Module 1:

Electricity

This module will focus on electric charges & fields, electric flux, Gauss’ Law,
Coulomb’s Law, capacitors, dielectrics and the series & parallel circuits.
Lesson 1.1

Electric Charges
& Fields
 Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

• 1) Calculate the electrical forces between one or
more charged particles.
• 2) Calculate the force on a charged particle in an
electric field.
 Photo Source: https://tinyurl.com/46y3eda4
Photo Source: https://tinyurl.com/2p99mpkm

A static charge is formed when two surfaces touch each other and the electrons
move from one object to another. One object will have a positive charge and the other
a negative charge. Rubbing the items quickly will build up a large charge.
 Atoms, which make up all matter are made up
of charged particles called protons, electrons and
neutrons. Objects approximately contain equal
numbers of electrons and protons and are
considered neutral. When object have imbalance
between the number of electrons or protons, they
are considered electrically charged.
Electric Charge

What is charge?
• It is the basic property of matter carried by
some elementary particles.
• Humans cannot directly
+ - sense charge but
some animals can.
• We can observe charge indirectly via its
effects on matter
• Symbol: q or Q, unit: C (Coulomb)
 Objects that are electrically charged exert electric forces
on each other. Electrically charged objects have several
important characteristics:

• Any charged object can attract a neutral object.

• like charges repel one another

• unlike charges attract
• Charges are quantized (come in units of e= 1.6x10-19 C).

Elementary particles that make up atoms:

• Protons + charge +e = +1.6x10-19 C

• Neutrons uncharged

• Electrons - charge –e = –1.6x10-19 C

Helium atom
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balloons-and-static-electricity/latest/balloons-and-static-electricity_en.html
Law of conservation of charge:
• net amount of charge does not change in
any process

• electric charge can neither be created nor destroyed, it

can only be transferred from one system to another.
• In a closed system, the amount of charge remains the
same. The net amount of charge does not change in
any process.
Sample Problem 1.1
The figure shows two spheres that
initially have +4C and +8C of charge. After an
interaction (which could simply be that they
touch each other), the blue sphere has +10C
of charge, and the red sphere has an unknown
quantity of charge. Find the final charge on
the red sphere.
Solution:
qinitial = qfinal
qblue(i) + qred(i) = qblue(f) +qred(f)
qred(f)= qblue(i) + qred(i) - qblue(f)
qred(f)= 4C + 8C -10C
qred(f)= +2C
QUIZ # 1.1
Direction: Identify/Enumerate what is asked in the
following. Write your answer in a ¼ sheet of paper.

1) The Title of Lesson 1.1

2) Give one process of charging
3) It is the basic property of matter carried by
some elementary particles.
4) Is it true that like charges attract? Yes or No?
5) The SI Unit for charge
Coulomb’s Law

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb was a French

military engineer and physicist. He is best
known as the eponymous discoverer of what is
now called Coulomb's law, the description of
the electrostatic force of attraction and
repulsion, though he also did important work on
friction.

Coulomb's law states that the electrical force between two

charged objects is directly proportional to the product of the
quantity of charge on the objects and inversely proportional to
the square of the separation distance between the two objects.
Coulomb’s Law
The coulomb is actually defined in
terms of electric current (the flow of
electrons), which is measured in amperes
𝐶
1 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒 = 1𝐴 = 1
𝑠

charges are transferred by simple

interactions (i.e. rubbing), it is a negative
charge which is transferred.

𝑒 = 1.602177 × 10−19 𝐶
Coulomb’s Law
Force between two point charges q1 and q2:
• force is vector, directed along connecting line

• magnitude:
𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹12 =𝑘
𝑟2
r is the distance between the charges
2 2
9
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚 9
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚 1
𝑘 = 8.987551787 × 10 ≅ 9.00 × 10 =
𝐶2 𝐶2 4𝜋𝜀0
Coulomb’s Law

𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹12 =𝑘
𝑟2

Coulomb’s law can be written as,

1 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹12 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2

2 2
−12 𝐶 −12 𝐶
where 𝜀0 = 8.85419 × 10 𝑁⋅𝑚2
≅ 8.85 × 10 𝑁⋅𝑚2
Sample Problem 1.2
A hydrogen atom consists of a single proton and a single electron. The
proton has a charge of +e and the electron has −e. In the “ground state” of the
atom, the electron orbits the proton at most probable distance of
5.29𝑥10−11 𝑚. Calculate the electric force on the electron due to the proton.

