PHYSICS

COULOMB’S LAW
Coulomb's Law
The force of attraction or repulsion between two point charges is directly proportional to
the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between them.

Fe = keq1q2
r2
where: ke - electric proportionality constant
2
= 8.9876x109 N.m /c2 ≈ 9x109 N.m2/c2
= 1
4 πƐo
Ɛo - permittivity of free space
= 8.8542x10-12 c2/N.m2
q1,q2 - point charge
proton = 1.6x10-19 C
electron = -1.6x10-19 C
r = separation of the charges

The direction of the force on each particle is always along the line joining the two
particles, pulling each other in the case of attractive forces on unlike charges, and pushing them
apart in the case of repulsive forces on like charges.

The electron and a proton of a hydrogen atom are separated by a distance approximately
5.3x10-11m. Find the magnitude of the electric force and the gravitational force between the two
particles.
Given: qe = -1.6x10-19 C
qp = 1.6x10-19 C
r = 5.3x10-11 m
me = 9.11x10-31 kg
mp = 1.67x10-27 kg
Fe = keq1q2 = (9x109 N.m2/c2)(1.6x10-19 C)2
r2 (5.3x10-11 m)2
= 8.20x10-8 N
Fg = Gm1m2 = (6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg)(9.11x10-31 kg)(1.67x10-27 kg)
r2 (5.3x10-11)2
-47
= 3.6125x10 N

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 PHYSICS

Consider three point charges located at the corners of a right triangle. Find the resultant force
exerted on q3.

F1 = keq3q1 = (9x109 N.m2 /c2)(5x10-6 c)2 = 11.25 N

r2 (0.10√2)2
F2 = keq3q2 = (9x109 N.m2/c2)(5x10-6 c)(-2x10-6 c) = 9 N
r2 (0.10m)2
ƩFx = F1cos45° - Fe
= 11.25 Ncos45° - 9 N
= -1.045 N
ƩFy = F1sin45°
= 11.25sin45°
= 7.95 N
F = √(ƩFx2 + ƩFy2)
= √[(1.045 N)2 + (7.95)2]
= 8.02 N
θ= tan-1 7.95 N
1.045 N
= 82.51° N of W

A 1C and 2C charge are separated by 100 m. Where should a charge of -0.1mC be located on
a line between the positive charges so that the net electrical force on the negative charge is
zero?

F2 – F1 = 0
F2 = F
Keq3q2 = keq3q1 → 2 = 1 → 2x2 = 1002 - 200x + x2
(100 - x)2 x2 (100-x)2 x2 x2 + 200x – 1002 = 0

x = 41.42 m

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 PHYSICS

Three positive 2C charges are placed in a vertical column each separated by 3x10 4 m from their
neighbor. Calculate the electrical force caused by these three positive charges on a -1C charge
placed 4x104 m in the horizontal direction to the right of the center positive charge.

F1 = (9x109)(2)(1) = 7.2 N F2 = (9x109)(2)(1) = 11.25 N

50000 2
400002
ƩFx = -7.2cos36.87° - 11.25 - 7.2cos36.87°
= -22.77 N
ƩFy = 0
F = 22.77 N, left

Four charges of 1x10-4 C are located at the corners of the square whose sides are 2m long.
Calculate the net electrical force on the charge at the lower left corner due to other three
charges.

F1 = (9x109)(1x10-4)2 F2 = (9x109)(1x10-4)2 F3 = -(9x109)(1x10-4)2

22 (2√2)2 22

= 22.5 N = 11.25 N = -22.5 N

∑Fx = -14.55 N
∑Fy = 30.45 N
F = 33.75 N net force, resultant

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 PHYSICS

An electric dipole of charge 2C distance of 80m is oriented horizontally with the positive charge
at the right at the medium dielectric constant 10. Calculate the force on the charge of -4x10 -4 C
that is 60m to the left of the negative dipole charge.

