GEN PHYSICS 2 – WEEK 1

ELECTRIC CHARGE, COULOMB’S LAW,

ELECTRIC FIELDS, AND ELECTRIC FLUX
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1. Describe using a diagram charging by rubbing and charging by
induction.
2. Explain the role of electron transfer in electrostatic charging by
rubbing.
3. Describe experiments to show electrostatic charging by
induction.
4. State that there are positive and negative charges, and that
charge
is measured in coulombs.
5. Predict charge distributions, and the resulting attraction or
repulsion,
ELECTRIC CHARGE
AND
STATIC ELECTRICITY
ELECTRIC CHARGE

All matter is
made up of
atoms, which
contains:

electrons (e-) – protons (p+) – neutrons (n0) –

negative charge; positive charge; neutral charge.
and
➢ Objects normally contain equal numbers of
electrons and protons are called neutral.

➢ An object with more electrons is said to carry

a negative charge.

➢ An object with more protons is said to carry

a positive charge.
When an object has an imbalance in
the number of electrons and protons, it
is electrically charged.

The charges of electrons and

protons are identical in
magnitude but opposite in sign.
The magnitude of this basic charge is:

|𝒒𝒆| = 𝟏. 𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟎 −𝟏𝟗 𝐶

q = is commonly used for charge

e = indicates the charge of a single electron
(or proton).
C = The SI unit of charge is the Coulomb
INTRODUCTION
The image of American politician
and scientist Benjamin Franklin
(1706– 1790) flying a kite in a
thunderstorm is familiar to every
schoolchild. In this experiment,
Franklin demonstrated a
connection between lightning and
static electricity.
STATIC ELECTRICITY
Static electricity is defined as an
electrical charge caused by an
imbalance of electrons on the
surface of a material.
MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN BE EXPLORED
BY RUBBING THINGS TOGETHER.
VAN DE
GRAAFF
GENERATOR
1. hollow metal sphere
2. upper electrode
3. upper roller (for example an acrylic glass)
4. side of the belt with positive charges
5. opposite side of belt, with negative
charges
6. lower roller (metal)
7. lower electrode (ground)
8. spherical device with negative charges
9. spark produced by the difference of
potentials
CONDUCTORS
AND
INSULATORS
CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS
CONDUCTORS
Conductors are materials that
permit electrons to flow
freely from particle to
particle. An object made of
a conducting material will
permit charge to be
transferred across the entire
surface of the object.
Example of conductors are:

Metals, Aqueous solutions of salts and Human body

INSULATORS
are materials that impede the
free flow of electrons from
atom to atom and molecule to
molecule. If charge is
transferred to an insulator at a
given location, the excess
charge will remain at the initial
location of charging.
Example of insulators are:

Paper, Glass, Plastics, Rubber and Dry air.

 CHARGING BY
CONDUCTION
• Conduction occurs on a
neutral object when a
charged object is in
contact with it. During
conduction, the same
charge is created in a
neutral object
 CHARGING BY
You can induce a charge in a INDUCTION
neutral object by moving a
charged object close to it.
Induction creates a temporary
and opposite charge in that
other object with no contact. This
is considered temporary because
no electrons are transferred, and
neutrality returns when the close
charged object is removed.
COULOMB’S LAW

Formulated by the 18th-century

French physicist Charles-Augustin
de Coulomb (1736–1806).
Coulomb’s law calculates the
magnitude of the force F
between two point charges, q1
and q2, separated by distance r.
F = force between two point charges
q1 = point charge 1
q2 = point charge 2
r = distance
k = Coulomb constant
TRY!

Answer: 0.049 m or 0.05 m

2.) Two like and equal charges are at a distance
of r=5cm and exert a force of F=9×10−𝟑 on each
other.

(a) Find the magnitude of each charge?

(b) What is the direction of the electrostatic force
between them?

Answer:
(a)5𝑋10−8 𝐶
(b)Since q1 and q2 have the same signs so the electric force between them
is repulsive.
ACTIVITY 1&2
Based on the figure of electric charges below,

1.Objects A and D are negatively charged (-),

object A attract object B and repels object C,
object D repels E. Determine type of electric
charge of object B, C, and E.

