UNIT 2B: ELECTRIC FIELD

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 1

 Electric field Description
 A charged body +Q can set up an electric
field in the space to surrounding it.

 Any charge q (+ve or –ve) placed in the

field will experience electric force.

 The magnitude and direction of that electric

field determine the magnitude and direction
of the force acting on q.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 2

Electric field Description
(Contd.)
 The direction of the force is determined by
the sign on q.

 By description electric field is the region

in space surrounding a charged body,
where electric forces can be
experienced.

 Therefore, electric field is essentially a

vector field.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 3
Electric Field Intensity (E)
 If we place a small positive charge
qo (test charge) at a point P in the field
of +Q, the electrostatic force F that acts
on the test charge is given by the
vector  kQq 
F 2
o
i
r
 Electric field intensity E at any point
in space is defined as the electric force
per unit positive test charge placed at

that point.  F
E
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q
Lecturer:0Reginald M. Noye 4
Electric Field due to a point charge

By definition Electric Field E is

defined as the force per unit positive test
charge.
F
F Thus Electric
E E
Field due to a point
q0
+q0 charge is given by
r̂ r 1
Q
E ˆ
r
+Q 4 0 | r | 2
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 5
 The direction of E is the same as that of
the force on the positive test charge.

 Electric field is directed away from the

point charge if Q is positive, and
toward it if Q is negative.

 This can be illustrated by characteristic

field patterns of charges.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 6

Variation of E with distance r
 For spherical conductor
since charges are on the
surface:
1. E is zero inside.

2. E has a maximum
value on the surface.

3. E varies as inverse
square of distance from
surface.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 7

 Electric Field Patterns
 For Isolated positive
charge (a) field lines
are directed away from
charge.

 For Isolated negative

charge (b) field lines
are directed towards
the charge .

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 8

 Unlike Charges
 Electric field lines
starts from the positive
charge (source) and
end on the negative
charge (sink).
 This results in

attraction for unlike

charges.
 The arrowed E gives
the direction of the
2/10/2023
electric field at the 9
Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye
 Like Charges
 Electric field lines start
from two positive
charges but do not link
up.
 This results in

repulsion for like

charges.
 The arrowed E gives
the direction of the
field at that point in
2/10/2023
the field.
Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 10
Negative Charge

 E= kq1/r2

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 11

Charged particles in electric
field
Using the Field to determine the force

F  QE
E +Q

-Q
F  QE

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 12

Electric Field as a vector field

The Electric Field is one example

of a Vector Field

A “field” (vector or scalar) is defined

everywhere. It is a conservative field

A vector field has direction as well as magnitude

Thus unit of Electric Field intensity has is N/C

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 13

Representation of the Electric Field

It would be difficult to represent the electric field by

drawing vectors whose direction is the direction of the
field and whose length is the size of the field everywhere

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 14

Representation of the Electric
Field
We choose to represent the electric field with lines
whose direction indicates the direction of the field

Notice that as we
move away from the
charge, the density of
lines decreases

These are called

Electric Field Lines
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 15
Electric Field Lines
 An electric line of
force is an imaginary
line drawn in an electric
field to help visualize the
direction and magnitude
of the field.

 A tangent to the electric

line of force at a point P
represents the direction
of the force on a small
positive test charge
placed at that point.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 16
 Properties of Electric lines of
force
1. They originate on positive charge and end
on an equal but negative charge.
2. They do not cross each other.
3. They tend to repel each other sideways.
4. They are close where the field is strong
and farther apart where the field is weak.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 17

Guide to Drawing Electric Field Lines
 The lines must begin on positive charges (or
infinity).

 The lines must end on negative charges (or

infinity).

 The number of lines leaving a +ve charge

(or approaching a -ve charge) is proportional
to the magnitude of the charge.

 Electric field lines cannot cross.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 18
 Electric Field Lines
N lines
Define  
N
A 4r 2
since N lines  Q
we know

1 Q
| E |
Q 4 0 | r | 2

The number density of field lines is  

4r 2
| E | 
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 19
Interpreting Electric Field
Lines
 The electric field vector, E, is at a
tangent to the electric field lines at each
point along the lines.

 The number of lines per unit area

through a perpendicular surface to
the field is proportional to the strength
of the electric field in that region
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 20
 Direction of Electric Field
E
E
-Q1
+q0
-Q2

E E r Electric Field
+q0
E from isolated
+Q charge
Electric field on (interactive)
test charges
Note: The Electric Field is defined
everywhere, even if there is no test
2/10/2023
charge there.
Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 21
 Direction of Electric Field
 Experimentally, we place a small positive
test charge at a point around a charged
body.