F1 = (9x109)(4x10-4)(2C) = 200 N
10(60)2
F2 = (9x109)(4x10-4)(2C) = 36.73 N
10(140)2
∑F = F2 - F1
= 36.73 -200
= -163.27 N, left

Electric Field (E) at a point in space is the ratio of the net electric force F acting on a small,
positive test charge placed at that point, divided by the value of the test charge.
E = F (N/C)
q1
E = keqq1 → keqq1 . 1 → E = keq
r2 r2 q1 r2
q 1

A +2.0 C charge is 1x104 m to the right of -4.0 C charge. Calculate the electric field
(magnitude and direction) at a point 2x104 m to the right of the positive charge along a line
passing through the two charges.

E1 = kq = (9x109 N.m2/c2)(4C) = 40 N
r2 (3x104m)2 C
E2 = kq = (9x109 N.m2/c2)(2C) = 45 N
r2 (2x104m)2 C
E = E2 - E1
E = 45 - 40 = 5 N/C, right

A +4C charge is 400m along a horizontal line toward the right of a -3C charge. Calculate the
electric field at a point 300m directly above the negative charge.

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 PHYSICS

E1 = (9x109)(3) = 300,000 N
3002 C
E2 = (9x109)(4) = 144,000 N
5002 C
∑Ex = -E2cos36.87°
= -144,000 N/C cos36.87°
= -115,199.8457 N/C
∑Ey = E2sin36.87° - E1
= 144,000sin36.87° - 300,000
= - 213,599.7942 N/C
E = √(∑Ex2 + ∑Ey2)
= √(-155,199.84572 + -213,599.7942)2
= 242,684.7266 N/C, θ= 61.66° S of W

Four 2C charges are place at the corner of the square whose sides are 50m long.
A) Calculate the electric field at the center of the square.
B) repeat the calculation in part A for a square with two -2C charges at the left corners and two
+2C on the right corners.

∑Ex = 2Ecos45° - 2Ecos45° = 0

∑Ey = 2Esin45°- 2Esin45° = 0
equal magnitude, opposite directions ; net electric filed is zero (0)

b).

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 PHYSICS

E1 = (9x109)(1)
(25√2)2
= 7,200,000 N/C
E1 = E3
E2 = (9x109)(1)
(25√2)2
= 7,200,000 N/C
E2 = E 4
E = 20,364,675.3 , upward
∑Ex = 2Ecos45° - 2Ecos45°
=0
∑Ey = 2Esin45° + 2Esin45°
= 20,364,675.3

Calculate the force on a sodium ion (charge e) at position A due to dipole charges
produced by geologist electrodes. The dielectric constant of the soil is 8.0 and q = 4.0C
q q

+ 8000m -

6000m

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 PHYSICS

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY

Electrical Potential Energy

The change in electrical potential energy when the separation of charges q1 and q2 is
changed from ro to r is
kq1 q 2 1 1
∆PEq = ( − )
K r ro
If one charge q moves relative to several other fixed charges q1, q2, q3 …

k q1 q2 1 1
∆PEq = ∑ ( − )
K r ro
The electrical potential energy of like charges increases as they are forces nearer each
other and decreases as they move apart.
The electrical potential energy of unlike charges increases as they are pulled apart and
decreases as they move together.

Work Energy Calculation

W = ∆Esystem
W = ∆KE + ∆PEg + ∆PEs + ∆Eint + ∆PEq + . . .

Calc. the change in electrical potential energy when a -1.5C charge and -4.0C charge are moved
from an initial separation of 500 km to final separation of 100 km. The charges are in air.

Given: q1 = -1.5 C
q2 = -4.0 C
ro = 500 km = 500,000m
r = 100 km =100, 000 m
K = 1.0006
9
(9 x 10 )(−1.5)(−4.0) 1 1
∆PEq = ( − )
1.0006 3
100 x 10 500 x 10
3

= 431,740.9554 J

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 PHYSICS

Multiple Charges
A -0.10 C stationary charge is 1000m to the left of +0.20 C stationary charge. Calc. the
change in electrical potential energy when a +0.050 C charge initially 500m left of the negative
charge moves 1500m farther to the left.

