Chapter 22

Electric Fields

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 10e

Raymond A. Serway
John W. Jewett, Jr.
 Electricity and Magnetism
➢ Electricity and magnetism is all around us!

➢ Historians suggest that magnetism was observed as early as 2000 BC. In fact,
the ancient Greeks observed electric and magnetic phenomena as early as
700 BC.

➢ The word electric comes from elecktron, the Greek word for “amber”. It was
already known that is Amber is rubbed, it can attract pieces of dry leaves.

➢ The word magnetic comes from Magnesia (Greece district). Greeks

observed that specific rock attracts iron pieces (in the district of Magnesia)
– Rock mineral was later named as magnetite (Fe3O4),
Historical connection between electric
and magnetic phenomena
➢ In 1819, Danish scientist (during a lecture demonstration) observed that a
compass needle deflects when places near a wire carrying a current –
first observation between electricity and magnetism.

➢ Later on, Faraday and Joseph Henry independently showed that

changing magnetic field creates an electric field

➢ Years later, Maxwell showed reverse is also true – a changing electric

field creates magnetic field
 Properties of Electric Charges
➢ A number of simple experiments show existence of electric force

➢ For example rubbing balloon on your hair on a dry day → balloon

attracts bits of paper

Figure (a): woman’s body becomes charged → Figure (b): cat rubbed its body against
repulsive force between hairs on her head Styrofoam peanuts → attractive force:
Styrofoam peanuts stuck to its body

When materials behave in this way: electrified or have become electrically

charged
Properties of Electric Charges

Electric charge is nothing more than a

property of a charge particle. And this
property causes it to experience a force
when placed in an electromagnetic field
 Properties of Electric Charges
➢ Two kinds of electric charge: positive
and negative (named by Benjamin
Franklin)
• Electrons: negative charge
• Protons: positive charge

➢ To verify two types of charges, suppose

a hard rubber rod that has been rubbed
on fur suspended by a string (figure)
▪ When glass rod that has been rubbed
on silk brought near rubber rod → rods
exhibit attractive force on each other
(figure (a))
▪ If two charged rubber rods (or two
charged glass rods) brought near each
other → Rods exhibit repulsive force on
Conclusion: charges of same sign
each other (figure (b)) repel one another and charges with
opposite signs attract one another
➢ Rubber and glass have two different
types of charge on them
 Properties of Electric Charges
➢ Electric charge is always conserved in an
isolated system.
▪ When one object rubbed against another:
charge not created in → One object gains
negative charge and other gains equal
amount of positive charge

▪ When glass rod rubbed on silk (figure) →

silk obtains negative charge equal in
magnitude to positive charge on glass rod

▪ Similarly, when rubber rubbed on fur →

electrons transferred from fur to rubber:
• Rubber: net negative charge
• Fur: net positive charge

Neutral, uncharged matter contains

as many positive charges (protons
within atomic nuclei) as negative
charges (electrons)
Properties of Electric Charges

Conservation of electric charge for an isolated system

→ like conservation of:
• Energy
• Momentum
• Angular momentum

No analysis model is identified because it is not used

often enough in mathematical solution to problems.
 Charge is Quantized
In 1909, Robert Millikan discovered that
electric charge always occur as integral
multiples of fundamental amount of charge.

q =  Ne

Robert A. Millikan
 Quick Quiz 22.1
Three objects are brought close to each other, two at a
time. When objects A and B are brought together, they
repel. When objects B and C are brought together, they
also repel. Which of the following are true?
(a) Objects A and C possess charges of the same sign.
(b) Objects A and C possess charges of opposite sign.
(c) All three objects possess charges of the same sign.
(d) One object is neutral.
(e) Additional experiments must be performed to
determine the signs of the charges.
 Quick Quiz 22.1
Three objects are brought close to each other, two at a
time. When objects A and B are brought together, they
repel. When objects B and C are brought together, they
also repel. Which of the following are true?
(a) Objects A and C possess charges of the same sign.
(b) Objects A and C possess charges of opposite sign.
(c) All three objects possess charges of the same sign.
(d) One object is neutral.
(e) Additional experiments must be performed to
determine the signs of the charges.
 Material type: Conductors and
Insulators
Materials are classified in terms of ability of electrons to move through material

Electrical conductors are materials in which some

of the electrons are free electrons that are not bound
to atoms and can move relatively freely through
the material; electrical insulators are materials in
which all electrons are bound to atoms and cannot
move freely through the material.

