Topic 17 – Electric Fields A2 Level

17.3 - Electric forces between point

charges
Learning Outcomes:
(a) understand that, for any point outside a
spherical conductor, the charge on the
sphere may be considered to act as a
point charge at its centre
3. Mathematically,
(b) recall and use Coulomb’s law in the form Q1 Q2
Q1 Q2 F α
F= for the force between two r2
4πε0 r2
Q1 Q2
point charges in free space or air F=k
r2

Point Charges Where

F = electrostatic force,
Q = points charge
r = distance between two charges
k = 8.99 x 109 N m2 C-2
1. The electric field surrounding a sphere
or point charged is radial. Note:
2. If the sphere is a conductor, the charge Coulomb’s law is also known as inverse
on the sphere distributes evenly around square law of force, because the variation
the surface of the sphere. of force with distance r between the
1
3. However, from any point outside the charges is proportional to 2
r
sphere conductor, the electric field
lines appear to radiate from the centre
1
of the sphere. 4. In practice, k is represent as
4πε0
4. Conveniently, we can conclude that:
where ε0 is the permittivity of free
space (vacuum or air) and has the value
For any point outside a spherical conductor, 8.85 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2
the charge on the sphere may be considered 5. Hence,
to act as a point charge at its centre
Q1 Q2
F=
4πε0 r2
Coulomb’s Law
1. In 18th century, French scientist Charles
6. The value of the permittivity of air is
Coulomb investigated the magnitude of
close to that of a vacuum (1.0005ε0 ), so
the force between charges.
the equation can be used for the force
2. Coulomb’s Law states that the
between charges in a vacuum or air.
electrostatic force between two point
7. The relative permittivity εr for certain
charges is proportional to the product
medium is defined as
of the charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the
permittivity of the medium ε
distance between them. εr = =
permittivity of the vacuum ε0

1
Topic 17 – Electric Fields A2 Level

8. The relative permittivity for different Example 5

medium is given below: The mass of 1 mole of hydrogen is 1 g. The
electron from a hydrogen atom is removed
Material 𝛆𝐫 Material 𝛆𝐫
from the nucleus to a position such that the
Vacuum 1 Water 80
force of attraction is equal to the weight of
Air 1.0005 Paraffin 2.5
the hydrogen atom. Find the distance from
Rubber 3 Paper 3.7
the electron to the nucleus.
[1 mole = 6.02 x 1023 atoms]
Example 1
Calculate the force between two point
charges, each of 1.0 x 10-9 C, which are 4 cm
apart in a vacuum.

Example 2
Calculate the force between two electrons
which are 1.0 x 10-10 m apart in a vacuum.
[Charge on electron = -1.6 x 10-19 C]

Force Between Point Charges

Example 3 1. If Q1 and Q2 are of the same sign, the

Find the repulsive force between two
protons in a nucleus if their separation is
4.0 x 10-15 m and the charge of the proton is
1.6 x 10-19 C.
force F acting on each charge is repulsive
and numerically positive.
2. This means that F is directed away from
the neighbouring charge and will result in
a separation of the two charges.

Example 4
Charge on the uranium nucleus is 1.5 x 10-17 C 3. If Q1 and Q2 are of the opposite signs,
-19
and the charge on a proton is 1.6 x 10 C. the force F acting on each charge is
Find the force when both charges separated attractive and numerically negative.
-13
by a distance of 1.0 x 10 m? 4. This means that F is directed towards
the neighbouring charge and will result in
both charges moving towards each other.

2
Topic 17 – Electric Fields A2 Level

Electric Force as Vector Charges not in line

1. Force and field are both vector
quantities.
2. Therefore, if we place a point charge
between two other charges we can
consider three different situations.
(a) Unlike charges in line
(b) Like charges in line
(c) Charges not in line

1. In this situation, the test charge is NOT

Unlike charges in line
in line with the other two charges.
2. The resultant force is the vector sum of
the two forces, i.e.

F2 = F12 + F22

1. In this situation, the test charge q

Example 6
experiences a force, F1 which is
Two equal positive charges (Q1 and Q2) and
attractive because the charge Q1 is
two equal negative charges (Q3 and Q4) are
opposite.
positioned at four corners of a square.
2. At the same time, the test charge q also
(a) Label all the electrostatic forces acts
experiences a repulsive force, F2 because
on each charges.
Q2 has the same sign.
3. Therefore:
F = F1 + F2 +Q1 +Q2

Like charges in line

1. In this situation, the test charge q -Q3 -Q4

experiences a force, F1 which is repulsive
because the charge Q1 is the same as q.
(b) Find the resultant force acting on each
2. At the same time, the test charge q also
of the charges by finding the vector
experiences a repulsive force, F2 because
sum of the three forces acting on it.
Q2 has the same sign as q.
3. This time the forces are in opposite
directions. Therefore:

F = F1 – F2

4. If the forces are equal and opposite, the

test charge stays static at where it is.

3
Topic 17 – Electric Fields A2 Level

Example 7 Example 8
Find the force on B due to A and C.
(a)

Three point charges are firmly held on a

straight line of length 4.0 cm. Determine
the resultant electric force acting on
charge q2

(b)

0.5 m 0.5 m

Example 9
Find the point, x between these two
charges, A and B, where the force on a +2C
charge, C, is zero.

(c)

0.5 m 0.5 m

4
Topic 17 – Electric Fields A2 Level

Example 10 Example 13
A 15 nC charge is placed 150 m from a test Two small light balls, each
charge of +2 nC. The third charge of 34 nC of mass 2.0 g and carrying
is placed 120 m from the test charge equal amount of like
charge, are suspended
freely by light insulating
strings. The length of
each string is 13 cm. The ball are in
equilibrium and separated by 10 cm.
(a) What is the resultant force on the test (a) Draw the free body diagram to show all
charge? the external forces that act on one ball
(b) At what distance will the resultant
(b) Determine the charge carried by each
force be zero?
ball.

Example 11
A pair of equally charged particles A and B
are placed at a distance of 4.0 x 10-3 m
apart. The mass of particle A is 7.5 x 10-7
kg and B is 2.8 x 10-7 kg. If the acceleration
of A is 6.0 m s-2, calculate
(a) the acceleration of B
(b) the charge of A or B

5
Topic 17 – Electric Fields A2 Level

Example 12
Two identical spheres
A and B, each of mass
20 g suspended from
a fixed point O on
two insulating
threads. The spheres
are in equilibrium and
each carries the same
amount of charge Q.
(a) Draw a forces acting on A and B
(b) Find the charge on each sphere
(c) Find the electric force acting on each
sphere
(d) Draw the equilibrium positions of the
spheres if
(i) A and B have a mass of 20 g each
but the charge of A is Q and the
charge of B is 2Q.
(ii) A and B have a mass of 20 g each
1
but the charge of A is Q and the
2
charge of B is Q.
(iii) A and B have a charge Q each but
the mass of A is 40 g and mass of B
is 20 g.