Solution:
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞1 𝑞2
𝐹= =𝑘
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 𝑟2
2 −19 2
9
𝑁𝑚 1.60𝑥10 𝐶
𝐹 = (9.00𝑥10 )
𝐶2 5.29𝑥10−11 𝑚 2

Given: 𝑭 = 𝟖. 𝟐𝟑 𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝐍
𝑞1 = +ℯ = 1.60 𝑥10−19 𝐶
𝑞2 = −ℯ = 1.60 𝑥10−19 𝐶
𝑟 = 5.29 𝑥10−11 𝑚 The force is thus expressed as
𝑘 = 9.00 𝑥109 N𝑚2 /C 2 𝐹 = (8.23 𝑥10−8 𝑁)𝑟Ƹ
Sample Problem 1.3

A point charge of +3.00 × 10−6 C is 12.0 cm distant from a second

point charge of −1.50 × 10−6 C. Calculate the magnitude of the force on
each charge.
Solution:
1 𝑞1 𝑞2
Given: 𝐹=
𝑞 = +3.00𝑥10−6 𝐶 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2
1
𝑞2 = −1.50𝑥10−6 𝐶 1 (3.00𝑥10−6 𝐶)(1.50𝑥10−6 𝐶)
𝑟 = 12.0 𝑐𝑚 = 0.12 𝑚 𝐹=
𝐶2 0.12 𝑚 2
𝑘 = 9.00𝑥109 N𝑚2 /C 2 4𝜋(8.85 × 10−12 )
𝑁 ⋅ 𝑚2
9 2 2
(3.00𝑥10−6 𝐶)(1.50𝑥10−6 𝐶)
𝐹 = (9.0𝑥10 N𝑚 /C )
0.12 𝑚 2
𝑭 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟏 𝐍
 Coulomb’s Law is strictly
valid for point charges r12
only. It is a good
approximation for small +
uniformly charged objects.
-
If more than two charges are involved, the net force
is the vector sum of all forces (superposition). For
objects with complex shapes, you must add up all
the forces acting on each separate charge.

Superposition Principle:
Experiments show that when two charges exert forces
simultaneously on a third charge, the total force acting on that charge is the
vector sum of the forces that the two charges would exert individually.
When several point charges are present, the total force on a particular
charge is the sum of the individual forces computed from Coulomb’s Law,
Sample Problem 1.4
Three different, small charged
objects are placed as shown in the
figure. The charges 𝑞1 and 𝑞3 are
fixed in place; 𝑞2 is free to move.
Given 𝑞1 = 2ℯ, 𝑞2 = −3ℯ, and 𝑞3 =
− 5ℯ , and that 𝑑 = 2.0 𝑥 10−7 𝑚 ,
what is the net force on the middle
charge 𝑞2 ?
Given:
Formula: 𝑞1 = 2ℯ, 𝑞2 = −3ℯ, 𝑞3 = −5ℯ
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 ℯ = 1.60 𝑥10−19 𝐶
𝐹= 𝑑 = 2.0 𝑥 10−7 𝑚
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 1
Σ𝐹 = 𝐹21 + 𝐹23 = 9.00𝑥109 N𝑚2 /C2
4𝜋𝜀0
Continuation Prob. 1.4
1 𝑞2 𝑞3
𝐹23 = −
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2
1 (3ℯ)(5ℯ)
𝐹23 = −
4𝜋𝜀0 (2𝑑)2
𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹23
−19 −19
(4.80 𝑥10 𝐶)(8.00 𝑥10 𝐶)
𝐹𝑥 = −(9.00𝑥109 N𝑚2 /C 2 )
(4.00 𝑥10−7 𝑚)2
𝑭𝒙 = −𝟐. 𝟏𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟒 𝑵

