PREPARED BY:

AZZAFEERAH MAHYUDDIN
(Madam Azza)
[Link] [Link] (Hons) Physics USM
017-4155459
J
G
B

1
0
6
0
3

(
E
N
G
I
N
E
E
R
I
N
G

S
C
I
E
N
C
E

I
I
)

1.1 INTRODUCTION
What is electrostatics?
Electrostatics is the study of electrical charges
in static condition.
It involves;
i. The influence of a charge to other
charges,
ii. The forces between the charges,
iii. The area of influence (electric field)
and energy produced and loss in
certain operations.

Simple model of the atom.
In the middle of each atom is a
"nucleus."
The nucleus contains two kinds of tiny
particles, called "protons" and
"neutrons".
Orbiting around the nucleus are even
smaller particles called "electrons".
Protons positive (+) charge.

Electrons negative (-) charge.

Neutrons no charge, (neutral).
1.2 CURRENT AND ELECTRON
MOVEMENT
The important characteristic of charge is that electric charge is always conserved.
Example:
Initially, when two objects (rod and silk) are charged by being rubbed
together, charge is not created in the process.
The objects become charged because negative charge is transferred from one
object to another.
When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, some electrons from rod are transferred
to the silk; leaving behind the same amount of positive charges.
LAW OF CHARGES : Like charges repel each other
Unlike charges attract each others
+ -
Repulsive force
Attractive force
+
-
- +
INSULATORS AND CONDUCTORS
Substance can be classified according to their ability to
conduct electric charges
Conductors : Electron in conductors can move freely between
atoms (metal, copper)
Insulator : Electron in insulators are bound to the atoms and
have very low chance to move (eg: rubber, glass, plastic)
Semiconductors : materials between conductors and insulator
in terms of their ability to conduct electric charges (eg:
Silicon, GaAs)

Figure shows the resistivity and the conductivity of conductor, semiconductor and
insulator.
1.3 coulombs law
There must be forces between the two charges. (Repulsive or
attractive force).
This law can be said as:
If there are two point charges or spherically distributed charges
q1 and q2 at a distance r apart there will be an attractive
force (unlike charges) or a repulsive force (like charges) on
each charge or on the sphere of charge
2
2 1
r
q q k
F =
Where F= force between two charges
r= separation between two charges
k= coulombs constant,



2 2 9
10 9

C Nm x
t c
o
k
4
1
=
2 1 2 12
10 85 . 8

= m N C x
o
c
= permeability of free space
q
1
q
2
r

r
q
1
q
2

F
21
F
12

r
q
1

q
2

F
21

F
12

The electric force is directed between the centers of the two point
charges.
Attractive force
between q
1
and q
2
.
Repulsive force
between q
1
and q
2
.
Example
1. Calculate the magnitude of force on charges 5 C and 2 C. Both
are 4 cm apart from each other.

2. The magnitude of force on each charge of two equal charges
separated 1 m apart is 1.8 x 1010 N. Compute the magnitude of
each charge.


Example:
What is the net force on the charge q
1
due to the other two
charges? q
1
= +1.2 C, q
2
= 0.60 C, and q
3
= +0.20 C.
The net force on q
1
is F
net
= F
21
+ F
31

F
31

F
21

u
The components of the net force are:
N 10 0 . 2 cos
3
21 31 , 21 , 31 , net

= + = + = u F F F F F
x x x
N 10 4 . 1 sin 0
3
21 , 21 , 31 , net

= + = + = u F F F F
y y y
Where from the figure
38 . 0
m 1.3
m 5 . 0
sin
92 . 0
m 1.3
m 2 . 1
cos
= =
= =
u
u
The magnitude of the net force is:
N 10 4 . 2
3 2
, net
2
, net net

= + =
y x
F F F
=
= =
35
70 . 0 tan
, net
, net
|
|
x
y
F
F
The direction of the net force is:
1.4 ELECTRIC FIELD
There is a force on each charge between two charges placed at
a distance apart.
This phenomenon could explain that;
there is an influence of one charge on another and
There is an area of influence around the charge
The influence is greater as the distance apart is smaller.
The area of influence of a charge is called electric field.
An electric field is said to exist in the region of space around a
charge.
An electric field is a vector quantity that has magnitude and
direction.

What is the difference between the electric field lines due
to positive and negative charge?
Electric field is radially
outward
Electric field is radially
inward
Direction of electric field around the charge Q can be
visualized by placing small positive charge into the field
and displaying the force vector acting on each.
+
+
+
+
-
+
+
+

Like charges (+ +) Opposite charges (+ -)
Electric field strength
Electric field strength, E at a
point is defined as the force
acting on a unit positive
charge at that point.
r
Q
1

Q
2

+ +
Derivation:

Force on test charge Q2 at a
distance r from a point charge
Q2 is



Electric field strength



Hence,
2
2 1
r
Q Q k
F =
2
2
2
2 1
2
1
r
kQ
Q r
Q kQ
Q
F
E = = =
2
1
r
Q k
E =
Unit: N/C
Example:
Calculate the magnitude and direction of electric field at a
point P in Figure below which is 30 cm to the right of a point
charge Q = -3.0 x 10
-6
C.
P
-
Q = -3.0 x 10
-6
C
P
-
Solution

Step 1:
Draw the direction of the electric field on P due to Q.
E
p
Step 2:
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field on P.
2
1
r
Q k
E =
( )
2
6 9
3 . 0
10 0 . 3 10 9


=
C N E
P
/ 10 0 . 3
5
=
Therefore,
Step 3:
Write the vector component.
P
E
p
Direction of E is to
the x direction
Final answer:

E
p
= 3.0 x 10
5
N/C, to the x axis (to the left)
or
E
p
= -3.0 x 10
5
i N/C