1500m 500m 1000m

1 1 1 1
∆PEq = (9x109)(0.050)(-0.10)( − ¿ + (9x109)(0.050)(0.20)( − ¿
2000 500 3000 1500
= 37,500 J
Calc. the change in electrical potential energy when a -0.050 C charge moves from position C to
position D. The magnitude of the dipole charge q is 0.10 C and dielectric constant surrounding
the charges is 6.0.

400m

300m 500m

400m
C D
(9 x 10 9)(−0.050)( 0.10) 1 1 (9 x 10 9)(−0.050)(−0.10)
∆PEq = ( − ¿+ (
6.0 500 300 6.0
1 1
− ¿
300 500
= 20000 J

Calc. the change in electrical potential energy when a +5.0 C charge moves from position C to
position D.
C

10m 8m 10m

6m 6m 6m D
10c 20c 10c

1 1 1 1 1 1
∆PEq = (9x109)(5)(10)( − ¿ + (9x109)(5)(-20)( − ¿ + (9x109)(5)(10)( − ¿
18 10 12 8 6 10
= 4.75x1010 J

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 PHYSICS

Calc. the change in electrical potential energy when a +5.0C charge moves from infinity to
position C.

1
from infinity; =0
ro
1
to infinity; =0
r
1 1 1
∆PEq = (9x109)(5)(10)( ¿ + (9x109)(5)(-20)( ¿ + (9x109)(5)(10)( ¿
10 8 10
= -2.25x1010 J

Four charges –e, +e, -e, +e in a row are each separated from neighbouring charges by 3x10-10m.
Calc. the change in electrical potential energy needed to remove the positive ion on the right side
to infinity.
1
∆PEq = (9x109)(1.6x10-19)( -1.6x10-19)(0− ¿
3 x 10−10
−1 1
+ (9x109)( 1.6x10-19)( 1.6x10-19)(0 −10
¿ + (9x109)( 1.6x10-19)(- 1.6x10-19)(0− ¿
6 x 10 9 x 10−10
= 6.4x10-19 J

Work – energy Calculations: Electrical potential energy is one of the many forms of energy that
when a charge of a system moves from an initial to a final state. The conservation of
energy principle can be used to determine an unknown change when other energy
changes are known.
Energy changes in system
W = ∆KE + ∆PEg + ∆PEs + ∆Eint + ∆PEq + . . .

Electrical potential difference (change in voltage): Electrical potential difference is an indicator

of the difference in electrical “elevation” of two points in space. When a charge q moves
up or down one of these electrical hills or valleys from point A to point B, its electrical
potential energy changes by an amount PEqB – PeqA = qVAB, w/c is usually written in the
more abbreviated form
∆PEq = qV,
where V is the potential difference (change in voltage) from A to B. The unit of potential
difference called the volt is defined as one joule per coulomb (1V = 1J/C)

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 PHYSICS

Potential difference and electrical field: The average electric field Eav between two points
separated by a distance d is
V
Eav = - d
where V is the difference in the voltage from the first to the second point. The negative
remind us that the electric field points from the higher toward the lower voltage.

Electrical Potential Differences

C +5.0C

10m 10m

8m

6m 6m 6m D

10 −20 10
Vc = (9x109)( + + ¿ = -4.5x109 V
10 8 10
10 −20 10
VD = (9x109)( + + ¿ = 5x109 V
18 12 6
VCD = 5x10 – (-4.5x10 ) = 9.5x109 V
9 9

∆PEqCD = (5C)(9.5x109) = 4.75x1010 J

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 PHYSICS

OHM’S LAW

A source of electromotive force (emf), such as battery, uses various form of energy to separate
positive and negative electric charges. The emf Ɛ of the source is the steady voltage across its
terminals when no current flows out of or into the terminals.

When a conducting object is attached to the terminals of a source of emf, electric charge flows
through the object. The current I is defined as the change ∆q that flows past a cross a section in
the object divided by the time ∆t needed for the charge to pass
∆q ¿ of electrons x 1.6 x 10−19
I=
∆t time

The current is in units of amperes (A), where 1A = 1C/s. The direction of the current is opposite
the direction in w/ negatively changed electrons flow.

