Various Charge Configurations

1.5.1 Electric Field Intensity Of A Dipole In Transverse Position

The position of any point on the perpendicular bisector of the dipole is called
transverse position or broad side on position. To obtain the electric field
intensity on the transverse axis we calculate the field intensities of two
charges at any point Q on the transverse axis of the dipole. The components
of these field intensities at point Q along the transverse line cancel each
other because they are equal and opposite but the field intensities
perpendicular to the axis contribute to the total field. So, the resultant field
intensity on the transverse axis is given as

E = E(+) cos  + E() cos 

1 q
E(+) = E() =
40 r ( l2  r 2 )

since, E = 2 E(+) cos 

1 q 
so, =2
40 r (l2  r 2 ) (l2  r 2 )1/2
2ql
=
4 0 r (r 2  l2 )3/2
P
or, E = ……[1.5.1.1]
40 r (r 2  l2 )3/2
If r >> l, then
P
E= ……[1.5.1.2]
40 r r 3

Problems on Electrostatics : Phase I, Level I, Type I

Electrostatic - 1 16 – Electrostatic - I

Following points are noticeable about transverse field

of dipole
Digging
1.5.1.1 Field Intensity At the Centre:Above equation
Deeper
(1.5.1.1) is true for any value of r, i.e., for r = 
Into 1.5.1
(for points below the centre O on the transverse axis) to
r = +  (for the points on the transverse line above O). So, if r = 0, we
get the field intensity at O as given below
P
E=
40l3
1.5.1.2 Intensity At Large Transverse Distances: The equation (1.5.1.2) is
valid only
when r >> l and in this situation the electric field intensity of a dipole in
transverse position is half the electric field intensity of dipole at any point in
axial position at
the same distance r. If r is not very large then the electric filed intensity in
transverse position is not half the value of field intensity at the same distance
on axial position.
1.5.1.3 Direction of Field Intensity At Transverse axis: The direction of
field intensity, at all points above and below O and lying
 on transverse axis, is
parallel to the axis but directed opposite to vector P obtained by line joining
the negative charge to positive charge and this field is maximum at the centre
of the dipole and then starts decreasing with distance and it becomes zero at
infinite distance. The variation of the field intensity at all transverse points on
the axis is given in the following graph.

1.5.2 Electric field intensity of a dipole in axial position

Figure shows a dipole with two charges (+q) and (q) separated by a
distance of 2l. The dipole moment vector of this dipole is given as
P = 2ql ……[1. 5.2.1]
The direction of this dipole moment is directed from negative charge to
positive charge along the axis of the dipole.
To find the electric field intensity of the system of two charges, we have to
find the field intensities due to the two charges. The resultant of these field
intensities gives the field intensity due to the dipole.
Now, the field intensity at point Q due to (+q) charge is given by
q
E+ = …… [1. 5.2.2]
4 0 r (r  l)2
And electric field intensity at Q due to (q) charge is given as
q
E = …… [1. 5.2.3]
4 0 r (r  l)2

Here negative  sign before q charge in above equation indicates that E is
opposite to E 
So, the resultant field intensity at point P is given as
E = E+ + E
q  1 1 
=   
4 0 r  (r  l) 2
(r  l)2 
q  4r l 
=  
4 0 r  (r 2  l2 )2 
2(2ql) r
=
4 0 r (r 2  l2 )2
2pr
E= …… [1.5.2.4]
4 0 r (r 2  l2 )2
If r >>l, then

Problems on Electrostatics : Phase I, Level I, Type I

Electrostatic-I - 17 Electrostatic - I

2p
E= ..................[1.5.2.5]
4   0 r r 3
The graphical variation of electric field intensity with distance from the centre
O is as given below

Following points are noticeable about axial field of

Digging dipole
Deeper 1.5.2.1 Direction of The Axial Field Intensity: The
Into 1.5.2 field is directed from the negative to the positive charge
along the axis of the dipole.
 So, the field intensity is along
the dipole moment vector P . Even if the point Q is at the
axis on the side of the negative charge ( q), the field has direction
which is same as that of P .
1.5.2.2 Intensity At Points Outside The Charges: Equation (1.5.2.4)
is correct for points outside of the line joining the charges and it is true for
any distance r from the centre of the dipole but equation (1.5.2.5) is correct
only for large distances r. (and obviously for outside points Q).
1.5.2.3 Intensity At points Between the Charges: It is important to
note that the field intensity
 at any point between the two charges and on the
line is opposite to P and obtained by adding the field intensities of two
charges separately.

Problems on Electrostatics : Phase I, Level I, Type I