DOING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

GRADE 11

LEARNERS NOTES

BOOK 1

Electrostatics
T

Compiled by: Molemo Masemula

SUPERPOSITION OF CHARGES: TWO DIMENSIONAL VECTORS

• Electrostatic forces and elds can also act in two dimensions.

• Electrostatic forces and elds are vectors and direction must be given in your solution
unless the question asks for magnitude.
EXAMPLE 1

Three charged spheres are arranged as shown in the diagram below. Sphere A has a charge of -
10µC sphere B has a charge of 5µC and sphere C has a charge of -15µC. Sphere A is 8mm
directly South of sphere B. Sphere C is 15mm to the East of sphere B.

5µC -15µC
15mm
B C

8mm

-10µC

Step 1 : Determine the resultant force that Sphere B experiences due to sphere A & C
FABF = kQAQB
r2

= 9 × 109 (10 × 10-6)(5 × 10-6)

(8 × 10-3)2

= 7031,25 N down

FCBF = kQCQB
r2

= 9 × 109 (15 × 10-6)(5 × 10-6)

(8 × 10-3)2

= 3000 N east

Step 2 : Draw a vector diagram:

Fres
FAB

FCB
fi
fi
Step 4 : Calculate both the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
Magnitude of resultant

F2 = Fx2 + Fy2
F = √ (7031,25)2 + (3000)2
F = 7644,51 N

Direction of resultant

tanθ = Fy
Fx
tanθ = 3000 .
7031,25
θ = 23,11°

Step 5 : Make a conclusion/summary of your above calculations.

Fres = 7644,51N at 23,11° above the horizontal.

SECTION A: TYPICAL EXAM QUESTION

QUESTION 1 FSDoE 2023 June P1 {12 Marks ; 15 Minutes}

A third sphere R, carrying a charge of +8 nC is now placed at a distance of 25 cm from

sphere Q.
-6 µC +4 µC
40cm
B C

25cm

+8µC

1.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

1.2 Draw a vector diagram and show the electrostatic forces and the net force (3)
experienced by sphere Q due to P and R.
1.3 Calculate the net electrostatic force experienced by sphere Q due to (7)
P and R.
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