Chapter - 01

Electric field: The space surrounding a charged body conductor within exits its
influence can be felt is called Electric Field.

Electric field intensity: The intensity of an electric field can be defined by

placing a positive charge q at the point in space that is to be examined and by
measuring the electric F that acts on that body. The electric field intensity E at the
point is

F
E= ……………………… (i)
q

It is a vector quantity. Its unit is NC-1

Electric flux: Flux is the property of any electric field and refers to a hypothetical
surface in the field which may be closed or opened. Flux of an electric field is
measured by the numbers of line that cut through such a surface. It is representing by
φe. It is a scalar quantity.

Electric Dipole: An electric dipole is a pair of point charge with equal magnified
and opposite sign (a positive +q and a negative charge -q) separated at a distance 2a.

Coulomb’s law: The magnitude of electric force but two points charge is directly
proportional to the product of the charge and immersed proportional of the sequence
of the distance bet then force acts along the time.

Explanation: Let us consider two point charges q1and q2 separated by a distance r.

Hence according to Coulomb’s law we can write
q1q2
F∝
r2
q1q2
=> F = K
r2
Q1. Find the expression for electric field due to a dipole.

Figure show an electric dipole consists of two equal but opposite charge q which are 2a
distance a part.

Now we find an expression for the electric field at a point p, a distance r from the dipole.

Let E1 and E2 are the electric field due to charge +q and – q respectively.

For – q charge the value of electric intensity is,

1 q
E2 = × 2
4π ∈∘ r + a2

Hence the resultant electric of intensity,

E= E1 2 + E2 2 + 2E1 E2 cos2θ

= E1 2 + E1 2 + 2E1 E1 cos2θ ∵ E1 = E2

= 2E1 2 + 2 × 2E1 cos2θ

= 2E1 2 + 2E1 2 cos2θ

= 2E1 2 (1 + cos2θ)

= 2E1 2 × 2cos2 2θ

= 4E1 2 cos2 2θ

= 2E1 cosθ
 1 q a
=2 × 2 2
×
4π ∈∘ r + a r 2 + a2
2qa
=
4π ∈∘ (r 2 + a2 )3 2

P
=
4π ∈∘ (r 2 + a2 ) 3 2

But if we assumed that 𝑟 ≫ 𝑎,

P
E=
4π ∈∘ (r 2 )3 2

1 P
= × 3
4π ∈∘ r

This is the expression for the electric field due to a dipole.

Q2. Describe Gauss’s law?

Gauss’s law: Gauss’s law which applies to any closed hypo0thetical surface (called a
Gaussian surface) gives a connection between 𝜑E for the surface and the net charge q
enclosed by the surface.

It is,

ϵ0 φE = q
q
=> 𝜑𝐸 =
ϵ0

Again,

φE = E ∙ ds

q
=> = E ∙ ds
ϵ0

∴ q = ϵ0 E ∙ ds
Q3. Deduce/ Derive / Find/ Establish coulombs law from gausses law.

Let us consider an isolated point charge q surrounding by a spherical Gaussians surface of

radius r. Now, E must have normal to the surface and must have the same magnitude for all
points on surface.

Let applying Gausses law,

q = ϵ0 E ∙ ds

Since E and ds at any point on the Gaussian surface are directed outward. So that angle
between them is zero.

So,

ϵ0 E ∙ ds = 𝑞

=> ϵ0 E ∙ ds ∙ cos00 = q

=> ϵ0 E ∙ ds = q

=> ϵ0 E ds = q

=> ϵ0 E ∙ 4πr 2 = q

1 q
=> 𝐸 = × 2 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ (𝑖)
4π ∈∘ r

Let us put a second point charge q0 at the point at which E is calculated.

Hence the magnitude of the force that acts in it is,

𝐹 = 𝑞0 𝐸

1 q
= 𝑞0 × × 2 [From 𝑖]
4π ∈∘ r

1 qq 0
= × 2
4π ∈∘ r

This is coulombs law.

Q4. Find the equation of potential energy due to a dipole in an electric field?

Or, show that 𝐔 = −𝐏 ∙ 𝐄 where the symbols have their usual equation?

Figure shows an electric dipole consists of two equal but opposite charge +q and –q that are
placed a distance 2a apart. This arrangement is placed is an external electric field E . The
dipole moment p (2aq) makes an angle θ with E. Two forces F and −F acts as shown in
figure.

Where, F = qE

So the net force is zero, but there is a net torque about an axis through 0 given by
 τ = 2F(a sinθ)

= 2qEa sinθ

= (2qa) E sinθ

= PE sinθ

∴τ=P×E

How, work must be done to change the orientation an electric dipole by an external agent
E. This work is stored as potential energy. If θ has an initial value θ0 the work required to
change the dipole axis to an angle θ is given by,

𝑤= 𝑑𝑤

𝜃
= 𝜏𝑑𝜃
𝜃0

𝜃
= 𝑃𝐸 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜃0

𝜃
= 𝑃𝐸 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜃0

= 𝑃𝐸[−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃]𝜃𝜃0

= 𝑃𝐸(−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃0 )

If we choose reference orientation θ0 to have any convenient value θ0 = 900.

𝑈 = 𝑃𝐸(−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠900 )

= 𝑃𝐸 −𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

= −𝑃𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

= −𝑃𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

= −P ∙ E