College Physics 2

Electric Field
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 College Physics 2

Electric Field
Principles
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 OBJECTIVE

▪ State general properties of electric field.

Electric Field
Electric field is defined as the area where electrical
force can be experienced.

A charged body creates an electric field in the space

around it.
Electric Field
Suppose we have two charges A and B. B has a charge q0 and
experiences a force F0 due to A. A, on the other hand, also
experiences a force F0 in the opposite direction.

Figure 1. a) A charged body creates an electric field in the space around it. . From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics With Modern
Physics (pp 699) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016). England: Pearson.
Electric Field

Figure 1. b) A charged body creates an electric field in the space around it. . From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics With Modern Physics (pp 699) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016). England: Pearson.

Charge A modifies the properties of space around it.

Electric Field

Figure 1. c) A charged body creates an electric field in the space around it. . From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics With Modern
Physics (pp 699) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016). England: Pearson.
Electric Field
• It’s actually the electric field that exerts the force on the
charge.
• The charged particles DO NOT require the presence of
another particle to produce an electric field. They
produce the electric field by themselves.

F0
P
It is actually the electric field that
exerts a force on the particles.
Figure 1. c) A charged body creates an electric field in the space around it. . From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics With Modern
Physics (pp 699) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016). England: Pearson
Electric Field
The particles are able to create an electric field as a result
of the charge they carry. This somehow modifies the
properties of the space around them.

Figure 2. Electric Field Lines. Retrieved from https://brilliant.org/wiki/electric-field-lines/

Electric Field
Electric field is In equation:
defined as the force 𝐹റ
𝑬=
per unit charge 𝑞
experienced by a where:
stationary point E – electric field in N/C
F – force in N
charge in a given
q – is the charge in C
location in a field.
Electric Field
The strength of an electric field E
at any point may be defined as the
electric force F exerted per unit
positive electric charge q at that
point, or simply E = F/q.
Where
Using Coulomb’s Law, the E = electric field (N/C)
F = electric force (N)
magnitude of the electric field at
q = charge (C)
any given point around a charge r = distance between charges (m)
can be determined.
Sample Problem
1. The positive test charge in the figure shown has
a magnitude of 3.0x10-8C and experiences a
force of 6.0x10-8N.

Find the force per coulomb that the test charge

experiences.

Predict the force that a charge of +12x10-8C would

experience if it replaced the test charge.
Solution :

(a) F 6.0  10 −8 N
= −8
= 2 .0 N C
qo 3.0  10 C

Figure 3. Electric Field. Retrieved from http://physicsskills.pbworks.com/f/E%2BForces%2Band%2BE%2BFields.pdf

(b) ( )
F = (2.0 N C ) 12.0 10 −8 C = 24 10 −8 N
 REFERENCES
Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Physics for Scientists and
Engineers with Modern Physics Tenth Edition. Australia: Cengage
Learning.

Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2016). Sear's & Zemansky's University

Physics With Modern Physics. England: Pearson.

https://brilliant.org/wiki/electric-field-lines/

http://physicsskills.pbworks.com/f/E%2BForces%2Band%2BE%2BFi
elds.pdf
 College Physics 2

Electric Field Lines

and Electric Dipole
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 OBJECTIVE

▪ Interpret electric field using electric field lines

 DIRECTION AND STRENGTH OF ELECTRIC FIELD

The electric field points

away from a positive
charge and toward a
negative charge and the
electric field
strength/magnitude
decreases with distance.
Figure 1. Equivalent representations of the electric field Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-
electric-field-lines-multiple-charges/
Electric Field Lines
Michael Faraday (1791-1867) first introduced the concept of field lines. He
called them “lines of force” but the term “field lines” is preferable.

Figure 2. Electric field lines

for three different charge
distributions. From. Sear's &
Zemansky's University Physics
With Modern Physics (pp 699)
by Young, H. D., Freedman, R.
A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016).
England: Pearson.

Electric field lines for three different charge distributions. In general the magnitude of 𝐸 is
different at different points along a given field.
Electric Field Lines
An electric field line is an imaginary line or
curve drawn through a region of empty space so
that its tangent at any point is in the direction of
the electric field vector at that point.
Electric Field Lines
The combination of 2 equal charges with
opposite signs is called electric dipole.

The electric field lines are curved and are

directed from the positive charge to the negative
charge.

The direction of the electric field at any point is

tangent to the field of line at any point (as shown Figure 3. Electric Field Lines due to two equal charges of opposite signs.Retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-electric-field-lines-multiple-charges/

by the arrow at arbitrary point P)

The electric field lines due to two EQUAL
charges of OPPOSITE signs, a combination
known as ELECTRIC DIPOLE.
Electric Field Lines

Electric field lines for 2 EQUAL POSITIVE charges Electric field lines for 2 EQUAL NEGATIVE charges
Figure 4. Electric Field Lines for 2 Equal Positive (Negative) charges. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-electric-field-lines-multiple-charges/
 Properties of Electric Field Lines
1. Electric field lines indicate the direction of the electric field; the field points
in the direction tangent to the field line at any point

2. The lines are drawn so that the magnitude of the electric field E is
proportional to the number of lines crossing unit area perpendicular to the
lines. The closer together the lines, the stronger the field.

