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FAD1011 (PHYSICS 3)
1. ELECTROSTATICS
Electrostatics - the
1.1 Coulomb’s Law study of electric
1.2 Electric Field charges at rest, the
1.3 Charge in a uniform electric field forces between them
1.4 Electric Flux and the electric fields
associated with
1.5 Gauss Law
them.
1.6 Electric Potential

2. Capacitors Dr. Salmiah Ibrahim

14, Aras 3 Kompleks Bangunan Baru PASUM
salmiah0@um.edu.my

Session 2020/2021
 1.0 Introduction
Electric charges, q
• There are two kinds of charges in nature - positive and
negative charge.

• Charges of opposite sign attract one another – attractive

force.

• Charges of the same sign repel one another – repulsive

force.
• The amount of charge carried by charged particle is
measured in Coulomb (C).

Principle of conservation of charges state the total charge

in an isolated system is constant (conserved).
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Cont...
▪ Charge is quantized. The smallest amount of free charge
is 1.6 × 10-19 C. Any electric charge, q occurs as integer
multiples of the elementary charge, e,

Q = ne
n = positive integer number 1, 2…
e = 1.6 × 10-19 C

▪ Charge, Q is a scalar quantity.

▪ The SI unit of charge is Coulomb (C).
▪ 1 Coulomb is defined as the total charge transferred by a
current of one ampere in one second

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1.1 Coulomb’s Law
Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736-1806)
- major contribution in electrostatics and
magnetism
- investigated the strengths of materials
- identified the forces that affect on beams
Coulomb’s law states that the force, F between two point
charges q1 and q2 is directly proportional to the product of their
magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the
distance, r separating them.
1
F  q1q2 𝐹 2
𝑟

𝑞1 𝑞2 attractive force
• In equation form : 𝐹=𝑘 2 repulsive force
𝑟
• Unit : Newton (N)
• Vector quantity electrostatic force Coulomb’s law
(Coulomb Force) equation 4
 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹=𝑘 2
𝑟
k = proportionality constant or Coulomb's constant = 8.9875 × 109 N m2 C-2
~ 9.0 × 109 N m2 C-2
q 1 = magnitude of charge q1
q 2 = magnitude of charge q2
r = separation distance between the two charges

Coulomb constant, k is given by

𝟏
𝒌=
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐

where o = permittivity of free space, 8.85 × 10-12 C2 N-1m-2

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▪ Charges are so small, compared to the distance r between
them, so that they can be regarded as point like charges

q1 F12 F21
q2 F12 q1 q2 F21
+ - + +
r r
attractive force repulsive force

F12 : the force on charge q1 due to charge q2.

F21 : the force on charge q2 due to charge q1.

𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹12 = 𝐹21 = 𝑘 2
𝑟 6
Example of force diagram

• charges of the
same sign repel
one another and
charges with
opposite signs
attract one
another

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 Graphs below show the variaton of electrostatic force with the
distance between two charges

F F
𝑘 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹=
𝑟2
Gradient, M
= k q1q2

1
0 r 0
𝑟2

Note:
•The sign of the charge can be ignored when substituting into the Coulomb’s
law equation.
q1 q2
F =k 2
r
•The sign of the charge is important in distinguishing the direction of
the electric force.
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 Example 1
Two objects whose charges are +1.0 C and -1.0 C are separated by
1.0 km. Compared to 1.0 km, the size of the objects are small. Find
the magnitude of the attractive force that either charge exerts on the
other.
Note
▪ Considering that the sizes of the objects are small compared to the
separation distance, we can treat the charges as point charges.
• Coulomb’s law may then be used to find the magnitude of the attractive
force.

Solution 1
𝑘 𝑞1 𝑞2 (9.0 × 1 0 9 Nm 2 C) (1.0 C)(1.0 C)
𝐹= =
(1 × 1 0 3 m)2
𝑟2

= 9.0 × 1 0 3 N
Example 2
Two point charges, q1 = -20 nC and q2 = 90 nC, are separated
by a distance of 4.0 cm as shown in figure below. Find the
magnitude of the
(a) electric force on q1 due to q2, F12.
(b) electric force on q2 due to q1, F21.
(c) electric force on each charge.
(Given Coulomb’s constant, k = 9.0 × 109 N m2 C-2)

q1 = -20 nC q2 = 90 nC

- +
4.0 cm

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Solution 2
q1 = 2.0 × 10-‐8 C, q2 = 9.0 × 10-‐8 C, r = 4.0 × 10-‐2 m