1 𝑞2 𝑞1
𝐹21 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2
1 (3ℯ)(2ℯ)
𝐹21 =
4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑑)2
𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹21
9 2
(4.80 𝑥10−19 𝐶)(3.20 𝑥10−19 𝐶)
2
𝐹𝑦 = (9.00𝑥10 N𝑚 /C )
(2.00 𝑥10−7 𝑚)2
𝑭𝒚 = 𝟑. 𝟒𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟒 𝑵
 Continuation Prob. 1.4

𝜮𝑭 = 𝑭𝟐𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐𝟑
Apply Pythagorean theorem to solve for net force,

Σ𝐹 = 𝐹𝑥 2 + 𝐹𝑦 2
Solve for net force,

Σ𝐹 = 𝐹𝑥 2 + 𝐹𝑦 2
direction,
𝐹𝑦 Σ𝐹 = (−2.16𝑥10−14 𝑁)2 +(3.46𝑥10−14 𝑁)2
θ= 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝚺𝑭 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟖𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟒 𝑵
𝐹𝑥
3.46𝑥10−14 𝑁
θ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
2.16𝑥10−14 𝑁
𝛉 = 𝟓𝟖°
that is, 58° North of West or 58° above the x-axis.
Coulomb's Law:

1 q1 q 2 r12
F12 = 2 , + -
4πε0 r12
Q1 Q2

Charged particles produce forces over great distances.

How does a charged particle "know" another one is “there?”
Assignment # 1.1
Direction: Answer the following question showing clear
and systematic solution. Write your answer in a ½
sheet of paper.

1) A positive charge q1 = +q is located a distance d

along the y-axis from the origin. A second positive
charge q 2 = +q is located at the origin and a
negative charge q 3 = −2q is located on the x-axis a
distance 2d away from q1 . Calculate the net
electrostatic force on q1 due to the other two
charges.
Quiz #1.2
Direction: Answer the following question showing
clear and systematic solution. Write your answer in a
½ sheet of paper.

1)Teacher Anna was printing modules. Out of

curiosity, she measures the force between two ink
drops by measuring their acceleration and their
diameter. She finds that each member of a pair of
ink drops exerts a repulsive force of 𝐹 = 5.5 𝑚𝑁 on
its partner. If each ink drop carries a charge
𝑞𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 = −1 × 10−10 𝐶, how far apart are the ink
drops?
Coulomb's Law:

1 q1 q 2 r12
F12 = 2 , + -
4πε0 r12
Q1 Q2

Charged particles produce forces over great distances.

How does a charged particle "know" another one is “there?”
 The Electric Field

• a charged particle creates a

F12
“field” in all space.
+
• other charged particles sense the F13
field and experience a force in
response + F31
like -
• We define electric field E at a charges
repel
F21 unlike
charges
point as the electric force F0 attract

experienced by a test charge q 0

at the point, divided by the
charge q 0 . A charged particle modifies the
properties of the space around it.
 That is, the electric field at a certain point is 𝑭𝟎
equal to the electric force per unit charge 𝑬=
𝒒𝟎
experienced by a charge at that point.

In SI units, in which the unit of force is 1 N F0 𝐍

E = =
and the unit of charge is 1 C, the unit of electric q0 𝐂
field magnitude is 1 newton per coulomb.

The units of electric field can also be N V

E = =
expressed as volts/meter: C m

If the field E at a certain point is known,

rearranging the equation,
𝐅Ԧ = qE
This is the force exerted on a point charge by an electric field.
 The electric field can exist independent of whether there is
a charged particle around to “feel” it.

Figure 1. Direction of an Electric Field

Remember: the electric field direction is the direction a
+ charge would feel a force.

A + charge would be repelled by another + charge.

+

Therefore the direction of the electric field is away

from positive (and towards negative).

