1.

INTRODUCTION
TO ELECTRIC FIELD
(PART 1)
Electric Fields
• Review of gravitational fields
• Electric field vector
• Electric fields for various charge configurations
• Field strengths for point charges and uniform fields
• Work done by fields & change in potential energy
• Potential & equipotential surfaces
• Capacitors, capacitance, & voltage drops across capacitors
• Millikan oil drop experiment
• Excess Charge Distribution on a Conductor
 Gravitational Fields: Review
Recall that surrounding any object with mass, or collection of objects with mass, is a
gravitational field. Any mass placed in a gravitational field will experience a
gravitational force. We defined the field strength as the gravitational force per unit
mass on any “test mass” placed in the field: g = F / m. g is a vector that points in
the direction of the net gravitational force; its units are N / kg. F is the vector force
on the test mass, and m is the test mass, a scalar. g and F are always parallel. The
strength of the field is independent of the test mass. For example, near Earth’s
surface mg / m = g = 9.8 N / kg for any mass. Some fields are uniform (parallel,
equally spaced fields lines). Nonuniform fields are stronger where the field lines are
closer together.

uniform field

10 kg
nonuniform
field Earth
98 N
F
m
Earth’s surface
 Electric Fields: Intro
Surrounding any object with charge, or collection of objects with charge, is a electric
field. Any charge placed in an electric field will experience a electrical force. We
defined the field strength as the electric force per unit charge on any “test charge”
placed in the field: E = F / q. E is a vector that points, by definition, in the
direction of the net electric force on a positive charge; its units are N / C. F is the
vector force on the test charge, and q is the test charge, a scalar. E and F are only
parallel if the test charge is positive. Some fields are uniform (parallel, equally
spaced fields lines) such as the field on the left formed by a sheet of negative charge.
Nonuniform fields are stronger where the field lines are closer together, such as the
field on the right produced by a sphere of negative charge.

uniform field

+q nonuniform
field -
F
F
+
q
--------------
 Overview of Fields
Charge, like mass, is an intrinsic property of an object. Charges produce electric
fields that affect other charges; masses produce gravitational fields that affect other
masses. Gravitational fields lines always point toward an isolated mass. Unlike
mass, though, charges can be positive or negative. Electric field lines emanate
from positive charges and penetrate into negative charge.

We refer to the charge producing a field as a field charge. A group of field charges
can produce very nonuniform fields. To determine the strength of the field at a
particular point, we place a small, positive test charge in the field. We then
measure the electric force on it and divide by the test charge:
E = F / q.
For an isolated positive field charge, the field lines point away from the field
charge (since the force on a positive charge would be away from the field charge).
The opposite is true for an isolated negative field charge. No matter how complex
the field, the electric force on a test charge is always tangent to the field line at that
point.

The coming slides will reiterate these ideas and provide examples.
 Electric & Gravitational Fields Compared
Field Intrinsic
Force SI units
strength Property
Gravity: g = W / m N / kg
Electric
Force: E = FE / q N/C
Field strength is given by per unit mass or force per unit charge,
depending on the type of field. Field strength means the magnitude of a
field vector. Ex #1: If a +10 C charge is placed in an electric field and
experiences a 50 N force, the field strength at the location of the charge is
5 N/C. The electric field vector is given by: E = 5 N/C, where the
direction of this vector is parallel to the force vector (and the field lines).
Ex #2: If a -10 C charge experiences a 50 N force, E = 5 N/C in a
direction opposite the force vector (opposite the direction of the field
lines).
 Electric Field Example Problem
A sphere of mass 1.3 grams is charged via friction, and in the
process excess electrons are rubbed onto it, giving the sphere a
charge of - 4.8 μC. The sphere is then placed into an external
uniform electric field of 6 N/C directed to the right. The sphere is
released from rest. What is its displacement after 15 s? (Hints on
next slide.)
E

-
Sample Problem Hints E

1. Draw a vector as shown. Note that

FE = q E, by definition of E, and qE -
that FE is to the left (opposite E )
since the charge is negative.
mg
2. Instead of finding the net force
(which would work), compute the
acceleration due to each force
separately.

3. Find the displacement due to each force using the time given and
kinematics.
4. Add the displacement vectors to find the net displacement
vector.
 Drawing an E Field for a Point Charge
Let’s use the idea of a test charge to produce the E field for an isolated positive field
charge. We place small, positive test charges in the vicinity of the field and draw the
force vector on each. Note that the closer the test charge is to the field charge, the
greater the force, but all force vectors are directed radially outward from the field
charge. At any point near the field charge, the force vector points in the direction of
the electric field. Thus we have a field that looks like a sea urchin, with field lines
radiating outward from the field charge to infinity in all direction, not just in a plane.
The number of field lines drawn in arbitrary, but they should be evenly spaced around
the field charge. What if the field charge were negative?