A. Positive, Positive, Negative

B. Negative, Negative, Positive
C. Positive, Negative, Negative
D. Positive, Negative, Positive
2. Plastic rod rubbed with wool, the correct explanation
is...

A. Electrons in the wool move to plastic, plastic

negatively charged
B. Electrons in the plastic move to wool, wool negatively
charged
C. Electrons in the wool move to plastic exchanging with
protons, wool negatively charged
D. Electrons in the plastic move to wool and exchange
with protons, plastics positively charged
Identify the following objects as being either
a. Positive b. negative c. neutral

3. An object possesses more protons than

electrons.
4. An object possesses more neutrons than
electrons.
5. A formerly neutral object that just lost
some electrons.
6. A formerly neutral object that just gained
some electrons.
7. An object which attracts a negatively-charged
balloon.
8. An object which attracts neutral paper bits
and attracts a negatively-charged balloon.
9. An object which attracts neutral paper bits
and repels a negatively-charged balloon.
10. An object which attracts a negatively-
charged balloon and attracts a positively-
charged balloon.

11. An object which attracts a charged balloon

(balloon A) which is attracted to a negatively-
charged balloon (balloon B).

12. An object which attracts a balloon (balloon

C) which is repelled by a negatively-charged
balloon (balloon D).
13. An object which repels a balloon (balloon E)
which is repelled by a positively-charged
balloon (balloon F).

14. An object around which the electric field

vector is directed inwards.

15. An object around which the electric field

vector is directed outwards.
16-20.

Two equal charges of magnitude

−7
1.1𝑥10 C experience an electrostatic
−4
force of 4.2𝑥10 𝑁. How far apart
are the centers of the two charges?
GEN PHYSICS 2 – WEEK2
ELECTRIC CHARGE, COULOMB’S LAW,
ELECTRIC FIELDS, AND ELECTRIC FLUX
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are the three subatomic particles of an atom?
2. An object with more electrons is said to carry a ___ charge.
3. When an object has an imbalance in the number of electrons and
protons, it is electrically charged. True or False?
4. What is the magnitude of charge of electron and proton?
5. He demonstrated the connection between lightning and static
electricity.
6. is defined as an electrical charge caused by an imbalance of
electrons on the surface of a material.
7. What is the difference between conductor and insulator?
8. What is the difference between charging by induction and charging
by conduction?
9. Coulomb’s law is given by the expression F = ?
SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT ELECTRIC CHARGE

• The ancient Greeks before discovered the

concept of gaining a net electric charge
through rubbing amber and cloth.
• The word electric is derived from the Greek
word “electron” meaning amber
IONS

The atoms of any one element have an overall

neutral electrostatic charge because they contain
an equal number of protons and electrons.

Ions have a positive or negative electrostatic charge

because they contain an unequal number of protons
and electrons.
Ionization

• process by which ions are formed by gain or loss

of an electron from an atom or molecule.
• If an atom or molecule gains an electron, it
becomes negatively charged (an anion)
• If it loses an electron, it becomes positively
charged (a cation). Energy may be lost or gained
in the formation of an ion.
PRINCIPLE OF
CONSERVATION OF
CHARGE
The algebraic sum of all
electric charges in any
closed system is constant.
EITHER IN THE PROCESS OF
INDUCTION OR CONDUCTION, THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF CHARGES IN
THE SYSTEM REMAINS THE SAME.

HOW CAN WE LOSE THE

CHARGES?

THROUGH GROUNDING.
LEORA & GEROA
 Given the reaction below:
𝐻2 + 𝐹2 → 2𝐻𝐹
Which of the following is the oxidation half reaction/
reduction half reaction?

A. 𝐻2 → 2𝐻+ + 2ⅇ −
B. 𝐹2 + 2ⅇ − → 2𝐹 −

Answer: OHR is A
RHR is B
 Given the reaction below:
𝑍𝑛 + 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 → 𝑍𝑛𝑆𝑂4 + 𝐶𝑢

Which of the following is the reduction half-reaction/

oxidation half-reaction?