 If the charge experiences an electric force,

then an electric field exists at that point.

 The direction of E at a point is the direction

of force acting on an infinitesimally small
positive test charge placed at that point.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 22
 The Neutral Point
 It is a point in an electric
field at which resultant
electric field is zero.
r
+q1 N +q2  Therefore, at the neutral
x r–x point electric charges do
not experience any
resultant force on them.

 We consider two point

charges of charge +q1
and +q2 and separated
by a distance, r.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 23
 Let the neutral point be  But at the neutral point
at a distance x from q1, E1 – E2 = 0, so E1 = E2.
so that it is at r – x from
q2. 1 q1 1 q2
 
 Electric field E1 due to 4 0 x 4 0 r  x 2
2

q1 at N is given by
1 q1 q1 q2
E1   2
4 0 x 2 x r  x 2

 Similarly, electric field E2

1
due to q2 at N is given  q2 
by  x  r   1
1 q2  q1 
E2 
4 0 r  x  2
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 24
 Deductions
1. If q2 = q1, then x = r(1+1)-1 = r/2. This
means the neutral point occurs at exactly
midway between the charges if they are
equal in sign and magnitude.

2. If q1 = 4q2, then x = r(3/2)-1 = 2r/3. That

is, the neutral point occurs further away
from the large charge, but closer to the
smaller charge (r/3).

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 25

 Summary
 The Electric Field is related to F
Coulomb’s Force by E
Q0
 Thus knowing the electric field we
can calculate the force on a charge F  QE

 The Electric Field is a vector field.

Field lines illustrate the strength
and direction of the Electric field.

 Using superposition we thus find

electric field E as 1 Qi
E  2 rˆi
4 0 i | ri |

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 26

 Electric Field Calculations
 Sample question:
Four charges +5 μC, +6 μC, -3 μC and +2 μC
are located respectively at the corners A, B, C
and D of a rectangle of sides 30 and 40 cm.
(a) Calculate the net electric field (magnitude
and direction) at the centre of the rectangle.
(b) What will be the resultant force on a charge
+1.5 μC placed at the centre?

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 27

 Definition of Electric Dipole
 A dipole consists of two
equal charges of
opposite sign, +Q and
–Q, separated by a
small distance l.

 The dipole will has 

The magnitude of the dipole moment, dipole moment, P ,
P, is given by P = Q l . Hence, unit which is a vector that is
is Coulomb-metre (Cm). directed from the
negative to the positive
2/10/2023
charge.
Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 28
 Illustration
 Given that dipole moment of water
p = 6.2 x 10 - 30 Cm.
 The charges on the molecule q = -10e and q
= +10e
 Since p = qd, the separation between charges
d is given by d = p / 10e
 d= 6.2 x 10 -30 C m / 10x1.6 x 10 -19 C
 = 3.9 x 10 -12 m

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 29

Example of a Dipole
 For water molecule (H2O),
electrons spend more time
around the oxygen atom (O)
than around the two
hydrogen (H) atoms.

 Each end of the two

hydrogen (H) atoms is
positively charged with the
oxygen (O) atom end
negatively charged.

 Thus, water molecule (H2O)

has a permanent dipole.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 30
Dipole Moment
 The water dipole has  
dipole moments, P1 and P2
which are vectors that
points from the negative to
the positive charge.


 The net dipole moment,P
is the vector sum of the

two dipole
 moments P1
and P2 pointing from O
toward each H.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 31
Dipole in an Electric Field
 Consider electric dipole
in a uniform external
electric field E.
 Assume the dipole is a
rigid structure.
x  The force on charge +q
due to the
external

field is F  qE ,
similarly, force on 
charge –q is F_  qE
 The resultant force FR
on dipole is
    
FR  F  F  qE  qE  0
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 32
 Since FR is zero, the centre of mass (com) of
the dipole does not move but acts as a pivot.

 This means the forces on the dipole produce

a resultant (net) torque τ on the dipole about
its centre of mass.

 Let the centre of mass of lie at some distance

x from one end, and a distance (d-x) from
the other end.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 33

Then the magnitude of the net torque τ
about the com is given by
τ = Fxsinq  F(d-x)sinq  Fdsinq
But F=qE and P=qd

Substituting for F and P we have

τ =qdEsinq  pEsinq

Hence, in general the torque in vector form

can be written as τ  p x E
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 34
Potential Energy of an Electric Dipole
 Let the potential energy be zero when the
angle θ =900.

