5.

1 Ls 1: Coulomb’s law
Starter:

Today’s lesson: what is charge?

● Charge
● Electric field
● Coulomb’s law
● Identifying two forms of charge and the direction
of the forces between them
● Solving problems involving electric fields and
Coulomb’s law
Homework:
•
Revise for test

Big Question
Electrical theory demonstrates the scientific thought involved in the development of a microscopic model
(behaviour of charge carriers) from macroscopic observation. The historical development and refinement of
these scientific ideas when the microscopic properties were unknown and unobservable is testament to the
deep thinking shown by the scientists of the time.
• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Previous knowledge!
● Key words
What do you ● Units
know about ● Equations
electricity and ● Diagrams
fields already? ● Definitions
● Key facts/information?
• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Electric force
If we rub certain materials we can get them to stick together (attract)
such as jumpers on balloons and on the walls.

If you rub the rod and lift over the paper it jumps up - there must be
an unbalanced force acting - this is the ELECTRIC FORCE

Unlike other forces such as gravity this force is not always attractive -
sometimes it is repulsive.

This must mean that the property which causes this force must be in
two types.

This is charge - positive charge - negative charge

Charge is the name of the property of matter which causes electric

force.
• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Electric charge
Conductors; have many free electrons

Insulators; have very few free electrons

• Identify two forms of charge an the direction of force between them

Electric charge
• We have two types of charge: negative and
positive

• Like charges repel, opposite charges attract

I = ∆Q
• Electrons are a FUNDAMENTAL particle that
carry negative charge Ơ
• We now define this charge as being 1.60x10-19 C

• Charge is conserved! This means that the

total/net charge of an isolated system remains
constant.

• Charge is a scalar: has no direction

• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Coulomb’s law
Charles Augustin de Coulomb studied the repulsion and
attraction forces of charged particles.

In 1785 he determined that the magnitude of the electric force

between two point charges is directly proportional to the
product of the charges and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.
He did this using a
F α q 1 q2 Torsion balance.

F α 1/r2
extra information on the discovery and how he did it
• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Coulomb’s law
• F α q 1 q2
• F α 1/r2
To get the equation we have to put in a constant of
proportionality k

K= 1
4πε0
Where ε0 is the permittivity of free space
• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Coulomb’s law - quick check

• Coulomb’s law is an inverse square
law: what does this mean to the size
of the force if we double the distance
between? If we triple the distance?

• What do we mean by permittivity?

• What are the units for each part?

• State coulomb's law
• Recap what is meant by inverse square law
• Describe what is meant by permittivity

Coulomb’s law - quick check

• Double the distance: quarter the force

• Triple the distance: 1/9 of the force

• Permittivity of a substance is the measure of

• F: force: N
how easily an electric field can be set up in
• K: coulomb constant :
it. The higher the permittivity the less the Nm2C-2
electric field. • q: charge: C
• r: distance between two
charges: m

Have a got at the 5 Coulomb's law questions (MS at the end)

Nice recap
video
 5.1 Ls 2: electric fields
Starter:
Today’s lesson:
● Charge
● Electric field
● Coulomb’s law
● Identifying two forms of charge and
the direction of the forces between
them
● Solving problems involving electric
fields and Coulomb’s law Homework:
•

Big Question
Electrical theory demonstrates the scientific thought involved in the development of a microscopic model
(behaviour of charge carriers) from macroscopic observation. The historical development and refinement of
these scientific ideas when the microscopic properties were unknown and unobservable is testament to the
deep thinking shown by the scientists of the time.
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric field
An area or region where a charge feels a force is called
an electric field.

The electric field strength at any point in space is defined

as the force per unit charge on a small positive test
charge at that point.

E = F/q (in N.C-1)

• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric field
E = F/q (in N.C-1)

E=kQ
r2

where K = 1 (given in the data booklet)

4πε0
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric field
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric field
• This means the force on a charge q is given by

• F = Eq

• If the charge is a proton or electron

• F = Ee where e = 1.6 x 10-19 C

• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric field
1) They move away from the
positive and towards the
negative (this is because they
show the direction of force felt by
a small positive test charge)
2) do not cross the lines
3) use thin straight lines for your
drawings
4) the number of lines represent
the amount of charge (more watch for recap
charge more lines)
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

if we put a small positive test charge

in what direction would to force be
+ acting?
charge
+
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

what if we moved it closer?

+
charge
+
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

the force is greater so the field line is

longer.

+
charge +
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

what is the charged particle was

negative?
-
charge +
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

what is the charged particle was

negative?
-
charge +
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

A3 paper Task
draw the electric field lines for:

● a negative charge
● a positive charge
● 2 equal positive charges next to each other
● 2 equal negative charges next to each other
● a positve and negative charges next to each other
● 2 unequal positive charges next to each other
● 2 unequal negative charges next to each other
● a negative with greater charge than a positive next to each other
● A positive with greater charge than a negative next to each other
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric field is a vector, and any calculations

regarding fields (especially involving adding the
fields from more than one charge) must use vector
addition.