Insulators: When charged by rubbing → Only area rubbed becomes charged

i.e., Charged particles unable to move to other regions of material
Conductors: When charged in some small region → Charge distributes itself
over entire surface of material
 Material type: Semiconductors
|Semiconductors have electrical properties between insulators and conductors

silicon polycrystalline germanium

Charging Metal Objects by Induction
Charging Insulating Objects by
Induction

Neutral Atoms
Charging Insulating Objects by
Induction

Glass
rod

Charge induction
 Quick Quiz 22.2
Three objects are brought close to one another, two at a
time. When objects A and B are brought together, they
attract. When objects B and C are brought together, they
repel. Which of the following are necessarily true?
(a) Objects A and C possess charges of the same sign.
(b) Objects A and C possess charges of opposite sign.
(c) All three objects possess charges of the same sign.
(d) One object is neutral.
(e) Additional experiments must be performed to
determine information about the charges on the
objects.
 Quick Quiz 22.2
Three objects are brought close to one another, two at a
time. When objects A and B are brought together, they
attract. When objects B and C are brought together, they
repel. Which of the following are necessarily true?
(a) Objects A and C possess charges of the same sign.
(b) Objects A and C possess charges of opposite sign.
(c) All three objects possess charges of the same sign.
(d) One object is neutral.
(e) Additional experiments must be performed to
determine information about the charges on the
objects.
 Electric Forces between
Charged Objects
Charles Coulomb measured the magnitude of
the electric forces between charged objects
using Torsion balance (figure)

➢ Electric force between charged spheres A and B causes

spheres to either attract or repel each other:
▪ Resulting motion causes suspended fiber to twist

➢ Restoring torque of twisted fiber  angle through which

fiber rotates
▪ Measurement of angle provides quantitative
measure of electric force of attraction or repulsion

➢ Once spheres charged by rubbing:

▪ Electric force between them large compared with
gravitational attraction → Gravitational force can
be neglected
 Coulomb’s Law

q1 q2
Fe = ke
r2
ke = 8.987 6  10 N  m /C
9 2 2

1
ke =
4 0

 0 = 8.854 2  10−12 C2 /N  m 2
e = 1.60218  10−19 C Charles Coulomb
Coulomb’s Law in Vector Form
q1q2
F12 = ke 2 rˆ12
r

F1 = F21 + F31 + F41

Charges and Masses of Electrons,
Protons, and Neutrons
 Example 22.1:
The Hydrogen Atom
The electron and proton of a hydrogen atom are
separated (on the average) by a distance of
approximately 5.3  10−11 m. Find the magnitudes of
the electric force and the gravitational force between
the two particles.
 Example 22.1:
The Hydrogen Atom

(1.60 10 C)
−19 2
e −e
Fe = ke = ( 8.988  10 N  m /C
9 2 2
)
( 5.3 10 m)
2 2
r −11

= 8.2  10−8 N
me m p
Fg = G
r2
= ( 6.674  10
( 9.1110 kg )(1.67 10
−31 −27
kg )
−11
N  m /kg
2 2
)
( 5.3 10 m )
−11 2

= 3.6  10−47 N
Fe 8.2  10−8 N
=  2  10 39

Fg 3.6  10−47 N
 Example 22.2:
Find the Resultant Force
Consider three point charges located at the corners of a
right triangle as shown in the figure, where q1 = q3 =
5.00 C, q2 = −2.00 C, and a = 0.100 m. Find the
resultant force exerted on q3.
 Example 22.2:
Find the Resultant Force

F23 = ke
q2 q3
= ( 8.988  109 N  m 2 /C 2 )
( 2.00 10 −6
C )( 5.00  10−6 C )
= 8.99 N
( 0.100 m )
2 2
a

F13 = ke
q1 q3
= ( 8.988  109 N  m 2 /C 2 )
( 5.00 10 −6
C )( 5.00  10−6 C )
= 11.2 N
( ) 2 ( 0.100 m )
2 2
2a

