Electric Fields

Sir Michael Faraday’s Electric Lines of Force Electric Force

Field

Faraday (1791–1867)
 The Electric Field

We bring in a positive
charge q0 as a test charge,
which is carefully selected
with a very small
magnitude, so that it does
not alter the locations of
the other charges

How does particle q0 “know” of the presence of other charge?

 E-Field is E-Force Divided by E-Charge

Definition of
Electric Field:

E-Force on
Charge +q1 –q2

P1 P2

E-Field at
Point
–q2

P1 P2

Units: F = [N] = [Newton] ; E = [N/C] = [Newton/Coulomb]

 Electric Fields
 Electric field E at some point in space is
defined as the force experienced by an
imaginary point charge of +1 C, divided by
1 C.

 Note that E is a VECTOR. Electric Field of a Point Charge

 Since E is the force per unit charge, it is E –q
measured in units of N/C. +1C
R
 We measure the electric field using very

k |q|
small positive “test charges”, and dividing

| E |= 2
the measured force by the magnitude of the
charge.
R
Compare to Gravitational to Electric Fields

Gravitational GmM Electric kqQ

Force: F=- 2 Force: F=
(Units: Newtons = N) r (Units: Newtons = N) r2

Gravitational GM kQ
Field: g=- 2 Electric Field:
(Units: N/C) E= 2
(Units: N/kg) r r

Given the Field,

Find the Force:
F = mg Given the Field,
Find the Force:
F = qE

Find the Force: Find the Force:

(Vector Form) (Vector Form)
Compare to Electric Field to Gravitational Field

Gravitational Field Electric Field Lines

Lines

+q
m

r̂
r̂

Note: Field exists in Note: Field exists in

empty space whether empty space whether
test mass m is there or test charge +q is there
not! or not!
 Electric Field Lines
 Field lines: useful way to Example: a negative point
visualize electric field E charge — note spherical
 Field lines start at a positive symmetry
charge, end at negative charge
 E at any point in space is
tangential to field line
 Field lines are closer where E is
stronger
Direction of Electric Field Lines
E-field vectors point
away from positive
charge — field
source!
E-field vectors point
towards negative
charge — field sink!
+qs +qR
_ +
 Superposition of F and E
 Question: How do we figure out the
force or field due to several point
charges?

 Answer: consider one charge at a

time, calculate the field (a vector!)
produced by each charge, and then
add all the vectors!
(“superposition”)
 Useful to look out for SYMMETRY
to simplify calculations!
 Problem
Total electric field

+q -2q
• 4 charges are placed at the corners of a
square as shown.
+
• What is the direction of the electric field
at the center of the square?

(a) Field is ZERO! -q +2q

(b) Along +y y

(c) Along +x

+q º +1.0C
+q is the test charge
x
 Which Way is Enet?

Å
 Electric Field of a Dipole

 Electric dipole: two point charges

+q and –q separated by a distance d

 Common arrangement in Nature:

molecules, antennae, …

 Note axial or cylindrical symmetry

 Define “dipole moment” vector p: - +

from –q to +q, with magnitude qd

 Electric Field On Axis of Dipole
-q +q P
a x

Superposition : E = E+ + E-
kq kq
E+ = 2
E- = - 2
æ aö æ aö
çx- ÷ çx+ ÷
è 2ø è 2ø
é ù
ê ú 2 xa
E = kq ê
1
-
1 ú = kq 2
êæ 2
aö æ aö ú
2 æ 2 a ö 2

êç x - ÷ ç x + ÷ ú çx - ÷
ç ÷
ëè 2 ø è 2 ø û è 4 ø
 Electric Field On Axis of Dipole
p = qa
2 xa 2kpx
E = kq = “dipole moment”
æ 2 a 2 ö2 æ 2 a 2 ö2 a VECTOR
çx - ÷ çx - ÷
ç ÷ ç ÷
è 4 ø è 4 ø - +

What if x>> a? (i.e. very far away)

2kpx 2kp - +

E» 4 = 3
x x
E = p/r3 is actually true for ANY point far from a dipole
(not just on axis)
 Continuous Charge Distribution

