Coulomb's Law

Between two point charges, there is a force of

attraction or repulsion depending on the nature of
charges.

q1 q2

r
q1 q2

r
Coulomb showed that:
1. F Q1xQ2
2. F 1
r2
3. The Magnitude of the force depends on the
medium.
By combining two equations
Using Proportionality K,
F Q1x Q2
r2 F = K Q1x Q2
2
r
Electric Field
This is the force on a small charge E
divided by the charge.
E
E= F
q +q F

-q E
F
For a point charge:
Q
E= k___
r 2

Force on a point
charge in an electric
field:
F=qE
The electric field can be represented by field lines. These
lines start on a positive charge and end on a negative
charge.
The number of field lines starting(ending on a positive
(negative charge is proportional to the magnitude of the
charge.
The electric field is stronger where the field lines are
close together.

Electric Dipoles
Two equal charges,
opposite in sign.
Field Lines
The electric field
between two closely
spaced oppositely
charged parallel plates
is constant
Principles on Electric field lines:

Electric Field lines always extend from a positively charged

object to a negatively charged object, from a positively charged
object to infinity or from infinity to a negatively charged object.

Electric field lines are never cross each other

Electric field lines are most dense around objects with the
greatest amount of charge.

At locations where electric field lines meet the surface of an

object, the lines are perpendicular to the surface.
Summary of field lines:
Field lines indicate the direction of the field:
the field is tangent to the line
The magnitude of the field is proportional to
the density of the lines.
Field lines start positive charges and end on
negative charges; the number is proportional
to the magnitude of the charge.