Manuel S.

Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering

An Autonomous University

PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

LESSON: ELECTRIC FIELD

LECTURE
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING INSTRUCTORS
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

Electric Field
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

Electric Field
• An electric field is a region where an electric charge
experiences a force
• The electric field is the space around an electrical charge

Direction of Electric Fields

• By convention, the test charge is assumed positive when
assigning direction arrows to field lines.
• Since like charges repel and opposites attract, electric field
vectors will always point
– away from positive source charges
– toward negative source charges
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

Source Charge & Test Charge

• An electric charge, Q, creates an electric field. We will
refer to this electric charge as the source charge.

• The electric field strength of the source charge could be

measured by any other charge placed somewhere in its
surroundings.

• The charge that is used to measure the electric field

strength is referred to as a test charge, q.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

Electric Field strength

▪ The magnitude of the electric
field is simply defined as the
force per charge on the test
charge.
𝐹
𝐸=
𝑞
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

1. A charge of 3µC is used to test the electric field of a central charge

of 6C that causes a force of 800 N. What is the magnitude of the
electric field?
Given: Solution:
q = 3µC 𝐹
F = 800 N 𝐸=
𝑞
Required: 800 𝑁
𝐸=
E =? 3𝑥10−6 𝐶

𝐸 = 2.67 𝑥 108 𝑁/𝐶

 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

Electric Field and Coulomb’s Law

From Coulomb’s Law
𝑘𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹=
𝑟2 Therefore, Electric Field equation
Substitute F to Electric Field equation 𝑘𝑄
𝑘𝑄1 𝑄2
𝐸= 2
2
𝑟
𝐸= 𝑟
Where Q is the source charge
𝑞
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

2. A test charge of +3µC is located 5m to the east of a -4µC charge.

A) Find the electric force felt by the test charge.
B) Find the electric field at that location.

Answer: 4.32x10-3 N, 1.44 x 103 N/C along the –x axis.

 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

3. Calculate the strength and direction of the electric field E due to a

point charge of 2nC at a distance of 5mm from the charge.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

4.What is the magnitude and direction of the force exerted on a 3.50 μC

charge by a 250 N/C electric field that points due east?
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

5. Find the magnitude of the force applied to an electron released

from rest in a uniform electric field of magnitude 100 N/C
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering
An Autonomous University

END OF DISCUSSION ☺