 Thus far, we have only dealt with discrete,

point charges. q
 Imagine instead that a charge q is
smeared out over a: q

 LINE

 AREA q

 VOLUME

 How to Compute the Electric Field E?

q
Calculus!!!
 Charge Density
 Useful idea: charge density

λ = q/L
 Line of charge: charge per unit length = λ

 Sheet of charge: charge per unit area = σ

σ = q/A

 Volume of charge: charge per unit

volume = ρ
ρ = q/V
 Computing Electric Field
of Continuous Charge Distribution

 Approach: Divide the continuous charge

dq
distribution into infinitesimally small
differential elements

 Treat each element as a POINT charge &

compute its electric field

 Sum (integrate) over all elements

 always look for symmetry to simplify

calculation!
dq = λ dL
dq = σ dS
dq = ρ dV
Differential Form of Coulomb’s Law for
Electric FIELD

E-Field at
Point q2

P1 P2

Differential dE-
Field at Point
dq2
P1
 Field on Bisector of Charged Rod
• Uniform line of charge +q -E
spread over length L
• What is the direction of the
electric field at a point P on
the perpendicular bisector? Å P
(a) Field is 0.
(b) Along +y y

(c) Along +x
x
a

• Choose symmetrically
++++++++ q
located elements of length dx o dx
dq = λdx
L
• x components of E cancel
 Line of Charge: Quantitative
Uniform line of charge,
length L, total charge q
P
Compute explicitly the
magnitude of E at point P y

on perpendicular bisector a
x
Showed earlier that the net
field at P is in the y q
direction — let’s now o

compute this! L
 Line Of Charge: Field on bisector

q
Distance hypotenuse:
(
r= a +x2
)
2 1/2

dE q
Charge per unit length: l= [C/m]
P L
dq = l dx
k(dq)
a
dE = 2
rq r
dx k (l dx)a
dE y = dE cosq = 2
q (a + x )2 3/ 2
dq
o
x
a a Adjacent
L cosq = = 2 Over
r (a + x 2 )1/2 Hypotenuse
 Line Of Charge: Field on bisector
L/2 L/2
dx é x ù
E y = kl a ò 2 3 / 2 = kl a ê 2
a 2
+ x 2ú
-L / 2
( ) ë a x + a û -L / 2
2

2klL
Integrate: Trig Substitution!
=
a 4a 2 + L2
Point Charge Limit: L << a Line Charge Limit: L >> a

2klL
klL kq 2klL 2kl
Ey = @ 2 = 2 Ey = @
a a a 4a 2 + L2 a
a 4a + L
2 2

Units Check!
Coulomb’s
Law! é Nm 2 1 C ù é N ù
ê C2 m m ú = ê C ú
ë û ë û
 Binomial Approximation from Taylor Series:
x<<1

x << 1 Þ (1 ± x ) n
@ 1 ± nx
-1/ 2
2klL klL é æ L ö 2ù
klL é æ
1 L ö 2ù
klL
= 2 ê1+ ç ÷ ú @ 2 ê1- ç ÷ ú @ 2 ; (L << a)
a 4a + L
2 2 a ë è 2a ø û a ë 2 è 2a ø û a

é 2 ù-1/ 2 é 2ù
2klL 2klL æ 2a ö 2kl æ
1 2a ö 2kl
= ê1+ ç ÷ ú @ ê1- ç ÷ ú @ ; (L >> a)
a 4a + L
2 2 aL ë è L ø û a ë 2è L ø û a
 Å

-E

P
What is the direction of the field at
point P?
y

(a)Along +x
x
(b)Along –x R
(c)Along +y ✔
(d)Along -y ++++++++ q
dx o dx

L
 2k l L
Ey =
R 4R + L 2 2

-12
l =q/L=
7.81´ 10 C R = 0.06m
0.145m
 Question Left ( ¬ )
Å

• What is the direction of the electric field at

point P?
Positives PUSH / Source of Field
Left ( ¬ ) Negatives PULL / Sink of Field
Right ( ® )
Up ( ­ )
Down ( ¯ )
Into Page Ä
l =q/L
linear charge density
Problem
dq = l dx
differential charge

