Radial electric fields

The electric field strength decreases as we get away from the charge. (Sphere or point).
There is no electric field inside a charged sphere.
Electric field strength at any point at distance r from a charge Q is given by:

Q kQ
E= 2
= 2
4 π ε0 r r
−12 −1
ε 0=8.85 ×10 F m , permittivity of free space

For all other mediums ε > ε 0 , in general:

ε
ε =ε r ε 0∨κ=
ε0

ε ∨κ is sometimes called the dielectric constant or relative permittivity.

The table below lists the dielectric constant for different materials.
Example
1. What is the electric field strength at a distance of 1nm from an electron? (value and direction)

2. If the electric field strength is 1.44x10 11 V/m, from a proton find the distance at which this
electric field was measured.

Potential in a radial electric field

−dV
E=
dx
Q kQ
V= =
4 π ε0 r r

1. What is the electric potential at a distance of 1nm from an electron? (value and direction)

2. If the electric potential is 14 V, from a proton find the distance at which this potential was
measured.
Combining electric fields
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/charges-and-fields

If we have multiple sources of an electric field the magnitude and direction of the electric field at
any point is given as the vector sum of all the fields in the region.
Example

Checkpoint