 Then the work done by the external field on

the dipole when it is rotated from 900 to a
value θ, is given by
q q
U   W    dq   pE sin qdq
2 2

where τ = -pEsinθ is the torque exerted by

the external agent or field.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 35
 Therefore, potential energy U stored at any
angle θ is given by
q
q
U   pE sin qdq  pE  sin q dq
2 
2
  pEcosq 
q
2

 U   pE cosq

 This can be written in the form of a vector as

 
U   p.E
That is a scalar potential energy, U.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 36
 Deductions
1. When θ = 0, U = -pE. Thus potential energy of
the dipole is minimum. That is when p and E are
parallel.

2. When θ = π , U = pE. Thus potential energy is

maximum. That is when p and E are anti-parallel.

3. When the dipole rotates from θi to θf, the work

done W on the dipole by the electric field is given
by W = - ΔU =(Uf -Ui)

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 37

 Points to Note
1) We state the torque as τ = -pEsinθ, since
its direction is opposite to the direction of
increasing θ (restoring torque).

2) If the electric field is not uniform , the

electrostatic forces on +q and –q of the
dipole may not have the same magnitude,
hence there may be a net force as well as
a torque on the dipole.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 38

Electric Field due to a Dipole
 Let P be a point at a
distance z from the
mid-point of the dipole
and on the dipole axis
through the charged
particles.

 From Superposition
for electric fields,
electric field
magnitude E at P is
given by
E = E+- E-
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 39
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 40
 1 q 1 q
E 
4 0 r 4 0 r
2 2

d d
But r  z  and r  z
2 2
1 q 1 q
E 
4 0  d
2
4 0  d
2

z   z  
 2  2
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 41
  
 

q  1

1 
4 0  d
2
 d 
2

 z   z   
  2  2  

q  d
2
 d 
2

  z     z   
4 0 
 2  2  

q  2  d 
2
2  d  
2

  z 1    z 1   
4 0 
  2z   2z   

q  d 
2
 d  
2

 2 
1   1   
4 0 z  2 z   2 z   
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 42
  Applying Binomial Theorem to the two
factors in the bracket, we have
q  
  d   d 
2

    d   d 
2


E  1  2   3   ...  1  2   3   ...
2 
4 0 z   2z   2z  
    2z   2z  


 At large distances compared with the

dimensions of the dipole, z>>d.
 At such large distances the ratio d/2z
<< 1 or very small.
 Since d/z<<1 the higher powers of d/z
are negligible.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 43
 Thus we can have the electric field of
the dipole as q  d   d 
E 2 
1   ... - 1 -  ...
4 0 z  z   z 
q 2d

4 0 z 2
z
qd 1
E
2 0 z 3

But the quantity

 qd is the electric dipole
moment P , a vector of magnitude P
1 P
E
2 0 z 3
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 44
 
 The direction of P is from the negative
to the positive end of the dipole.

 Unit of electric dipole moment is the

Coulomb-metre (Cm)

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 45

Alternative Proof with different Dipole
Orientation
 For all symbols having
their usual meanings
and assuming for the
dipole that r >>l

 Prove that the resultant

electric field intensity, E
at P is given by
1 P
E
4 0 r 3

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 46

 Solution:
 For the dipole E+ and E- are equal and given by
1 Q
E  E 
4 0  l  2 
   r 
2

 2 
 

 But from the geometry (diagram) we have
E x   E cos   E cos   2 E cos 
E y  E sin   E sin   0

 Thus the resultant electric field ER is given by

ER  E x 2  E y 2  2 E cos 

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 47

 Again from the geometry we have
l
cos   2

 2
l 2
 r2
1 Q l
 ER  2
 
2

4 0  2  r
l 2 2
 l 2 2  r 2
1 Ql
 ER 
4 0 r l
2
2 2

3
2

 But Ql is the dipole moment P; and for r>>l ,

higher powers of l is very small, hence negligible.
So we have
 l
2 2
3

r 2
 2
r 3

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 48

 Therefore the electric field intensity, ER of
the dipole is
1 P
ER 
4 0 r 3

Students’ Quiz:
Two charges 4 μC and 2Q μC initially on similar
metallic conductors are separated by a distance, r
when a force F exists between them. The conductors
momentarily made contact and separated again to a
distance r apart as before, when a force between
them is again found to be F. Determine the value of
the charge Q.

2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 49

 Students’ Activity:
1. Particles of charge +75 μC, +48 μC and -85
μC are placed in a line such that the charge
+48 μC is at the midpoint of the line of
length 70 cm. Calculate the net force on each
charge due to the other two.

2. Three positive particles of equal charge,

+11.0 μC, are located at the corners of an
equilateral triangle of side 15.0 cm. Calculate
the magnitude and direction of the net force
(or electric field) on each particle.
2/10/2023 Lecturer: Reginald M. Noye 50