• Calculate the magnitude of the electric field

at point P. dE
k(l dx)
a+L a+L

ò dE = ò
x
E=
dq P

dx a a
x2
a+L
-1 a+L
ò
a
= kl x dx =k l éë -x ùû a
L -2

k(dq) k(dq) k(l dx) é1

= kl ê -
1 ù q é1
=k ê -
1 ù
dE = 2 = 2 = ú
r x x2 ëa a + L û L ë a a + L úû
 Electric Charges and Fields
First: Given Electric Charges, We
Charge Produces
Calculate the Electric Field Using E-Field
E=kq/r2.

Example: the Electric Field Produced By

a Single Charge, or by a Dipole:

Second: Given an Electric Field,

We Calculate the Forces on Other
Charges Using F=qE

Examples: Forces on a Single

Charge When Immersed in the
Field of a Dipole, Torque on a E-Field Then Produces
Dipole When Immersed in an Force on Another
Uniform Electric Field. Charge
Differential Form of Coulomb’s Law

E-Field at
Point q2

P1 P2

Differential dE-
Field at Point
dq2
P1
 Arc of Charge
y
 Figure shows a uniformly charged rod - - - -
- -
of charge –Q bent into a circular arc of - -
radius R, centered at (0,0). - -
- -
 What is the direction of the electric -
-
field at the origin? -
-

(a) Field is 0. - -

(b) Along +y x
(c) Along -y

• Choose symmetric elements

• x components cancel
 Arc of Charge: Quantitative
y
 Figure shows a uniformly charged rod of
charge –Q bent into a circular arc of
–Q
radius R, centered at (0,0).
 ICPP: Which way does net E-field point?
 Compute the direction & magnitude of E 450
at the origin. x

y dq = lds = l Rdq
é kdq ù
dEx = [ dE ] cosq = ê 2 ú cosq dθ
ëR û
p /2 p /2 p /2
k(l Rdq )cosq kl kl
Ex = ò
0
R 2
=
R ò
0
cosq dq =
R
sinq
0
θ
x
kl kl
Q Q
kl
2Q
l= = =
L 2p R / 4 p R
Ex = Ey = Enet = 2
R R R Enet = Ex2 + Ey2
(a) toward positive y;
(b) toward positive x;
(c) toward negative y
 Charged Ring
Canceling 22-4 The Electric
Components - Point P isField
on the Due tothe
axis: In a Line
Figure of Charge
(right), consider the charge element on the opposite side of the
ring. It too contributes the field magnitude dE but the field vector
leans at angle θ in the opposite direction from the vector from our
first charge element, as indicated in the side view of Figure
(bottom). Thus the two perpendicular components cancel. All
around the ring, this cancelation occurs for every charge element
and its symmetric partner on the opposite side of the ring. So we
can neglect all the perpendicular components.

The components
perpendicular to the z A ring of uniform positive charge. A differential
axis cancel; the element of charge occupies a length ds (greatly
parallel components exaggerated for clarity). This element sets up an
add. electric field dE at point P.
 Charged Ring
22-4 The Electric Field Due to a Line of Charge
Adding Components. From the figure (bottom), we see that the parallel
components each have magnitude dE cosθ. We can replace cosθ by using
the right triangle in the Figure (right) to write

The components
perpendicular to the z A ring of uniform positive charge. A differential
axis cancel; the element of charge occupies a length ds (greatly
parallel components exaggerated for clarity). This element sets up an
add. electric field dE at point P.
 Charged Ring
Integrating.22-4
BecauseThe Electric
we must sum a hugeField Due
number to components,
of these a Line ofeachCharge
small, we set up an integral that moves along the ring, from element to
element, from a starting point (call it s=0) through the full circumference
(s=2πR). Only the quantity s varies as we go through the elements. We find

Finally,

The components
perpendicular to the z A ring of uniform positive charge. A differential
axis cancel; the element of charge occupies a length ds (greatly
parallel components exaggerated for clarity). This element sets up an
add. electric field dE at point P.
 Field on Axis of Charged Disk

 A uniformly charged circular disk (with

positive charge)
 What is the direction of E at point P on P
the axis?

