ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

MODULE 5
ELECTROSTATICS
CHARGES ON OBJECTS
• All neutral objects have the same number of positive and negative charges
• Positive objects – electrons are removed and thus an excess of positive charge
• Negative objects – electrons are added and thus the object is negatively
charged
FORCES BETWEEN CHARGES

• Electrostatic forces exist between charged particles/objects

COULOMB’S LAW

• Coulomb’s law is the relationship between the forces experienced by charged

objects when situated a certain distance apart

• Opposite charges attract

• Like charges repel

COULOMB’S LAW

• This relationship enables us to establish the forces that exist between charged
objects.
• Definition – the force of attraction or repulsion between electric charges at
rest is directly proportional to the product of the charges, and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between their centres.
• Expressed mathematically:
𝑄1 𝑄2 1
•𝐹= 𝑘 2
𝑟
since: 𝐹 ∝ 𝑄1 , 𝐹 ∝ 𝑄2 and 𝐹 ∝
𝑟2
COULOMB’S LAW

• The greater the charges of the two objects, the greater the force acting upon
these bodies. These forces can be forces of attraction or forces of repulsion.

• The electrostatic force between two charged objects is greater the closer they
are to each other.
COULOMB’S LAW

• Expressed mathematically:
𝑄1 𝑄2 1
•𝐹= 𝑘 2
𝑟
since: 𝐹 ∝ 𝑄1 , 𝐹 ∝ 𝑄2 and 𝐹 ∝
𝑟2

• 𝐹 = Force between charges (Newtons)

• 𝑄1 and 𝑄2 = respective charges (coulomb)
• 𝑟 = distance apart (m)
• 𝑘 = Coulomb’s constant ( 9 × 109 𝑁. 𝑚2 . 𝐶 −2)
EXAMPLE 1

• Two point-like charges carrying charges of +3 × 10−9 C and −5 × 10−9 C

are 2 m apart. Determine the magnitude of the force between them and state
whether it is attractive or repulsive.
 EXAMPLE 2

• Three point charges are in a straight line. Their charges are Q1=2×10−9 C, Q2=1×10−9 C
and Q3=−3×10−9 C. The distance between Q1 and Q2 is 2 × 10−2 m and the distance
between Q2 and Q3 is 4 × 10−2 m. What is the net electrostatic force on Q2 due to the
other two charges?
EXAMPLE 3:
• Three point charges form a right-angled triangle. Their charges are Q1=4 nC,
Q2=6 nC and Q3=−3 nC. The distance between Q1 and Q2 is 5 × 10−2 m
and the distance between Q1 and Q3 is 3 × 10−2 m. What is the net
electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two charges if they are arranged
as shown?
ELECTRIC FIELDS
MODULE 5
ELECTRIC FIELDS

• An electric field is the area around a charge in which another charge will experience
an electrostatic force
We can therefore say that +q experiences
an attraction force as a result of the effect
of the electrical field of -Q.
-Q experiences the same force of attraction
as a result of the electrical field of +q

𝑘𝑄𝑞
•𝐹 = 𝑟2
ELECTRIC FIELDS

• Electric fields consist of electric field lines

• An electrical field line is an imaginary line that indicates the direction and strength along
which a positive test charge will move if it is placed at a specific point in the electrical
field.
PROPERTIES OF ELECTRICAL FIELD LINES
• They originate and end perpendicularly to the surface of the charged object.
• They can never cross each other.
• They are most dense where the field is the strongest and are least dense where the field is the
weakest.
• Their direction is, according to convention, from the positively charged object to the negatively
charged object.
• The number of field lines passing through the surface is proportional to the magnitude of the change
enclosed by the surface
• They surround the charged object in three dimensions.
• There is a uniform field between two oppositely charged parallel plates (except at the terminals).
ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH

