Chapter 18

Electric Forces and

Electric Fields

Sec. 18.1 – 18.5

This power point presentation is based on the supplement provided by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
for Cutnell & Johnson’s Physics. It is provided for the students in College Physics II class of
NC A&T by Dr. Y.-L. Lin and cannot be copied or distributed to any third party.
18.1 The Origin of Electricity

The electrical nature of matter is

inherent in atomic structure.

m p = 1.673 × 10 −27 kg (Proton mass)

mn = 1.675 ×10 −27 kg (Neutron mass)

me = 9.11×10 −31 kg (Electron mass)

−19
e = 1.60 ×10 C coulombs Nucleus

The proton carries a charge +e and the electron carries a

charge –e. 2
18.1 The Origin of Electricity

In nature, atoms are normally

found with equal numbers of protons
and electrons, so they are electrically
neutral.

By adding or removing electrons

from matter it will acquire a net
electric charge with magnitude equal
to e times the number of electrons
added or removed, N.

q = Ne

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18.1 The Origin of Electricity

Example 1 A Lot of Electrons

How many electrons are there in one coulomb of negative charge?

q = Ne

q 1.00 C
N= = = 6.25 × 1018

e 1.60 × 10 C
-19

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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

Fig. 18.1

It is possible to transfer electric charge from one object to another.

The body that loses electrons has an excess of positive charge,

while the body that gains electrons has an excess of negative
charge.

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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

Fig. 18.2

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ELECTRIC CHARGE

During any process, the net electric charge of an isolated system

remains constant (is conserved).

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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

Like charges repel and unlike

charges attract each other.

Fig. 18.3
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18.2 Charged Objects and the Electric Force

Fig. 18.5a: Electric ink

consists of microcapsules
filled with a dark, inky liquid
and dozens of white beads.

Fig. 18.5b: Dark and light

pixels are formed when
positive and negative charges
are placed in the base layer
by electronic circuitry.
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18.3 Conductors and Insulators

Fig. 18.6

Electric charge cannot only exist on an object, but it can also move
through an object.

Substances that readily conduct electric charge are called electrical

conductors.

Materials that conduct electric charge poorly are called electrical

insulators.

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18.4 Charging by Contact and by Induction

Electrons distribute
Electrons are over the surface
transferred by
rubbing

Fig. 18.7: Charging by contact

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18.4 Charging by Contact and by Induction

Fig. 18.8: Charging by induction.

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18.4 Charging by Contact and by Induction

Molecule

Fig. 18.9: The negatively charged rod induces a slight positive

surface charge on the plastic.

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Attractive

Repulsive

Fig. 18.10: Each point charge exerts a force on the other, directed
along the line between the charges and have equal magnitudes.

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

COULOMB’S LAW Fig. 18.10

The magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by one point charge

on another point charge is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them.

q1 q2 ε ο = 8.85 × 10 −12 C 2 (N ⋅ m 2 )
F =k 2
(permittivity of free space)
r
k = 1 (4πε o ) = 8.99 × 10 9 N ⋅ m 2 C 2
(proportionality constant)
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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Example 2 A Large Attractive Force

Two objects, whose charges are +1.0 and -1.0 C, are separated by 1.0 km.
Compared to 1.0 km, the sizes of the objects are negligible. Find the magnitude
of the attractive force that either charge exerts on the other

q1 q2
F =k
r2
9 2 2
(8.99 x10 Nm / C )(1.0C )(1.0C )
=
(1.0 x103 m) 2
= 9.0 x10 N 3

(Lec.1) 8/19/08 15
18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Example 3 A Model of the Hydrogen Atom

In the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, the electron is in orbit about the
nuclear proton at a radius of 5.29x10-11m. Determine the speed of the
electron, assuming the orbit to be circular.

q1 q2
F =k
r2
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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Fig. 18.11

F =k
q1 q2
=
(8.99 ×10 9 2 2
)(
N ⋅ m C 1.60 × 10 −19
C )2

= 8.22 ×10 −8 N
r2 (5.29 ×10 −11
m )
2

F = mac = mv 2 r (centripetal force)

v = Fr m =
(8.22 ×10 N )(5.29 ×10
−8 −11
m ) = 2.18 ×10 6
ms
9.11×10 kg -31

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Example 4 Three Charges on a Line

Determine the magnitude and direction of the net force on q1.

Fig. 18.13

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

F12 = k
q1 q2
=
(8.99 ×10 9
)( )(
N ⋅ m 2 C 2 3.0 ×10 −6 C 4.0 × 10 −6 C ) = 2.7 N
r 2
(0.20m )2

F13 = k
q1 q3
=
(8.99 ×10 9
)( )(
N ⋅ m 2 C 2 3.0 ×10 −6 C 7.0 ×10 −6 C ) = 8.4 N
r2 (0.15m )2

r r r
F = F12 + F13 = −2.7 N + 8.4 N = +5.7N
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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

Example 5 Three Charges on a Plane: Find the magnitude and direction of

the net force on q1.

Fig. 18.14

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18.5 Coulomb’s Law

F12 = k
q1 q2
=
(8.99 ×10 9
)( )( )
N ⋅ m 2 C 2 4.0 × 10 −6 C 6.0 ×10 −6 C
= 9.6 N
r2 (0.15m )2

F13 = k
q1 q3
=
(8.99 ×10 9
)( )( )
N ⋅ m 2 C 2 4.0 ×10 −6 C 5.0 ×10 −6 C
= 18 N
r2 (0.10m )2

r
F12 + (9.6N ) cos 73o = +2.8 N + (9.6 N ) sin 73o = +9.2 N
r
F13 + 18 N 0N
r
F Fx = +21N Fy = +9.2 N

F = Fx2 + Fy2 = (21N ) 2 + (9.2 N ) 2 = 23N

⎛ Fy ⎞ ⎛ 9.2 N ⎞
θ = tan ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = tan −1 ⎜
−1
⎟ = 24
o

⎝ Fx ⎠ ⎝ 21N ⎠

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