Chapter 21-6

Electric Field Lines

PHYSICS 72 1
Objective

❑Given the electric field lines, deduce the electric field

vectors and nature of electric field sources

PHYSICS 72 2
Electric Field Lines
An electric field line is an imaginary line or curve drawn through a
region of space.
Its tangent at any point is in the direction of the electric-field vector at
that point.

PHYSICS 72 3
Electric Field Lines
It is not the same as trajectories.

Field lines never intersect.

At any particular point, the electric field has a unique

direction.

PHYSICS 72 4
Electric Field Lines

A single positive charge

PHYSICS 72 5
Electric Field Lines

Two equal and opposite charges (a dipole)

PHYSICS 72 6
Electric Field Lines

Two equal positive charges

PHYSICS 72 7
Electric Field Lines (Charge Distributions)

PHYSICS 72 8
Electric Field Lines

E E
Weaker
Electric
Stronger Field
Electric
Field

Electric Field
Lines

PHYSICS 72 9
 Rules in drawing electric field lines
1. No field line intersection.
2. Field line must begin from the positive charge
and end at the negative charge.
3. The number of field lines, arising from, or
emerging to, is proportional to the magnitude of
charge.
4. At the region very far away from the system of
charges, that system must look like a single
charged particle.

PHYSICS 72 10
ConcepTest!
Which of the following is a possible set of electric field lines?

PHYSICS 72 11
ConcepTest!
Which of the following is a possible set of electric field lines?

PHYSICS 72 12
ConcepTest!
Given charges +Q and -2Q, which of the following diagrams shows a
correct representation of the electric field lines?

PHYSICS 72 13
ConcepTest!
Given charges +Q and -2Q, which of the following diagrams shows a
correct representation of the electric field lines?

PHYSICS 72 14
 Objective

✓ Given the electric field lines, deduce the electric

field vectors and nature of
electric field.

PHYSICS 72 15
Chapter 21-7
Electric Dipole

PHYSICS 72 16
 Objective
❑Discuss the motion of an electric dipole in a
uniform electric field.

PHYSICS 72 17
Electric Dipoles
A pair of charges that are equal in magnitude and have
opposite signs.
These charges are separated by a small distance d.

–q +q
d

PHYSICS 72 18
Electric Dipoles

–q +q

directed from (-) to (+)

PHYSICS 72 19
Force and Torque on an Electric Dipole

+ F
θ
F –

PHYSICS 72 20
Right-hand rule

PHYSICS 72 21
Force and Torque on an Electric Dipole

PHYSICS 72 22
Force and Torque on an Electric Dipole
After applying torque to the dipole, it will align itself
along the direction of the electric field.
The electric field does work on the dipole in order for it
to rotate.

– +

PHYSICS 72 23
Electric dipoles in daily life

Hidden mickeys? Nope!

Water molecules!
PHYSICS 72 24
Electric dipoles in daily life
Microwave oven heating (dielectric heating)

Woaaah!

PHYSICS 72 25
Force and Torque on an Electric Dipole

(magnitude of dipole moment)

PHYSICS 72 26
Potential Energy of an Electric Dipole

PHYSICS 72 27
Equilibrium and Stability

PHYSICS 72 28
Attendance Quiz (3 mins)
The figure shows an electric dipole in a
uniform electric field that is directed
parallel to the plane of the figure. The
charges both lie in the plane.

1. What is the direction of the electric

dipole moment?
2. What is the direction of the torque?
How will the dipole moment rotate?

PHYSICS 72 29
 Objective

✓ Discuss the motion of an electric dipole in a

uniform electric field.

PHYSICS 72 30
End of Chapter 21.

PHYSICS 72 31