• The electric field strength 𝐸 at any point in space is defined as the force 𝐹Ԧ
experienced by a positive unit charge 𝑞 at that point.
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 (𝑁)
• 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ (𝑁. 𝐶 −1 ) = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝐶)

𝐹Ԧ
•𝐸= 𝑞
 ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH

𝐹Ԧ
•𝐸= 𝑞
Ԧ 𝐸𝑞
thus 𝐹=

• Coulomb’s law ∶ 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑄𝑞

𝑟2
• These two forces are the same
𝑘𝑄
∴𝐸=
𝑟2
𝐹Ԧ
Note that in 𝐸 = ; q is the charge that experiences ta force in an electrical field
𝑞
𝑘𝑄
In 𝐸 = ; Q is the charge that creates the electrical field
𝑟2
EXAMPLE 1

• Calculate the electric field strength 30 cm from a 5 nC charge

 EXAMPLE 2

• Two charges of Q1=+3nC and Q2=−4nC are separated by a distance of 50 cm.

What is the electric field strength at a point that is 20 cm from Q1 and 30 cm
from Q2? (The point lies between Q1 and Q2.)
EXAMPLE 3
ELECTROMAGNETISM
MODULE 5
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC EFFECT OF A CURRENT-CARRYING
CONDUCTOR
• Hans Oersted found that an electric current produces a magnetic field
MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A CIRCULAR WIRE
MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A CIRCULAR WIRE
MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A SOLENOID

• A cylindrical coil of wire

MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A SOLENOID
FARADAY’S LAW
MODULE 5
 FARADAY’S LAW
• Describes how a changing magnetic field can cause a voltage to be induced in a
coil, this phenomenon is called ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION.

• ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION in the phenomenon where an emf, as well as an

electrical current is induced in a conductor by an altered magnetic field around
the conductor.

• SIMPLY PUT: it is the process by which an electrical current is established in a

conductor, by moving a conductor and a magnetic field relative to each other.
• Lenz’s law states: Induced current flows in such a direction which opposes the change
(motion) causing it.
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION

• When a solenoid and a magnet are moved relative to each other, a current is
induced in the coil.
• Induction only occurs when there is motion of the coil relative to the magnet.
• The direction of the current depends on which pole of the magnet is being
used and whether it is being inserted or removed.
• Induced current flows in such a direction which opposes the change causing it.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
INDUCED CURRENT
• The strength of the magnetic field – the stronger the magnet, the greater the
induced current.
• The number of turns on the coil – the greater the number of turns, the greater
the induced current.
• The speed at which the magnet and the solenoid are moved in relation to
each other – the faster the movement, the greater the induced current.
MAGNETIC FLUX

• Bar magnets create magnetic fields.

• Magnetic fields can be represented by field lines, also called lines of
magnetic flux.
• Flux is a process of flowing, we can imagine magnetic flux flowing from the
north pole to the south pole.
• The strength of magnetic flux depends on how concentrated the flux is.
 TOTAL AMOUNT OF MAGNETIC FLUX

• The total amount of magnetic flux is defined as:

Φ = 𝐵𝐴. 𝐶𝑜𝑠θ
• Φ (Greek letter phi) = total amount of magnetic flux.
(measured in weber (Wb))
• B = flux density. (measured in tesla (T))
• A = Area. (measured in m2)
• 𝜃 = the angle between B and a line drawn
perpendicular to the face of the coil.
FARADAY’S LAW OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
INDUCTION STATES
• The induced emf in any closed circuit is equal to the rate of change of the magnetic
flux through the circuit.

• 𝜀 = −𝑁 ∆Φ
∆𝑡

• 𝜀 is the induced emf.

