Charge

Charge is the basic property associated with matter due to which it

produces and experiences electric and magnetic effects.

It is something that a body attains when it loses or gains the electrons.

Its S.I. unit is coulomb C.

Similar charges repel each other and opposite charges attract each
other.

The proton possesses positive charge (+ e) and electron possesses an

equal negative charge (– e).

Charging of bodies takes place due to transfer of electrons from one

body to other body.

Conductor
Conductors are those materials which allow electricity (charge) to pass
through them.
Examples: Metals like silver, iron, copper.

Insulator
Insulators are those materials which do not allow electricity to flow
through them.
Examples: Wood, paper.

Coulomb’s Law
According to Coulomb’s law, the attraction or repulsion between two
point charges at rest is directly proportional to the product of the
magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between them.
F = 𝐾 𝑞1
𝑟2
𝑞2
K is called Coulomb’s constant whose value is 9x109 Nm2/C2
1
K=
4 𝜋 Є𝑜
Є𝑜 is called permeability of free space whose value is 8.85x10-12 C2/Nm2

Coulombs Law in Material Media

When a dielectric medium is placed in between charges the force
between the charges decreases by a factor of Є𝑟 known as dielectric
constant is also called relative permittivity of the medium. Hence in the
presence of medium.
𝐹 𝑣𝑎𝑐
Fmed =
Є𝑟

Electric Field
The region around an electric charge in which the electric effect can be
experienced is called the electric field.

Electric field is a vector quantity. It is intrinsic property of "charge" to

have electric field around it.

Two theories has been put forward to explain electric field -Action at a
distance (Newton's view)Field theory (Faraday's view)

Action-at-distance has been rejected experimentally while field theory

is a convincing view.

Electric Field Intensity

Electric field intensity at a point in an electric field is the force
experienced by a unit positive charge placed at that point.

𝐹
E= (where 𝑞𝑜 is test charge)
𝑞𝑜

Its SI unit is N/C or V/m

Electric field lines
The path followed by a tiny positive charge in an electric field is called
electric Electric lines of force, these are imaginary lines starting from
positive charge and on negative charge. Some of important properties
are given below

1. Originate from positive charge. End on negative charge.

2. Do not intersect
3. No electric line is present inside the conductor.
4. Tangent drawn to electric lines gives the direction of electric
intensity
5. Electric field is stronger where the electric lines are closely packed

Electric intensity near an isolated point charge:

𝐾𝑞
E=
𝑟2

Electric intensity inside a hollow charged sphere:

E=0

Electric intensity due to infinite sheet of charge:

𝜎
E=
2 Є𝑜

Electric intensity due to two oppositely charged plates:

𝜎
E=
Є𝑜

Electric Potential
Work done in moving a unit positive charge against the electric field is
stored as energy in it which is called electric potential.
Potential Difference
Work done in moving a unit positive charge from one point to other
point is the potential difference between the two points. Its SI unit is
volt (V) or J / C and it is a scalar quantity.
ΔV = W / q

Electron volt
The amount of energy acquired or lost by an electron as it traverses a
potential difference of one volt.

1 eV = 1.6x10-19 J and 1J = 6.25x1018 eV

It is the unit of energy specially used for atomic particles.

Capacitor
Capacitor is a device used for storing electric charge and electrical
energy. Charge stored by capacitor is given as Q = CV Where C is
capacitance of capacitor

Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store charge. OR The ratio of

charge stored to the potential difference between plates of capacitor.
C= Q/V
SI unit of capacitance is coulomb per volt or farad.

The capacitance of a capacitor is one farad if a charge of one coulomb,

given to one of the plates of a parallel plate capacitor, produces a
potential difference of one volt
1F = 1C / 1V

Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor

Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor with air between its plates is
given as
𝐴 Є𝑜
C=
𝑑
The above expression shows that As we increase the area of plate the
capacitance will increase. Decreasing the distance between plates will
increase the capacitance.

Introducing a dielectric between the plates will increase the

capacitance of the capacitor.

Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with dielectric between its

plate is given as
𝐴 Є𝑜Є𝑟
C= Cmed > Cvac
𝑑