F13 x = (11.2 N ) cos 45.0 = 7.94 N

F13 y = (11.2 N ) sin 45.0 = 7.94 N

F3 x = F13 x + F23 x = 7.94 N + ( −8.99 N ) = −1.04 N

F3 y = F13 y + F23 y = 7.94 N + 0 = 7.94 N

(
F3 = −1.04ˆi + 7.94ˆj N )
 Example 22.3:
Where Is the Net Force Zero?
Three point charges lie along the x axis as shown in the
figure. The positive charge q1 = 15.0 C is at x = 2.00
m, the positive charge q2 = 6.00 C is at the origin, and
the net force acting on q3 is zero. What is the x
coordinate of q3?
 Example 22.3:
Where Is the Net Force Zero?
q2 q3 ˆ q1 q3 ˆ
 F3 = F23 + F13 = −ke x 2 i + ke 2.00 − x 2 i = 0
( )
q2 q3 q1 q3
ke = ke
( 2.00 − x )
2 2
x

( 2.00 − x )
2
q2 = x q1
2

( 2.00 − x ) q2 =  x q1
2.00 q2 2.00 6.00  10−6
x=
x= 6.00  10−6 + 15.0  10−6
q2  q1 = 0.775 m
 Example 22.4:
Find the Charge on the Spheres
Two identical small charged spheres, each having a
mass of 3.00  10−2 kg, hang in equilibrium as shown
in the figure. The length L of each string is 0.150 m,
and the angle  is 5.00. Find the magnitude of the
charge on each sphere.
 Example 22.4:
Find the Charge on the Spheres
F x = T sin  − Fe = 0  T sin  = Fe
F y = T cos  − mg = 0  T cos  = mg
Fe
tan  =  Fe = mg tan 
mg
a
sin  =  a = L sin 
L
Fe ( 2a ) mg tan  ( 2 L sin  )
2 2 2
Fe r
q = = =
ke ke ke

( 3.00 10−2 kg )( 9.80 m/s2 ) tan ( 5.00) 2 ( 0.150 m ) sin (5.00)
2

q = = 4.42  10−8 C
8.988  109 N  m 2 /C 2
 Analysis Model:
Particle in a Field (Electric)
➢ There are two types of forces

▪ Contact Forces ➔ involve physical contact

▪ Field Forces ➔ does not involve physical contact ➔ act through empty
space

➢ Gravitational force and Electric force are Field Forces.

➢ Field Forces are modeled as two-step process:

▪ Source particle establishes field

▪ Charged particle interacts with field and experiences a force
 Analysis Model:
Particle in a Field (Electric)
qq0 q
Fe = ke 2 rˆ E = Fe /q0 E = ke 2 rˆ
r r
 Analysis Model:
Particle in a Field (Electric)
 Quick Quiz 22.4
A test charge of +3 C is at a point P where an external
electric field is directed to the right and has a magnitude
of 4  106 N/C. If the test charge is replaced with
another test charge of −3 C, what happens to the
external electric field at P?
(a) It is unaffected.
(b) It reverses direction.
(c) It changes in a way that cannot be determined.
 Quick Quiz 22.4
A test charge of +3 C is at a point P where an external
electric field is directed to the right and has a magnitude
of 4  106 N/C. If the test charge is replaced with
another test charge of −3 C, what happens to the
external electric field at P?
(a) It is unaffected.
(b) It reverses direction.
(c) It changes in a way that cannot be determined.
 Analysis Model:
Particle in a Field (Electric)
 Example 22.5:
A Suspended Water Droplet
A water droplet of mass 3.00  10−12 kg is located in
the air near the ground during a stormy day. An
atmospheric electric field of magnitude 6.00  103 N/C
points vertically downward in the vicinity of the water
droplet. The droplet remains suspended at rest in the
air. What is the electric charge on the droplet?

F y = 0 → Fe − Fg = 0  q ( − E ) − mg = 0
q = −mg /E

q=−
( 3.00  10 −12
kg )( 9.80 m/s 2
) −15
= −4.90  10 C
6.00  10 N/C
3
 Example 22.6:
Electric Field Due to Two Charges
Charges q1 and q2 are located on the x axis, at distances
a and b, respectively, from the origin as shown in the
figure.