• N is the number of coils.
• ∆Φ is the change in magnetic flux.
• ∆𝑡 is the time taken.
EXAMPLE 1

• A circular loop with 10 turns and with a radius of 2,5cm is in a magnetic field
of 0,4 T. If the loop is moved out of the field in a time of 0,05 s. calculate the
induced emf. (the normal of the loop is parallel with the field)
EXAMPLE 2

• A square solenoid of which every side is 5 cm contains 100 turns, The magnetic field
through the middle of the solenoid changes from 0 T to 0,02 T in 2 x10-3s.
1. Calculate the magnitude of the average emf through which the coil enters into the
field and is perpendicular to the field.
2. Calculate the current in the coil if the resistance of the coil is 2 Ω.
3. How large will the emf be if the coil exits the magnetic field in half the time
(1 x10-3s) ?
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
MODULE 5
REVISION FROM GRADE 10

• 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑉) = 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 (𝐽)

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝐶)
𝑉=
𝑊
𝑄

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝐶) 𝑄
• 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑠)
𝐼=
∆𝑡
OHM’S LAW

• For a conductor at constant temperature, the current in the conductor is

directly proportional to the potential difference across it

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 (𝑉) 𝑉
• 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (Ω) = 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴
𝑅=
𝐼
 OHM’S LAW
• If a conductor is at a constant temperature, the current flowing
through the conductor is directly proportional to the voltage
across it.
• if we plot voltage on the x-axis of a graph and current on the
y-axis of the graph, we will get a straight-line.
• The gradient of the straight-line graph is related to the
𝐼 1
resistance of the conductor as =
𝑉 𝑅
𝑉
•𝑅 = 𝐼
OHMIC CONDUCTORS

• Conductors which obey Ohm's Law have a constant

resistance when the voltage is varied across them or the
current through them is increased.
• A graph of current vs. voltage across these conductors will
be a straight line
NON-OHMIC CONDUCTORS

• Resistance of some conductors changes as their

temperature changes. These types of conductors are
called non-ohmic conductors, because they do not obey
Ohm's Law.
• Graph of current vs. voltage will not be a straight-line,
indicating that the resistance is not constant over all
values of voltage and current.
SERIES CIRCUITS

• Current remains constant throughout the circuit

I1 = I2 = I3 = …..
• Resistors connected in series divide the total voltage between them
VT = V1 + V2 + V3 + ….
• The total resistance increases as more resistors are added
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 +….
PARALLEL CIRCUITS
• Resistors connected in parallel are current dividers, each resistor provides an alternative
route for the current.
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 + ….
• The total voltage across the parallel components is the same
VT = V1 = V 2 = V 3 = …
• When two or more resistors are connected in parallel, the overall resistance is reduced.
The total resistance will always be less than that of any individual resistor
1 1 1 1
= + + + …
𝑅𝑇 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3
ELECTRICAL POWER
MODULE 5
ELECTRICAL POWER

• Electrical energy is useful because it can easily be transformed into other

forms of energy
• The rate at which energy is converted into other forms of energy is known as
electrical power

𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 (𝐽) 𝐸

• 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 (𝑊) = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 (𝑠)
𝑃=
∆𝑡
 ELECTRICAL POWER
• 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑉) = 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 (𝐽)
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝐶)
𝑉=
𝑊
𝑄

W was the symbol for the energy transferred, but now we use the symbol
E. So 𝐸 = 𝑉𝑄
𝑉𝑄
∴𝑃=
∆𝑡
However we defined current as:
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝐶) 𝑄
• 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑠)
𝐼=
∆𝑡

∴ 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼
ELECTRICAL POWER
• We can use Ohm’s law to show that 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 is equivalent to
𝑉2
𝑃 = 𝐼 2 𝑅 and 𝑃 =
𝑅

Prove the two equivalent formulas

EXAMPLE 1

• Given a circuit component that has a voltage of 5 V and a resistance of 2 Ω

what is the power dissipated?
EXAMPLE 2

• Two ohmic resistors (R1 and R2) are connected in series with a cell. Find the
resistance and power of R2, given that the current flowing through R1 and R2 is
0,25 A and that the voltage across the cell is 6 V. R1 = 1 Ω.
EXAMPLE 3