2+ −
A. 𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛 + 2ⅇ
B. 𝐶𝑢2+ + 2ⅇ − → 𝐶𝑢

Answer: OHR is A
RHR is B
COULOMB’S LAW

Formulated by the 18th-century

French physicist Charles-Augustin
de Coulomb (1736–1806).
Coulomb’s law calculates the
magnitude of the force F
between two point charges, q1
and q2, separated by distance r.
F = force between two point charges
q1 = point charge 1
q2 = point charge 2
r = distance
k = Coulomb constant
ELECTROSTATIC
FORCE
The electrostatic force is a vector
quantity and is expressed in units of
Newtons. The force is understood to be
along the line joining two charges
The repulsive or attractive interaction between any
two charged bodies is called as electrostatic force.
Calculating the net electric force

The net electrostatic force is given by

the Coulomb force summed over all
the other charges surrounding the
point charge of interest.
Example:

A +100 uC charge is placed at the origin. A -50 uC charge is

placed at x = 2m and a +200 uC is placed at x = -4m. (a) What
is the net electric force acting on the +100 uC charge? (b) What
is the net electric force acting on the +200 uc charge?
Three objects, carrying charges of -4.0 x 10 ^-6 C, -6.0 x 10^-
6 C, and +9.0 x 10^-6 C, respectively, are placed in a line,
equally spaced from left to right by a distance of 0.50 m.
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net force acting
on each charge that results from the presence of the other two.
 GROUP ACTIVITY!

WINNER WINS PLUS POINTS

IN CLASS PARTICIPATION

DIVIDE THE CLASS INTO 5 GROUPS.

 PERFORMANCE TASK

(CLASS PARTICIPATION) POINTS!

 +3 POINTS

1. What is the electrostatic force between

two objects, +13 μC and -22 μC which are
0.055m and is it an attraction or repulsion?
 +3 POINTS

2. The electrostatic force between two

objects is 6.4 N when the charges are -4.5 x
10-6C and -8.8 x 10-6C. How far apart are
the objects?
 +5 POINTS

3. Two spheres; 4.0 cm apart, attract each other

with a force of 1.2 x 10^-9 N. Determine the
magnitude of the charge on each, if one has twice
the charge (of the opposite sign) as the other.
Review Questions
1. The ancient Greeks before discovered the
concept of gaining a net electric charge
through ___ amber and cloth.
2. The word electric is derived from the
Greek word ____ meaning amber.
3. What do we call a positive ion? How about
a negative one?
4. This law states that the algebraic sum of
all electric charges in any closed system is
constant.
5. The ____ is given by the Coulomb force
summed over all the other charges
surrounding the point charge of interest.

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6.

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Electric Field • is an area of electrical influence around a
CHARGED OBJECT. Represented by the unit
newton per coulomb (N/C).
• Electric fields are drawn to represent the way
a positively charged particle would move if
placed in a field represented by the a or
multiple standing charges.
• Lines are drawn to represent the field
• Spacing between the lines show field strength
• Arrows are drawn to represent directions of
the field
• Arrows point away from the positive and
toward the negative in the direction a positive
charge would travel in the field

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We take positive charge as a test charge because
positive charge is higher potential and negative
charge is lower potential. Therefore, influence of
positive charge on other charges is greater than
negative charges. We can also take negative
charge but the effect will be lower.

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ELECTRIC FIELD

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Drawing Electric Fields

• Lines are drawn to represent the

field
• Spacing between the lines show
field strength
• Arrows are drawn to represent
directions of the field
• Arrows point away from the
positive and toward the negative
in the direction a positive charge
would travel in the field

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Jens Martensson
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 Variable: Name (unit)
E: electrical field (N/C)
F: force (N)
q: charge (C)
𝑁𝑚 2
9
k: constant (k = 8.99.10 2 )
𝐶

d: distance (m)

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 1

You pull a wool sweater over your head, which charges as

it created friction with your cotton shirt. What is the
electrical field at a location where a 1.30 x 10-19 C- piece
of lint experiences a force of 3.2 x 10-9 N as it floats?