F12 F21
q1 - + q2

4.0 cm

𝑞1 𝑞2
(a) 𝐹12 = 𝑘 = 1.01 × 10-2 N
𝑟2

𝑞2 𝑞1
(b) 𝐹21 = 𝑘 = 1.01 × 10-2 N
𝑟2

(c) 𝐹12 = 𝐹21 = 1.01 × 10−2 N

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Example 3
Figure shows three point charges that lie along the x-axis in
a vacuum. Determine the magnitude and direction of the net
electrostatic force on q1.

q2 = -4.0 μC q1 = 3.0 μC q3 = -7.0 μC

- + -
0.2m 0.15m
 Solution 3
• Draw the direction of forces acting on q1:
q2 q1 = 3.0 μC q3
F 12 F 13
- + -
𝑞1 𝑞2 (3× 1 0 − 6 C)(4 × 1 0 − 6 C)
𝐹12 = 𝑘 9 2 −2
= 9 × 1 0 Nm C =2.7N
𝑟2 (0.20 m)2

𝑞1 𝑞3 (3× 1 0 − 6 C)(7 × 1 0 − 6 C)
𝐹13 = 𝑘 9 2 −2
= 9 × 1 0 Nm C = 8.4 N
𝑟2 (0.15 m)2

• Since F12 points in the negative x direction and F13 points in the
positive x direction, the net force F is
F = F12 + F13 = (-‐2.7N) + (8.4 N) = +5.7 N (to the right)

• The + sign indicates that the net force points to the right.
Example 4

Three point charges lie along the x-axis as shown in figure below.
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force
exerted on q2.
(Given Coulomb’s constant, k = 9.0 × 109 N m2 C-‐2)

q1 = 2 C q2 = 4 C q3 = 6 C

+ + -
3.0 cm 5.0 cm

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Solution 4 r21 = 3.0 × 10-‐2 m, r23 = 5.0 × 10-‐2 m

q1 = 2 C q2 = 4 C q3 = 6 C
F23
+ + F21
-
3.0 cm 5.0 cm

Magnitude, F2 = F21 + F23

(8 + 8.64) × 1013 N= 1.664 × 1014 N
to the right

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Example 5
Three point charges lie along the x-axis as shown in figure below.
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force exerted
on q1.
(Given Coulomb’s constant, k = 9.0 x 109 N m2 C-2)

q1 = 2 C q2 = 4 C q3 = 6 C

+ + -
3.0 cm 5.0 cm

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Solution 5 r21 = 3.0 × 10-‐2 m, r23 = 5.0 × 10-‐2 m

q1 = 2 C q2 = 4 C q3 = 6 C

F12
+
F13
+ -
3.0 cm 5.0 cm

𝐹Ԧ1 = 𝐹Ԧ12 + 𝐹Ԧ13

= - 8 × 1013 N + 1.69 × 1013 N = - 6.31 × 1013 N

Electric force exerted on q1 = 6.31 × 1013 N to the left

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 Example 6 : 2D triangle problem

Figure shows three point charges that lie in the x, y plane

in a vacuum. Find the net electrostatic force on q1.

q2 = -‐6.0 μC

r12 = 0.15 m
73°

q1 = 4.0μC q3 = -‐5.0 μC
r13 = 0.10 m
Solution 6

r12 = 0.15 m
Cont…
F (N) X-component Y-component
F 12 (9.6 N) cos 73° = 2.81 N (9.6 N) sin 73° = 9.18 N
F 13 (18.0 N) cos 0° = 18.0N (18.0 N) sin 0° = 0.0 N
Total F 20.81 N 9.18 N

▪ Magnitude,
2
𝐹 = 𝐹Ԧ = σ 𝐹𝑥 2 + σ 𝐹𝑦 = (20.81)2 + (9.81)2 =23.0 𝑁

▪ Direction,
σ Fy 9.81 𝑁
= −1
tan σ = tan−1
Fx 20.81 𝑁

= 23.81° above the

positive x-axis q1 = +4.0 μC
Example 7
Figure below shows the three point charges are placed in the
shape of triangular. Determine the magnitude and direction of
the resultant electric force exerted on q1.
Given q1 = -‐1.2 μC, q2 = +3.7 μC, q3 = -‐2.3 μC, r12 = 15 cm, r13 = 10
cm and k = 9.0 × 109 N m2 C-‐2.