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys03/afieldint/default.htm
Gravitational Fields
m1 𝑚2
F𝐺 = G 2 , attractive
𝑟12

FG
g(r) = Units of g are
m actually N/kg!

g(r)is the local gravitational field. On earth, it is about 9.8

N/kg, directed towards the center of the earth.
Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
Coulomb's law
q1 q 2
F12 = k 2
r12

F0
E=
q0

treat q1 as source charge and q2 as test charge, divide by q2,

the electric field due to point charge q1 is

q1 q
|Eq1 | = k 2 or, generally
r12 E=k 2
r
If we define 𝑟Ƹ as a unit vector from the source
point to the field point…
source point

𝑟Ƹ + (We call the location of the charge

the source point, and we call the
point where we are determining the
field the field point)
field point

then the vector equation for the electric field of a point charge
becomes:
q
E = k 2 𝑟Ƹ
r
Sample Problem 1.5
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the
electron’s distance away from the proton in a hydrogen atom
(5.3x10-11 m).

+e -e EP
+ - 𝑘𝑞 𝑘 +𝑒
D
EP = =
𝑟2 d2

(9.00 × 109 N𝑚2 /C2 ) 1.60 × 10−19 𝐶

Given: =
5.3 × 10−11 𝑚 2
𝑒 = 1.60𝑥10−19 𝐶
𝑟 = 5.3 × 10−11 𝑚 𝑵
𝑘 = 9.00𝑥109 N𝑚2 /C2 EP = 𝟓. 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟏
𝑪
Sample Problem 1.6
A doorknob, which can be taken to be a spherical
metal conductor, acquires a static electricity charge
of 𝑞 = −1.5𝑛𝐶. What is the electric field 1.0 cm in
front of the doorknob? The diameter of the doorknob
is 5.0 cm.
Solution:
𝑘𝑞
𝐸=
𝑟2
(9.00 × 109 N𝑚2 /C 2 ) 1.50 × 10−9 𝐶
=
0.035 𝑚 2
Given:
𝑵
diameter = 5.0 cm; 𝑬 = 𝟏. 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒
radius = 2.5 cm +1.0 cm 𝑪
𝑟 = 3.5 𝑐𝑚 = 0.035 𝑚
𝑞 = −1.5 𝑛𝐶 = −1.5𝑥10−9 𝐶 The electric field at x= 3.5 cm is
𝑘 = 9.00𝑥109 N𝑚2 /C 2 𝑵
𝑬 = −𝟏. 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒 𝑪
ෝ
𝒙
Sample Problem 1.7
A point charge 𝑞 = −8.0𝑛𝐶 is located at
the origin. Find the electric field vector at the
field point 𝑥 = 1.2 𝑚, 𝑦 = −1.6 𝑚.

Solution
Solve for the distance between
point charge and field point,
Given: 𝑟= 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
𝑞 = −8.0 𝑛𝐶 = −8.0𝑥10−9 𝐶
N𝑚 2 𝑟= (1.2𝑚)2 +(−1.6𝑚)2
𝑘 = 9.00𝑥109 2
C 𝑟 = 2.0𝑚
field point 𝑥 = 1.2𝑚, 𝑦 = −1.6𝑚
Continuation Prob. 1.7
Solve for the unit vector,
𝑟Ԧ 𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦𝑗Ƹ
𝑟Ƹ = =
𝑟 𝑟
(1.2𝑚)𝑖Ƹ + (−1.6𝑚)𝑗Ƹ
𝑟Ƹ =
2.0 𝑚
𝑟Ƹ = 0.60𝑖Ƹ − 0.80𝑗Ƹ q
E = k 2 𝑟Ƹ
r
Solve for electric field vector,
1 𝑞
𝐸= 2 𝑟Ƹ
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟
−9
9 2 2 −8.0×10 𝐶
= 9.00 × 10 N𝑚 /C 2.0 𝑚 2
(0.60𝑖Ƹ − 0.80𝑗)Ƹ
𝑵 𝑵
𝑬 = −11 𝑖Ƹ + (14 )𝑗Ƹ
𝑪 𝑪
 𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐 𝑭𝟎 𝒒
𝑭𝟏𝟐 =𝒌 𝟐 𝑬= 𝐄=𝐤 𝟐
𝒓𝟏𝟐 𝒒𝟎 𝒓
Assignment # 1.2
Direction: Answer the question showing clear and systematic
solution. Write your answer in a ½ crosswise sheet of paper.
1) What are the magnitude and direction of the electric field at
the center of the square in the figure below if q = 1.0 × 10−8 C
and a = 5.0 cm?
-END OF LESSON-