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 2

How far are you from a charge of 3.25 x 10-

6 Coulombs when there is an electrical field of
18.1 N/C?

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Electric Flux

• is a property of an electric field that may be thought of

as the number of electric lines of force (or electric
field lines) that intersect a given area.
• The negative flux just equals in magnitude the
positive flux, so that the net, or total, electric flux is
zero. If a net charge is contained inside a closed
surface, the total flux through the surface is
proportional to the enclosed charge.

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Electric Flux

• It is the product of the magnitude of the electric field E and the

surface area, A, perpendicular to the field.

Φ = 𝑬𝑨⊥ or Φ = EAcosθ
Φ (phi) - electric flux (Nm^2/C)
E - magnitude of the electric field (N/C)
A - surface area (m^2)
┴ - perpendicular
θ – angle between Electric field E and surface area A.

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If the direction of the
area A is perpendicular
to the direction of the
Electric field in a
surface, then Φ = 𝑬𝑨⊥
If not, then Φ = EAcosθ

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The flux through the surface The flux is less than the The flux is zero when the
of fixed area has a maximum maximum but more than the surface is parallel to the
value when the surface is minimum if the surface is tilted field.
perpendicular to the field with some angle.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 1

A uniform electric field E = 8000 N/C

passing through a flat square area A = 10
m^2. Determine the electric flux.

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Solution :

The formula of electric flux :

Φ = E A cos θ

Electric flux :

Φ = E A cos θ = (8000)(10)(cos 0) = (8000)(10)(1) = 80,000 = 8 x 104 Nm^2/C

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
A solid ball with 0.5 meters radius has 10 μC
electric charge in its center. Determine the
electrical flux pass through the solid ball.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
A disk with radius r = 0.10 m is oriented with its normal unit vector n at an angle
of 30° to a uniform electric field E with magnitude 2.0𝑋103 N/C.
(a) What is the electric flux through the disk?
(b) What is the flux through the disk if it is turned so that the direction of
surface area is perpendicular to E?
(c) What is the flux through the disk if its normal is parallel to E?

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ACCORDING TO GAUSS’S LAW:

The flux of the electric field E through any closed surface,

also called as Gaussian surface, is equal to the net charge
enclosed (𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐 ) divided by the permittivity of free space 𝜀𝑜 .

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SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Calculate the electric flux through each Gaussian
surface shown in the picture.

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SOLUTION

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Launch

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Review Questions
1. Is an area of electrical influence around a
CHARGED OBJECT. Represented by the unit
newton per coulomb (N/C).
2. Arrows point _____ from the positive and
______ the negative in the direction a positive
charge would travel in the field.
3. Is the number of electric lines of force (or
electric field lines) that intersect a given area.
4. The flux is zero when the surface is parallel to
the field. True or False?
5. The mathematical relation between electric
flux and enclosed charge is known as _____ for
the electric field, one of the fundamental laws of
electromagnetism.

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Electric Potential
Energy • Electric potential energy is the
energy that is needed to move
a charge against an electric
field.
• The energy that you used to
move the particle away from
the plate is stored in the
particle as electrical potential
energy.

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The electric field is a “force field” around a
charged object that illustrates the direction the
electric force would push an imaginary positively
charged particle if there was one there.

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The energy that you used to
move the particle away from
the plate is stored in the
particle as electrical
potential energy.

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If you pulled the positive particle further
away from the plate, you would have to use
more energy, so the charge would have
more electrical potential energy stored in it.
If we doubled the charge on the plate,
again, you would need more energy to
move the positive particle. If we doubled
the charge on the positive particle, you
would need more energy to move it.

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The electric potential energy between any two
arbitrary charges q1, q2 separated by
distance r is given by Coulomb’s law and
mathematically written as:

𝒌𝒒𝟏𝒒𝟐
U= Unit: N/m or J (Joule)
𝒓

Where:

U - is the electrostatic potential energy

q1 & q2 - are the two charges.
r - is the distance between two charges
Note: We define the electric potential energy to be zero when all charges infinitely far apart. (U = 0 if r = ∞)

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 Sample problem 1

If a charge of magnitude 6.5x10−17 𝐶 is being held in place

2x10−8 𝑚 from a charge of −8x10−19 𝐶 which is also being
held in place, what is the electric potential energy of the
system?
𝒌𝒒𝟏𝒒𝟐
Use formula: U= Unit: N/m or J (Joule)
𝒓

ANSWER: U = -2.34x10^-17 J

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 Sample problem 2

A particle with a charge of 5nC has a distance of 0.5m away

from a charge of 9.5nC. What is its electric potential energy?