3. Electric field lines start on positive charges and end on negative charges;
and the number starting or ending is proportional to the magnitude of the
charge.

Note: Field lines do not cross because it would not make sense for the electric field to have 2 directions at the
same point.
Electric Field Lines
The number of lines leaving a
positive charge or entering a
negative charge is proportional
to the magnitude of the charge.

Figure 5. Electric Field Lines leaving a positive charge or entering a negative charge.. Retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-electric-field-lines-multiple-charges/
Conceptual Sample
There are three things wrong with part (a)
of the drawing. What are they?

Answer:
1) Field lines can never cross.
2) The number of electric field lines that
end on the negative charges.
3) Spacing of electric field lines.

Figure 6. Conceptual Sample . Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-electric-

field-lines-multiple-charges/
REFERENCES

Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Physics for Scientists and

Engineers with Modern Physics Tenth Edition. Australia:
Cengage Learning.

Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2016). Sear's & Zemansky's

University Physics With Modern Physics. England: Pearson.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-
electric-field-lines-multiple-charges/
 College Physics 2

Motion of Point Charges in

Electric Field
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 OBJECTIVES

▪ Describe the motion of charges in electric field

▪ Solve problems involving discrete and continuous charge distribution.
MOTION OF A CHARGE IN ELECTRIC FIELD

An electron moves in a uniform electric field

MOTION OF A CHARGE IN ELECTRIC FIELD
A positive charge moves in a uniform electric
field
SAMPLE PROBLEM
A small object of mass 3.80 g and charge −18 𝜇C is suspended motionless above the
ground when immersed in a uniform electric field perpendicular to the ground. What
are the magnitude and direction of the electric field?
ELECTRIC FIELD OF A POINT CHARGE
MAGNITUDE

If we place a small test charge q0 at the field point P, at a distance r from the source point, the
magnitude is given by Coulomb’s Law:
Where:
1 𝑞𝑞𝑜 1 E – Electric Field in (N/C)
k – Coulomb constant
𝐹=
4πƐ𝑜 𝑟 2 𝑞𝑜 k ≈ 9.0 x 109 Nm2/C2
q – Charge in Coulomb (C)
r – distance from the charge to point P in
1 𝑞 𝑞 meters (m)
𝐸= = 𝑘 F – Electrical Force in newton (N)

4πƐ𝑜 𝑟 2 𝑟2 q0 – test charge in Coulomb (C)

ELECTRIC FIELD OF A POINT CHARGE
DIRECTION

(a) If q is positive, the force on the test charge is directed away from q.

(b) For the positive source charge, the electric field at P points radially outward from q.

Figure 1. a) Force on a Test Charge. b) Electric Field of a Test Charge From. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics(pp
700) by Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Australia: Cengage Learning.
ELECTRIC FIELD OF A POINT CHARGE
DIRECTION
(c) If q is negative, the force on the test charge is directed towards q.

(d) For the negative source charge, the electric field at P points radially inward from q.

Figure 2. c) Force on a Test Charge. d) Electric Field of a Test Charge From. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics(pp
700) by Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Australia: Cengage Learning.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. What is the magnitude of the electric field at a point 2.0 m from a point charge
q = 4.0 nC?

SOLUTION

𝑞
𝐸=𝑘
𝑟2
4𝑥10−9 𝐶
= 9.0𝑥109 𝑁𝑚2 ൗ𝐶 2 2 = 9.0𝑁/𝐶
2𝑚
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. What is the magnitude of a point charge that would create an electric field of 5N/C at
points 150 cm away?
SOLUTION

𝑞
𝐸=𝑘
𝑟2

𝐸𝑟 2
q=
𝑘

q = 1.25 x 10−9 C
ELECTRIC FIELD OF POINT CHARGES
If many charges are present in a given region, each charge contributes to the electric field at a
known point. The Net electric field is the vector sum of all the fields of the charges that is,

𝐸𝑇 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2 + ⋯ + 𝐸𝑛
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. Two charges of -5.00 nC and -3.00 nC are 1.5 m apart. Compute for the electric field halfway
between them.
SOLUTION
Let E1 be the magnitude of electric field due to
q1 = -5.00nC
E2 be the magnitude of electric field due
to q2=-3.00nC
𝑞1
𝐸1 = 𝑘 2
𝑟1
−9
9 2 Τ 2 −5𝑥10 𝐶
𝐸1 = 9.0𝑥10 𝑁𝑚 𝐶 = 80𝑁/𝐶, left
0.75𝑚2
𝑞2
𝐸2 = 𝑘 2
𝑟2
9 2 2 −3𝑥10−9 𝐶
𝐸2 = 9.0𝑥10 𝑁𝑚 Τ𝐶 = 48𝑁/𝐶, right
0.75𝑚2
𝑁 𝑁
𝐸 = −80 + 48 = −32 𝑁/𝐶
𝐶 𝐶
REFERENCES

Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Physics for Scientists and

Engineers with Modern Physics Tenth Edition. Australia:
Cengage Learning.

Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2016). Sear's & Zemansky's

University Physics With Modern Physics. England: Pearson.