ELECTRIC FIELD
VECTORS
Electric Field E
• Defined as the electrostatic force per unit • For a positive charge, the direction of the
charge acting on a stationary positive test
charge placed at that point.
• Direction of the field is given by the direction of • For a negative charge, the direction of the
the electric force experienced by a positive test
charge placed at that point.
• Unit: N C-1 or V m-1
Relationship between force and field : F E =qE
For Point Charges:
• Magnitude of the electric field due to a point
charge
where r: distance of separation
ε 0 : 8.85 x 10-12 F m-1
For a Parallel Plate System
• Electric field is uniform within the plates, hence
field lines are parallel and uniformly spaced.
• E-field lines goes from high potential to low
potential (hence from positive to negative plate).
• Magnitude of E-field
where V: potential difference between the plates
d: dist of separation between the plates
SCALARS
Electric Force F E
electrostatic force is always in the direction of
the electric field
electrostatic force is opposite to the direction
of the electric field
• Unit: N
For Point Charges:
• Coulomb’s Law states that the electrostatic
force of interaction between two point
charges is directly proportional to the
product of the charges and inversely
proportional to the square of their
separation.
where r: distance of separation
ε 0 : 8.85 x 10-12 F m-1
• Formula only gives the magnitude of the force.
• Force can be attractive (unlike charges) or
repulsive (like charges)
• Force acts along the line joining the two
charges
For Parallel Plate system
• along the field decreases linearly.
• Since the E-field is uniform, the force is also
constant within the field.
• Magnitude of electric force is usually much
greater than that of gravitational force, hence
charge will typically experience uniform
accelerated motion in the direction of the
electric force
• A charge particle projected at an angle to the
electric field will move in a parabolic path
(projectile motion).
Relationship between Force and Potential energy:
Relationship between Field and Potential:
Electrical Potential V Electrical Potential Energy U E
• Defined as the work done per unit charge by • Defined as the work done by external agent
external agent in bringing a positive test in bringing the charge from infinity to that
charge from infinity to that point. point
• V is set as zero at infinity • U E is set as zero at infinity
• Can be positive or negative depending on the • Can be positive or negative
charge • Magnitude of the energy is path independent,
• Unit: V or J C-1 only dependent on the initial and final
position.
• Unit: J
Relationship between potential and potential energy : U E = qV
For Point Charges: For Point Charges:
• Electric potential due to a point charge is • Electric potential energy due to two point
given by charges is given by
• Must substitute the sign of the charge Q • Must substitute the sign of the charges
• Positive charge produces a positive potential
around itself; negative charge produces a
negative potential
• Equipotential lines are always perpendicular
to the E-field lines
For Parallel Plate System For Parallel Plate System or Uniform field
• Since the E-field is uniform, the potential of • Work done in moving a charge between two
points is given by
E • ΔU E can be positive (meaning gain) or
negative (meaning loss).
r
V
r