Use formula: 𝒌𝒒𝟏𝒒𝟐

U= Unit: N/m or J (Joule)
𝒓

ANSWER: U = 8.54X10−𝟕 J

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• An electric potential is the
amount of work needed to move
a unit of electric charge from a
reference point to a specific point
in an electric field without
producing an acceleration.
• The electric potential, or voltage,
is the difference in potential
energy per unit charge between
two locations in an electric field.

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Near the negative plate the
electrical potential is low,
and further from the negative
plate the electrical potential
is high.

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What if our plate was positively
charged? A positively charged
particle would be pushed away from
the plate. This is the exact opposite
of the last case. Near the plate the
electrical potential is high and far
from the plate the electrical potential
is low.

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The electric potential at any point around a point charge q is given by:

𝒌𝒒 𝑼
𝑽= 𝐕=
𝒓 𝒒

Unit: J/C or V (volt)

Where:

V = electric potential
U = electric potential energy
q = point charge
r = distance between any point around the charge to the point charge
9 𝑁𝑚2
k = Coulomb constant; k = 8.99x10
𝐶2

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 Sample Problem 3

Find the electric potential at 8cm from a 7.58nC

charge.

Use formula: 𝒌𝒒
𝑽=
𝒓

ANSWER: V = 851.80 V

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 Sample Problem 4

Calculate the amount of electric potential energy possessed

by 2.52×10-10C at a point where the electric potential is
4.70 Volts.
𝑼
Use formula: 𝐕= ; U = Vq
𝒒

ANSWER:
U = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟖 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑱

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 Sample Problem 5

The electric potential at a distance of 0. 92m from a point

charge is −8.41x105 𝑉 . What is the quantity of the point
charge?
𝒌𝒒 𝑽𝒓
Use formula: 𝑽= ; q=
𝒓 𝒌

ANSWER: q = −𝟖. 𝟔𝟎𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝑪

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 Sample Problem 6

Two charges q1= 4μC and q2=-7μC are by 5m. Calculate

the electric potential at point A.

Use formula:
𝒌𝒒
𝑽=
𝒓
ANSWER: V = -31,672 V

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 Sample Problem 7
You have a 12.0-V motorcycle battery that can move 5000 C of
charge, and a 12.0-V car battery that can move 60,000 C of charge.
How much energy does each deliver?

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• Regions in space where the
electric potential of a charge
distribution has a constant value
are called equipotential.
• The places where the potential is
constant in three dimensions are
called equipotential surfaces,
and where they are constant in two
dimensions, they are called
equipotential lines

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All points on a sphere
around a point charge
Have the same distance
r. So all have same
potential.

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 Sample Problem 8
Given a +10 nC charge at the origin, what are the equipotential
surfaces at which the potential is (a) 100 V, (b) 50 V, (c) 20 V, and
(d) 10 V?

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A capacitor is a
device which stores
electric charge.
Capacitors vary in
shape and size, but
the basic configuration
is two conductors
carrying equal but
opposite charges.

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Uses of capacitors include storing electric
potential energy, delaying voltage changes when
coupled with resistors, filtering out unwanted
frequency signals, forming resonant circuits and
making frequency dependent and independent
voltage dividers when combined with r

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CAPACITANCE
When battery terminals are connected to an
initially uncharged capacitor, equal amounts
of positive and negative charge, +Q and −Q,
are separated into its two plates. The
capacitor remains neutral overall, but we
refer to it as storing a charge Q in this
circumstance. The amount of charge Q a
capacitor can store depends on two major
factors—the voltage applied and the
capacitor’s physical characteristics, such as
its size
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Experiments show that the amount of charge Q stored in a capacitor
is linearly proportional to V, the electric potential difference between
the plates. Thus, we may write:

Q = CV

The greater the voltage applied to any capacitor, the greater the
charge stored in it.
The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F):

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PARALLEL PLATE CAPACITOR

The parallel plate capacitor has two identical

conducting plates, each having
surface area A, separated by a distance d.
When a voltage V is applied to the
capacitor, it stores a charge Q.