(A) Find the components of the net electric

field at the point P, which is at position
(0, y).
 Example 22.6:
Electric Field Due to Two Charges
q1 q1
E1 = ke = ke
r1
2
a +y2 2

q1 q1
E1 = ke cos  ˆi + ke sin  ˆj
a +y
2 2
a +y 2 2

q2 q2
E 2 = ke cos  ˆi − ke sin  ˆj
b +y
2 2
b +y 2 2

q1 q2
E x = ke cos  + ke cos 
a +y
2 2
b +y
2 2

q1 q2
E y = ke sin  − ke sin 
a +y
2 2
b +y
2 2
 Example 22.6:
Electric Field Due to Two Charges
(B) Evaluate the electric field at point P in the special
case that |q1| = |q2| and a = b.
q q q
E x = ke 2 cos  + ke 2 cos  = 2ke 2 cos 
a +y 2
a +y 2
a +y 2

q q
E y = ke 2 sin  − ke 2 sin  = 0
a +y 2
a +y 2

a a
cos  = =
r ( a 2 + y 2 )1/2
 
q  a  2aq
E x = 2ke 2 = ke
a + y  ( a2 + y2 ) 
2 1/2
(a + y )
2 2 3/2
 
 Example 22.6:
Electric Field Due to Two Charges
(C) Find the electric field due to the electric dipole when
point P is a distance y >> a from the origin.

2aq 2aq
E x = ke  E  ke 3
(a 2
+y )
2 3/2 y
 Electric Field Lines
➢ Electric Field lines provides a means of
visualizing electric field pictorially
▪ Related to electric field in region of space:
(see figure)
➢ Electric field vector E is tangent to the electric
field line at each point
➢ Number of lines per unit area through surface
perpendicular to lines  magnitude of electric
field in region
➢ Density of field lines through surface A > density
of lines through surface B →
▪ Magnitude of electric field larger on surface
A than on surface B
q
E = ke  2 rˆ
▪ Because lines at different locations point in
different directions, the field is nonuniform
i r
Electric Field Lines
 Electric Field Lines

➢ Rules for drawing electric field lines:

➢ Lines must begin on positive charge and terminate on negative charge

▪ In case of excess of one type of charge → some lines will begin
or end infinitely far away

➢ Number of lines drawn leaving positive charge or approaching

negative charge  magnitude of charge

➢ No two field lines can cross

 Electric Field Lines
➢ Number of lines that begin at positive charge must equal number that
terminate at negative charge

N 2 Q2
=
N1 Q1
Electric Field Lines
Electric Field Lines
 Quick Quiz 22.5
Rank the magnitudes of the electric field at points A, B,
and C shown in the figure (greatest magnitude first).
 Quick Quiz 22.5
Rank the magnitudes of the electric field at points A, B,
and C shown in the figure (greatest magnitude first).

A, B, C
Motion of a Charged Particle in a
Uniform Electric Field

 F = qE = ma
qE
a=
m
 Example 22.7:
An Accelerating Positive Charge: Two Models

A uniform electric field 𝐄 is directed along the x axis

between parallel plates of charge separated by a distance
d as shown in the figure. A positive point
charge q of mass m is released from rest
at a point A next to the positive plate and
accelerates to a point B next to the
negative plate.
(A) Find the speed of the particle at B
by modeling it as a particle under constant
acceleration.
 Example 22.7:
An Accelerating Positive Charge: Two Models

v f = v + 2a ( x f − xi ) = 0 + 2a ( d − 0 ) = 2ad
2 2

 qE  2qEd
v f = 2ad = 2  d =
 m  m
 Example 22.7:
An Accelerating Positive Charge: Two Models
(B) Find the speed of the particle at B by modeling it as
a nonisolated system in terms of energy.

W = K
1
Fe x = K B − K A = mv f 2 − 0
2
2 Fe x
 vf =
m
2 ( qE )( d ) 2qEd
vf = =
m m
 Example 22.8:
An Accelerated Electron
An electron enters the region of a uniform electric field
as shown in the figure, with vi = 3.00  106 m/s and E =
200 N/C. The horizontal length of the plates is  =
0.100 m.
(A) Find the acceleration of
the electron while it is in the
electric field.
 Example 22.8:
An Accelerated Electron
eE
ay = −
me

ay =−
(1.60  10 −19
C ) ( 200 N/C )
−31
9.11 10 kg
= −3.51 10 m/s
13 2
 Example 22.8:
An Accelerated Electron
(B) Assuming the electron enters the field at time t = 0,
find the time at which it leaves the field.
x f − xi
x f = xi + vx t  t =
vx

−0 0.100 m
t= =
vx 3.00  106 m/s
−8
= 3.33  10 s
 Example 22.8:
An Accelerated Electron
(C) Assuming the vertical
position of the electron as
it enters the field is yi = 0,
what is its vertical position
when it leaves the field?

1 2
y f = yi + v yi t + a y t
2
1
y f = 0 + 0 + ( −3.51 10 m/s )( 3.33  10 s )
13 2 −8 2

2
= −0.0195 m = −1.95 cm