(a) Field is 0
(b) Along +z +
z + +
(c) Somewhere in the x-y plane +
+ + +
+
+ + +

x
 Charged Disk is Integral of Q
s= dq = s dA = s 2p rdr
Charged Rings p R2

Taking R ≫ z gives E-field

above an infinite charged plane: A disk of radius R and uniform positive
charge. The ring shown has radius r and
s radial width dr. It sets up a differential
Eplane = electric field dE at point P on its central
2e 0 axis.
 Charged Disk is Integral of Q
s= dq = s dA = s 2p rdr
Charged Rings p R2

Taking z ≫ R gives E-field

a distance z from a point charge Q:

s é z ù s é z ù
Epoint = ê1- 2 ú= ê1- ú
2e 0 ë z + R2 û 2e 0 êë z 1+ ( R / z ) úû
2

s é
( ) ù @ s é1- æ 1- 1 ( R / z )2 ö ù
-1/2
= 1- 1+ ( R / z )
2

2e 0 êë úû 2e 0 êë çè 2 ÷ø ú
û
s R2 Q R2
= = A disk of radius R and uniform positive
4e 0 z 2
4pe 0 R 2 z 2 charge. The ring shown has radius r and
radial width dr. It sets up a differential
kQ
= 2 (Couloumb's Law for Point Charge) electric field dE at point P on its central
z axis.
 Force on a Charge in Electric Field

Definition of
Electric Field:

Force on Charge
Due to Electric
Field:
Force on a Charge in Electric Field
+++++++++
Positive Charge
Force in Same
Direction as E-Field
E
––––––––––
(Follows)
+++++++++

Negative Charge
Force in Opposite
E Direction as E-Field
–––––––––– (Opposes)
 (a) left

(b) left

-
-
-
(c) decrease
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
 Electric Dipole in a Uniform Field
 Net force on dipole = 0; center of Distance Between Charges = d
mass stays where it is.
 Net TORQUE τ : INTO page. -
Dipole rotates to line up in -
-
direction of E.
-
 |  | = 2(qE)(d/2)(sin ) -
= (qd)(E)sin = |p| -
E sin = |p x E| -
-
 The dipole tends to “align” itself -
with the field lines. -

 ICPP: What happens if the field p = qd

is NOT UNIFORM??
 -

+
-
- +

-
-

-
 Electric Dipole in a Uniform Field
 Net force on dipole = 0; center of Distance Between Charges = d
mass stays where it is.
 Potential Energy U is smallest -
when p is aligned with E and -
-
largest when p anti-aligned with
-
E. -
 The dipole tends to “align” itself -
with the field lines. -
-
-
-

U = - pE cos0° = - pE

U = - pE cos180° = + pE
 1 and 3 are “uphill”.
2 and 4 are “downhill”.
U1 = U3 > U2 = U4

U1 = - pE cos (135°) == +0.71pE

U2 = - pE cos ( +45°) == -0.71pE
-
-
-

= 45°
-
-
U3 = - pE cos ( -135°) == +0.71pE
U4 = - pE cos ( -45°) == -0.71pE
-
-
-
-
-

t 1 = pE sin ( 45° + 45° + 45°) = pE sin (135°) = 0.71pE

t 2 = pE sin ( 45°) = 0.71pE

t 3 = pE sin ( -135°) = 0.71pE (a) all tie;

(b) 1 and 3 tie, then 2 and 4 tie
t 4 = pE sin ( -45°) = 0.71pE

t1 = t 2 = t 3 = t 4
 Summary
 The electric field produced by a system of charges at
any point in space is the force per unit charge they
produce at that point.
 We can draw field lines to visualize the electric field
produced by electric charges.
 Electric field of a point charge: E=kq/r2
 Electric field of a dipole: E~kp/r3
 An electric dipole in an electric field rotates to align
itself with the field.
 Use CALCULUS to find E-field from a continuous
charge distribution.