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PARALLEL PLATE CAPACITOR

The bigger the plates are, the more charge they can store –
because the charges can spread out more. Thus, C should be
greater for larger A. Similarly, the closer the plates are together, the
greater the attraction of the opposite charges on them. So, C
should be greater for smaller d.

The capacitance of a parallel plate

capacitor in equation form can be defined:

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Where:
A is the area of one plate in 𝑚2 and
d is the distance between the plates in m
The constant 𝛆o is the permittivity of free space; its numerical value in SI
units is 𝛆o = 8.85 x 10-12 F/m. The units of F/m are quivalent to C2/N.m2.

(Note that the above equation is valid when the parallel plates are separated
by air or free space.

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 Sample Problem 9
(a) What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with
metal plates, each of area 1.00 m^2, separated by 1.00 mm? (b)
What charge is stored in this capacitor if a voltage 0f 3.00 kV is
applied to it?
Solution for (a):

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DIELECTRIC
In many capacitors there is an insulating material such as paper or
plastic between the plates. Such material, called dielectric, can be
used to maintain separation of the plates. Since dielectrics break
down less readily than air, charge leakage can be minimized,
especially when high voltage is applied.

A parallel plate capacitor with a dielectric between its plates has a

capacitance given by

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Jens Martensson
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Where:
A is the area of one plate in 𝑚2 and
d is the distance between the plates in m
The constant 𝛆o is the permittivity of free space; its numerical value in SI units is
𝛆o = 8.85 x 10-12 F/m. The units of F/m are quivalent to C2/N.m2.
k is the dielectric constant
(Note that the above equation is valid when the parallel plates are separated by air
or free space.

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Jens Martensson
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 Sample Problem 8
A parallel plate capacitor is filled with an insulating
material with a dielectric constant of 2.6. The distance
between the plates of the capacitor is 0.0002 m. Find
the plate area if the new capacitance (after the
insertion of the dielectric) is 3.4 μF.

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Jens Martensson
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 CAPACITOR

SERIES PARALLEL
1 1 1 𝐶𝑒𝑞 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 + ⋯
𝐶𝑒𝑞 = [ + + + ⋯ ]−1
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

V depends on individual capacitance Voltage across each capacitor is equal

𝑄
V=𝐶 AND 𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + ⋯

Charge (Q) across each capacitor is equal Q (charge) depends on individual capacitance
Q = CV

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SERIES CONNECTION

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Jens Martensson
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PARALLEL CONNECTION

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Jens Martensson
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Energy stored in a capacitor is electrical potential energy, and it is
thus related to the charge Q and voltage V on the capacitor.

The energy stored in a capacitor was given by the formula:

Where:
Q is the charge on a capacitor with a
V is the voltage applied

The energy is in joules for a charge in coulombs, voltage in volts, and

capacitance in farads

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 Example

How much energy can be stored if 10V is applied to

a 5F capacitor?

Use formula:

Answer: 250 J

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 Example

It takes 20V to store 80C of charge on a certain capacitor. (a) How

much potential energy is stored in this capacitor? (b) Calculate the
capacitance of this capacitor.

For a, use formula: Answer: 800 J

For b, use formula: Q = CV C = Q/V Answer: 4 F

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 Example
In the circuit shown below, determine (a) the total capacitance
and (b) the total charge stored.

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Jens Martensson
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Launch

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Review Questions
1. It is the energy that is needed to move a charge against an
electric field.
2. The variable being used for electric potential energy is ___
and the formula for this is _____.
3. It is the amount of work needed to move a unit of electric
charge from a reference point to a specific point in an electric
field without producing an acceleration.
4. The variable being used for electric potential is ___ and the
formula for this is _____.
5. Regions in space where the electric potential of a charge
distribution has a constant value are called _____.
6. ____ is a device which stores electric charge.
7. In many capacitors there is an insulating material such as
paper or plastic between the plates. Such material, called _____,
can be used to maintain separation of the plates.