Field due to q1
Field due to q2

Resultant field

q1 q2
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams
Watch this with semolina seeds on castor oil - gather around the EHT - do not touch this it’s a
kV supply
 if you are more mathematical conceptually you can see the fields are built up as a
resultant form the two vectors it’s nice to see it like this but you won't have to draw
in all the vector lines as such
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

What if the charges were unequal?

2nC -6nC

There would be more field lines around the negative charge,

• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

What if the charges were unequal?

2nC -6nC

There would be more field lines around the negative charge,

• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Inside the sphere the electric field is =

0 this is because the charges within
E=0 the conductor are assumed to be in
inside the an equilibrium state (they are equally
sphere repelling each other) so the net force
is 0.
F=Eq so E is also 0

The electric field lines either begin on

end on a charge so in this case the
outer surface of the conductor.
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Have a go at the quick check 8 MCQ’s ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM

Nice recap
video
 5.1 Ls 3: electric fields and potential
Starter:
Today’s lesson:
● Charge
● Electric field
● Coulomb’s law
● Identifying two forms of charge and
the direction of the forces between
them
● Solving problems involving electric
fields and Coulomb’s law Homework:
•

Big Question
Electrical theory demonstrates the scientific thought involved in the development of a microscopic model (behaviour of charge
carriers) from macroscopic observation. The historical development and refinement of these scientific ideas when the
microscopic properties were unknown and unobservable is testament to the deep thinking shown by the scientists of the time.
•• Explain
Explainwhat
whatis ismeant
meantby an
byelectric field. field.
an electric
•• Draw electric field diagrams

IN TOPIC
10 as V
d Uniform field E = V/d ∆V/∆r

“Edge effects”
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

The electric field strength is

uniform between, again we
can imagine if we had a
small positive test charge it
would go towards the
negative plate so we have
the field lines pointing this
way.
We can derive an equation for this using the distance between the plates.
Work done = F. d

F in this case is the electric force F = Eq so Work done = Eq.d

since we know potential difference V = W/q

Work done = V. q = Eq. d cancel the q to get → V = E.d
so E = V/d

so we know E = V/d and also F/q

• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

• E = V/d
and E = F/q

So V/d = F/q

you may be expected to use

this in exam questions
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric Field Hockey Game

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/electric-hockey (this is the phet one you may need to go to

security to allow it.

http://www.electricfieldhockey.com/tour - if it really doesnt work

• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Potential

if you think of it with gravity it’s easy enough to think of potential.

When gravity does work upon an object to move it from a high to a low location, the object's total amount of mechanical energy is
conserved.

During the course of the falling motion, there was a loss of potential energy (and a gain of kinetic energy)

Gravity does work upon an object to move it in the direction of the gravitational field, then the object loses potential energy.

In the other direction, energy would be required to move a massive object against its gravitational field. A stationary object would not
naturally move against the field and gain potential energy.
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Electric Potential

With electric potential it is the same concept. Where is work having to be done?

If we look at A) to move the positive test charge to B - it requires work → increases the potential

B) move the positive test charge to B - does not require work (it follows the electric field) → decreases the potential

C) to move the positive test charge to B - does not require work (it follows the E field) → decreases the potential

D) to move the positive test charge to A --- going to require work → increases the potential
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Definition for Electric potential: the work required per unit

charge; to bring a small positive charge / positive test charge /
positive point charge from infinity to the point;
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

Dielectrics are materials that don’t allow current to

flow (reduce the current). They are more often called
insulators because they are the exact opposite of
conductors.

The presence of a dielectric increases the capacitance

because it actually decreases the electric field inside
the capacitor by a factor of the dielectric constant. ( you
will learn about capacitance in topic 11)

When all of the atoms in a dielectric polarize, they end

up creating a field that points in the opposite
direction to the applied field, resulting in a smaller field
electric field

more information:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12th-physics-india/in-in-electrostatic-potential-and-capacitance/in-in-circuits-with-capacitors/a/diele
ctric-article
 The Physics of lightning
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Les
son-4/Lightning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM_sN_YHNow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0gNl5f4BU Your turn!

● Why is lightning produced?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCo-HO0SuHc&dis
● Where would the electric fields point?
able_polymer=true ● How can you link this to electric potential?
● Why do we get lots of lightning in Singapore?
● What’s the dangers of being struck by lightning
• Explain what is meant by an electric field.
• Draw electric field diagrams

tasks for today:

● Summary sheet on 5.1
● booklet for 5.1
● summary questions on 5.1

kahoot
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/5d0f5138-6f3b-4cd3-808c-49f42398
c370