The magnitude of the current depends on the voltage V across the object and on its electric
resistance R. The resistance of the object is
L
R=ρ ,
A
where ρ is its resistivity, L is the length of the object, and A is its cross – sectional area. The unit
of resistance is the ohm (Ω),
where 1ohm = 1V/A

For many objects the current I passing through an object resistance R when voltage is placed
across the object is determined using Ohm’s Law;
V = IR

Power is the rate at w/c electrical energy is converted to other forms of energy. When an electric
current I passes through an object of resistance R across w/c a voltage V exists, the power usage
can be determined using any of the following expression
PEq
Power = P =
∆t
= IV = I2R = V2/R

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 PHYSICS

Alternating current (AC)

- is an electric current in which the flow of electric charge periodically reverses

direction, whereas in direct current, the flow of electric charge is only in one
direction.

Directing current (DC)

- is the unidirectional flow or movement of electric charge carriers (which are

usually electrons). The intensity of the current can vary with time, but the
general direction of movement stays the same at all times.

Resistance
Opposition to the flow of current

 good conductors
o Ag = 1.6x10-8 Ω▪m
o Cu = 1.7 x10-8 Ω▪m
o Al = 2.8x10-8 Ω▪m
Conductivity
Inverse of resistivity
 low conductivity
o insulator

Resistor Color Code:

Color Digit Multiplier Tolerance

Black 0 1x100 -

Brown 1 1x101 ±1%

Red 2 1x102 ±2%

Orange 3 1x103 ±3%

Yellow 4 1x104 ±4%

Green 5 1x105 ±0.5%

Blue 6 1x106 ±0.25%

Violet 7 1x107 ±0.10%

Gray 8 1x108 ±0.05%

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 PHYSICS

White 9 1x109 -

Capacitor
is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store electrical energy temporarily
in an electric field.
 Ceramics – brown capacitor
 Mylar – green capacitor
Change in temperature, change in resistivity
- Directly proportional
RT = Ro ( 1 + ∆T)
ΡT = Ρo ( 1 + ∆T)

A long wire connected to the terminals of a 12V battery has 6.4x1019 electrons passing a
cross section of the wire each second. Calc. its resistance.

V ∆q
R= I=
I ∆t
V 12
R = ∆q = 19 −19
(6.4 x 10 )(1.6 x 10 ) = 1.17 Ω
t 1

A 100m long copper wire of radius 0.12mm is connected across a 1.5V battery. Calc. the
current passing through it.
V
V 1.5 100 1 x 10
−3
I= = L =( )( ) A = (0.12 [ ])2 x π
R ρ 1.7 x 10−8 4.52 x 10−8 1
A
= 0.0399 A = 4.52x10-8 m2

A wire whose R = 2Ω is stretched so that its length is tripled while its volume remains
unchanged. Calculate the R of the stretched wire.

V1 = V2
A1l1 = A2l2
A1l1 = A2(3l1)
A1 = 3A2
L1 L
ρ
R1
= 3 ρ 2
R2
L1 3(3 L¿¿ 1)
= R2
¿
2
R2 = 18Ω

A nichrome wire has R = 12Ω at 0oC, calc. its resistance when place in a hot spring at
55˚C. Temperature coefficient of resistance of nichrome is 0.0004/˚C
RT = Ro ( 1 + £∆T)

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 PHYSICS

= (12)( 1 + [(0.0004)(55 – 0)])

= 12.264Ω

A 60W light bulb connected to a 120V potential difference runs for 4hrs. a.) Calc. the current
through the bulb. b.) the electrical resistance of the bulb. c.) total electrical energy used during
the 4hrs.
V 120
Power = IV R= = = 240Ω Power x time = ∆PEq
I 0.5
60W = I(120) (60W)(4 x 3600/1) = 864,000 J
I = 0.5 A
An aluminium wire of resistivity 2.8x10-8 Ω.m has a length of 20m dissipate electrical
energy of a rate of 3W when a 15A current flows. Calc. the minimum cross – sectional area of
the wire.

P 3
R= I2
= 152
= 0.013Ω
L
R = ρA
20
0.13 = (2.8x10-8) ( A ¿
A = 4.2x10-5 m2

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