+ +

Test charges and force vectors Isolated, positive point charge

surrounding a field charge and its electric field
 Single Positive Field Charge
This is a 2D picture
of the field lines that
surround a positive The nearer you
field charge that is get to the
either point-like or charge, the
spherically more uniform
symmetric. Not and stronger
shown are field lines the field.
going out of and into
Farther away
+
the page. Keep in
mind that the field the field
lines radiate strength gets
outwards because, weaker, as
by definition, an indicated by
electric field vector the field lines
points in the becoming
direction of the force more spread
on a positive test out.
charge.
 Single Negative Field Charge
The field surrounding an
isolated, negative point (or
spherically symmetric)
charge looks just like that of
an isolated positive charge
except the field lines are
directed toward the field
charge. This is because, by
definition, an electric field
vector points in the direction
of the force on a positive test
-
charge, which, in this case is
toward the field charge. As
before, the field is stronger
where the field lines are
closer together, and the force
vector on a test charge is
parallel to the field.
 Point Charges of Different Magnitudes
Let’s compare the fields on two separate isolated point charges, one with a
charge of +1 unit, the other with a charge of +2 units. It doesn’t matter how
many field lines we draw emanating from the +1 charge so long as we draw
twice as many line coming from the +2 charge. This means, at a given
distance, the strength of the E field for the +2 charge is twice that for the +1
charge.

+1 +2
 Equal but Opposite Field Charges
Pictured is the electric field produced by two equal but opposite
charges. Because the charges are of the same magnitude, the field is
symmetric. Note that all the lines that emanate from the positive
charge land on the negative charge. Also pictured is a small positive
charge placed in the field and the force vector on it at that position.
This is the vector sum of the forces exerted on the test charge by each
field charge. Note that the net force vector is tangent to the field line.
This is always the case. In fact, the field is defined by the direction of
net force vectors on test charges at
various places. The net force on a
negative test charge is tangent to the
field as well, but it points in the +
opposite direction of the field.
(Continued on next slide.) -
Link #1 Link #2 Link #3
 Equal but Opposite Field Charges (cont.)
D
C

- +
A

Here is another view of the field. Since the net force on a charge can only be
in one direction, field lines never intersect. Draw the electric force on a
positive charge at A, the electric field vector and B, and the electric force on a
negative charge at C. The net force on a + charge at D charge is directly to the
left. Show why this is the case by drawing force vectors from each field
charge and then summing these vectors.
 Multiple Charges: How to Determine the Field
To determine the field surrounding two field charges, Q 1 and Q2, we pick
some points in the vicinity and place test charges there (red dots). Q 1
exerts a force on each, directly away from itself (blue vectors), as does
Q2 (purple vectors). The resultant vectors (black) show the direction of
the net electric force and define the direction of the electric field.

The net force vector on each test

charge is tangent to the E field
there. If we place little a tangent
segment parallel with the net
force at each test charge and do Q2
this at many different points, we Q1 + +
will build a picture of the electric
field. The same procedure can be
used regardless of the number of
field charges.
 Two Identical Charges

+ +

With two identical field charges, the field is symmetric but all field
lines go to infinity (if the charges are positive) or come from infinity (if
the charges are negative). As with any field the net force on a test
charge is tangent to the field. Here, each field charge repels a positive
test charge. The forces are shown as well as the resultant vectors, which
are tangent to the field lines.
 Coulomb’s Law Review
The force that two point charges, Q and q, separated by a distance r,
exert on one another is given by:

KQq where K = 9  109 Nm2/C2 (constant).

F= 2
r
This formula only applies to point charges or spherically
symmetric charges.

Suppose that the force two point charges are exerting on one
another is F. What is the force when one charge is tripled, the
other is doubled, and the distance is cut in half ?

Answer: 24 F
Field Strengths: Point Charge; Point Mass
Suppose a test charge q is placed in the electric field produced by a
point-like field charge Q. From the definition of electric field and
Coulomb’s law
F K Q q / r2 KQ
E= = = 2
q q r
Note that the field strength is independent of the charge placed in it.
Suppose a test mass m is placed in the gravitational field produced
by a point-like field mass M. From the definition of gravitational
field and Newton’s law of universal gravitation

F G M m / r2 GM
g= = = 2
m m r
Again, the field strength is independent of the mass place in it.
 Uniform Field
Just as near Earth’s surface the gravitational field is approximately
uniform, the electric field near the surface of a charged sphere is
approximately uniform. A common way to produce a uniform E field is
with a parallel plate capacitor: two flat, metal, parallel plates, one
negative, one positive. Aside from some fringing on the edges, the field
is nearly uniform inside. This means everywhere inside the capacitor the
field has about the same magnitude and direction. Two positive test
charges are depicted along with force vectors.