𝑞3
¯

r13
¯ +
𝑞1
r12
𝑞2

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Solution 7
q1 = 1.2 × 10-6 C, q2 = 3.7 × 10-6 C, q3 = 2.3 × 10‐6 C,
r12 = 15 × 10-2 m, r13 = 10 × 10‐2 m
y

q3 ¯ x

𝑟13

𝒒𝟏 ¯ 𝑟12 +
F12 q2
F13
 y
Cont…
F (N) X-component (N) Y-component (N) x

F12 F12 cos 0° = 1.776 F12 sin 0° = 0 N

F13 F13 cos 90° = 0 -F13 sin 90° = -‐2.484

Total F 1.776 -2.484

▪ Magnitude, q3 ¯
2 2
r13
𝐹 = 𝐹Ԧ = ෍ 𝐹𝑥 + ෍ 𝐹𝑦 F12
¯  r12 +
2 2
q1 q2
= 1.776 + −2.484 = 3.05 N

F13
▪ Direction,
σ 𝐹y −2.484 𝑁
= −1
tan σ = tan −1 = 54.44° below the positive
𝐹x 1.776 𝑁 x-axis 14
Example 8

Figure below shows the three point charges are placed in the
shape of triangular. Determine the magnitude and direction
of the resultant electric force exerted on q1.
Given q1 = -‐1.2 C, q2 = +3.7 C, q3 = -‐2.3 C,
r12 = 15 cm, r13 = 10 cm,  = 32° and k = 9.0 × 109 N m2 C-‐2

-
q3 32°
r13
- +
q1 r12
q2

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Solution 8
q1= 1.2 × 10-‐6 C, q2= 3.7 × 10-‐6 C, q3= 2.3 × 10-‐6 C,
r12 = 15 × 10-‐2 m, r13 = 10 × 10-‐2 m,  = 32° y

_ x
q3
𝑞 𝑞
𝐹Ԧ12 = 𝑘 1 22 = 1.776 N 
𝑟12 r13
_ F12
Ԧ 𝑞1 𝑞3
58 ° r12 +
𝐹13 = 𝑘 2 = 2.484 N q1
𝑟13
 q2
F13
F (N) X-component (N) Y-component (N)
F12 F12 cos 0° = 1.776 F12 sin 0° = 0

F13 F13 (cos 58°) -‐F13 (sin 58°)

= 1.316 = -‐2.107
Total F σ 𝐹𝑥 = 3.092 σ 𝐹𝑦 -‐2.107
 Cont…
σ 𝐹𝑥 = 3.092 N
σ 𝐹𝑦 = -‐2.107 N

▪ Magnitude, 34.3°
-

2 2
q3
𝐹 = 𝐹Ԧ𝑅 = ෍ 𝐹𝑥 + ෍ 𝐹𝑦 F12
r13
q1
-
r12 +
= 3.092 2 + −2.107 2 q2
58° F13
= 3.74 N
𝐹Ԧ𝑅 = 3.74 𝑁
▪ Direction,
−1 σ Fy −1 −2.107 𝑁
= tan σ = tan
Fx 3.092 𝑁

= 34.27° below the positive x-axis

Exercise
1. Two point charges of -‐1.0 × 10-‐6 C and +2.0 × 10-‐6 C are separated by a
distance of 0.30 m. What is the electrostatic force on each particle?
(Ans: 0.20 N directed to one another)
2. Calculate the net electrostatic force on charge (i) q1, (ii) q2 and (iii) q3
(Ans: 18.75 N to the left, 191.25 N to the right , 172.51 N to the left)

q1 = 5 C q2 = 2 C q3 = - 3 C
+ + -‐

4.0 cm 2.0 cm

3. Calculate the net electrostatics force on charge q2. (Ans: 4.11 × 10-‐3 N,
18.4o below the x-‐axis)
q1 = 5C q 2 = 2 C
+ +
4m
3m

-‐ q3 = 3C
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4. What is the electrostatics force on charge q3 ? (Ans: 0.43 N in the +x
direction)

q1= 2.5C

(0,+0.30 m) +
+ q3 = 3C
(0.40 m,0)
(0,-‐0.30 m) +
q 2 = 2.5  C
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this lesson, the students should be
able to:

𝑞1 𝑞2
a) State Coulomb’s law, 𝐹=
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟 2

b) Apply Coulomb’s law for a system of point charges.

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