Physics 2 In terms of ϵ 0 , the electric field can be written as:

Electric Charge, Coulomb‘s Law,

Electric Fields and Electric Flux
Michael Faraday
⃑
E=
1 Q N
,( )
4 π ϵ o r2 C
⃑
E – electric field (N /C)
Michael Faraday, a British scientist, uses the idea of a
field. ϵ0 –permittivity of free space constant
According to him, an electric field extends outward from Q,q – single point charge and test charge (C)
every charge and permeates to all space.
r – distance between charges (m)

Electric Field
Example 1
 It is a vector field around a charged particle.
 It represents the force that other charged Calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field
particles would feel if placed near the particle at a point P which is 30 cm to the right of a point charge
−6
creating the electric field. Q=−3.0× 10 C.
 It can also be stated as electrical force per
charge.
 It is represented with ⃑ E and its SI unit is N /C .

Test Charge
To investigate the electric field surrounding a
charge or group of charges, a small positive test charge
is being used. Example 2
A test charge is a charge so small that the force it exerts
An electric field of ⃑ 4
E =2.0 ×10 N /C is directed along the
does not significantly change the distribution of those
positive x–axis.
other charges that create the field.
(a) What is the electric force on an electron in
The electric field at any point in space is defined as the
this field?
force exerted on a test charge placed at that point
divided by the magnitude of the test charge. (b) What is the electric force on a proton in
this field?
⃑
F0
⃑
E=
q0
Electric Field
The electric field due to single point charge is:

Q ×q
k
( )
2
⃑ r ⃑ Q N
E= E =k 2 ,
q r C

⃑
E – electric field (N /C)

k – Coulomb‘s constant ( N ∙ m2 / C 2)

Q,q – single point charge and test charge

(C)
r – distance between charges (m)
Example 3 Electric Field Lines
Find the electric field at a point midway between two
Properties of field lines:
charges of +100.0 nC and +60.0 nC separated by a
distance of 50.0 cm. (a) Electric field lines, also called as lines of
force, are drawn so that they indicate the
direction of force due to the given field on
+ 100
nC
+ 60 nC a test charge.

(b) Field line must begin on positive charges

and end on negative charges.

(c) In case of isolated charges, field lines are at

infinity.

(d) The direction of electric field is tangent to

the field line at any point.

(e) The number of field lines is proportional

to the magnitude of the charge.

(f) Electric field lines can never intersect to

each other.

(g) The strength of the field is proportional to

the closeness of the field lines.

Electric Field
Since the electric field is a vector, it is sometimes
referred to as a vector field.

These vector field could be shown with arrows at Electric field of a positively charged particle
various points. points radially away from the charge.

+
Electric field of a negatively charged particle
points radially toward from the charge.

Gauss‘s Law

Question Gauss‘s law involves the concept of electric flux.

What would happen if there are many points to be Electric flux refers to the electric field passing through a
analyzed? given area.
To avoid confusions, we will use another technique
which is called field of lines.
To visualize the electric field, a series of lines are to be
drawn at various points.
Electric Flux Example 2
Electric flux is defined as: A flat circle of radius 18 cm is placed in a uniform

( )
N∙m
2 electric field of magnitude 5.8 ×102 N /C .
ϕ E=E ∙ A , (a) What is the electric flux through the
C
circle when its face is perpendicular to the
ϕE 2
– electric flux ( N ∙ m / C) field lines?
E – electric field (N /C) (b) What is the electric flux through the
A – surface area (m 2 ) circle when its face is parallel to the field
lines?
Electric flux is defined as:

( )
2
N∙m
ϕ E=E ⊥ ∙ A ,
C
ϕE – electric flux ( N ∙ m2 / C)
E⊥ – electric field (N /C)
A – surface area (m2 )

Electric flux is defined as:

( )
2
N∙m
ϕ E=E ∙ A ⊥ ,
C
ϕE – electric flux ( N ∙ m2 / C)
E – electric field (N /C)
A⊥ – surface area (m 2 )

Gauss‘s Law
Gauss‘s law involves the total flux through a
closed surface – a surface of any shape that encloses the
volume of space.

Electric Flux
Electric flux is on an enclosed space is defined
as:
Qencl
E ∙ A=
ϵ0
E – electric field (N /C)
A – surface area (m 2 )
Qencl – enclosed charge (C)
ϵ0 – permittivity of free space

Example 1
The total electric flux from a cubical box 28.0 cm on a
side is 1.45 ×103 N ∙m2 /C . What charge is enclosed by
the box?