- - - - - - - -

+ + + + + + + +
Two + Field Charges of Different Magnitude
• More field lines emanate from the greater charge; none of the
field lines cross and they all go to infinity.
• The field lines of the greater charge looks more like that of an
isolated charge, since it dominates the smaller charge.
• If you “zoomed out” on this picture, i.e., if you looked at the
field from a great distance, it would look like that of an
isolated point charge due to one combined charge.

Although in this pic the

greater charge is depicted as
+ + physically bigger, this need
not be the case.
 Opposite Signs, Unequal Charges
The positive charge has a greater magnitude than the negative charge.
Explain why the field is as shown. (Answer on next slide.)

+ -
 Opposite Signs, Unequal Charges (cont.)

+ -

More field lines come from the positive charge than land on the negative.
Those that don’t land on the negative charge go to infinity. As always, net
force on a test charge is the vector sum of the two forces and it’s tangent to the
field. Since the positive charge has greater magnitude, it dominates the
negative charge, forcing the “turning points” of the point to be closer to the
negative charge. If you were to “zoom out” (observe the field from a distance)
it would look like that of an isolated, positive point with a charge equal to the
net charge of the system.
Summary of Fields due to Unequal Charges

You should be able to explain each case in some detail.

 Review of Induction
Valence electrons of a conductor
are mobile. Thus they can
respond to an electric force from +
a charged object. This is called
charging by induction. Note: not
all of the valence electrons will
move from the bottom to the top.
The greater the positive charge
brought near it, and the nearer it + - + - + - +- +
is brought, the more electrons that
will migrate toward it. (See
animation on next slide.)
+ - + - + - +-+
conductor
Review of Induction (cont.)

Because of the
displaced electrons, a
+ charge separation is
induced in the
conductor.

+ - + - + - + -+ -
- - - -
+ + + + + -
Positive Charge Near a Neutral Conductor
• The + charge induces a
charge separation on the
neutral conductor.
• Since it is neutral, as many
+ lines land on the conductor as

leave it.
• The number of field lines that

- go off to infinity is the same

+ as if the + charge were
isolated.
• Viewed from afar, the field
would look like that of an
 Overview of Field Types
For the following scenarios, you should be able to draw the
associated electric fields correctly:

1. A uniform field
2. An isolated + point charge
3. An isolated – charge
4. Two identical + point charges
5. Two identical – point charges
6. Point charge (either sign) near neutral conductor
7. Unequal point charges of the same sign
8. Unequal point charges of the opposite sign

Note that a field drawn without a direction indicated (without arrows)

is incorrect. You should be able to draw vector forces on positive or
negative charges placed in any field. Also, for complex fields you
should be able to describe them as the appear from a distance.
 Work done by Fields & Applied Forces
To lift an object of mass m a height h in a uniform gravitational field
g without acceleration, you must apply a force m g. The work you do
is + m g h, while the work done by the field is - m g h. When you lower
the object, you do negative work and the field does positive work.
Near the surface of a negatively charged object, the electric field is
nearly uniform. To lift without acceleration a positive charge q in a
downward field E requires a force q E. You do positive work in lifting
the charge, and the field does negative work. The signs reverse when
you lower the charge.

m g E +q

mg qE

Earth’s surface Negatively charged surface

 Fields: Work & Potential Energy
The work your applied force does on the mass or on the charge can go into
kinetic energy, waste heat, or potential energy. If there is no friction and no
acceleration, then the work you do goes into a change of potential energy:
U = m g h for a mass in a gravitational field and U = q E h for a
charge in a uniform electric field. The sign of h determines the sign of
U. (If a charged object is moved in a vicinity where both types of fields
are present, we’d have to use both formulae.) Whether or not there is
friction or acceleration, it is always the case that the work done by the field
is the opposite of the change in potential energy: Wfield = - U.

m g E +q

mg qE

Earth’s surface Negatively charged surface

 Work-Energy Example
Here the E field is to the right and approximately uniform. The applied
force is FA to the left, as is the displacement.
The work done by FA is + FA d.
The work done by the field is WF = - q E d.
The change in electric potential energy is U = - WF = + q E d.
Since FA > q E, the applied force does more positive work than the field
does negative work. The difference goes into kinetic energy and heat.
The work done by friction is Wfric < 0. So, Wnet = FA d - q E d - |Wfric|
= K by the work-energy theorem.
+ d -
+ -
+ FA qE -
+ + -
q
+ -
 Work-Energy Practice
For each situation a charge is displaced by some applied force while
in a uniform electric field. Determine the sign of: the work done by
the applied force; the work done by the field; and U.

1. q is positive and displaced to the right.

2. q is negative and displaced to the right.
3. q is positive and displaced to the left.
4. q is negative and displaced to the left. + -
+ -
+ q -
+ -
+ -