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Jens Martensson
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 Consider the two capacitors
connected in parallel.

(a) Which capacitor has the

higher voltage?
(b) Which capacitor has more
HMMM charge?
(c) Which capacitor has more
energy?

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Answer:
A. None because they have equal voltage since they are connected in parallel with each
other.
B. Q1 = CV = (1uF)(12V) = 1.2x10^-5 C
Q2 = CV = (2uF)(12V) = 2.4x10^-5 C
Therefore, Q2 has more charge

𝑄2 (1.2𝑥10−5 )2
C. Ecap1 = = = 7.2𝑥10−5 J
2𝐶 2(1𝑢𝐹)

𝑄2 (2.4𝑥10−5 )2
Ecap2 = = = 1.44𝑥10−4 J
2𝐶 2(2𝑢𝐹)

Therefore, Q2 has more energy

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 Consider the two capacitors
connected in series.

(d) Which capacitor has the

higher voltage?
(e) Which capacitor has more
charge?
(f ) Which capacitor has more
energy?

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Answer:
D. Q = CV (*since it is connected in series, it’s charge is equal. so let’s get the total
capacitance first to get their charge then after that we can get it’s individual voltage)

1 1 −1
𝐶𝑇= ( + ) = 6.67𝑥10−7 𝐹
1𝑢𝐹 2𝑢𝐹
𝑄𝑇= 𝐶𝑇 𝑉𝑇 = 6.67𝑥10−7 12𝑉 = 8.004𝑥10−6 𝐶
Now that we get the total charge, we can now proceed in getting the voltage drop of
each capacitor since their charge is equal because they are connected in series.

𝑄 8.004𝑥10−6 𝐶
𝑉3 = = = 8.004 𝑉
𝐶 1𝑢𝐹

𝑄 8.004𝑥10−6 𝐶
𝑉4 = = = 4.002 𝑉
𝐶 2𝑢𝐹
Therefore, C3 has higher voltage

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Answer:
D. None. Since it is connected in series, it’s charge is equal.
E.
𝑄𝑉 8.004𝑥10−6 𝐶(8.004𝑉)
Ecap3 = = = 3.20𝑥10−5 J
2 2

𝑄𝑉 8.004𝑥10−6 𝐶(4.002𝑉)
Ecap4 = = = 1.60𝑥10−5 J
2 2

Therefore, C3 has more energy than C4.

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Connect the three capacitors in such a way that the equivalent capacitance is
Ceq = 4µF. Draw the circuit diagram.

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Answer:

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Find the equivalent capacitances of the circuit.

Hint:

1uF and 1uF are in parallel

1uF and 1uF in parallel is series

with 2uF

Those 3 capacitors are in parallel

with 3uF
Answer: 4uF

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 C1
Solve for the total 10uF

capacitance, total charge,

individual charge, voltage and
C2 C3
energy in each capacitor in 15uF 5uF
the circuit. 100V

C4
20uF

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Launch

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Review Questions

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Answer:

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Jens Martensson
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George Simon Ohm was a
Bavarian scientist who studied
electricity.
Ohm starts by describing a unit
of resistance that is defined by
𝑽
current and voltage. 𝑰 =
𝑹

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Electricity is the movement of
electrons. Electrons create
charge, which we can harness to
do work. Your lightbulb, stereo,
phone etc., are all harnessing the
movement of the electrons in
order to do work. They all operate
using the same basic power
source – the movement of the
electrons

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Jens Martensson
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• CHARGES CREATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF
ELECTRON ARE VOLTAGE, CURRENT AND
RESISTANCE
• A circuit is a closed loop that allows charge to
move from one place to another.
• Components in the circuit allow us to control this
charge and use it to do work
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Jens Martensson
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The unit volt is named after the
Italian physicist Alessandro Volta
who invented what is considered
the first chemical battery. Voltage
is represented in equations and
schematics by the letter V.

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When describing a voltage, current and
resistance, a common analogy is a water
tank.

In this analogy,

Charge is represented by the amount of

water;
Voltage is represented by the water
pressure, and
Current is represented by the water flow.

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Jens Martensson
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The SI unit for current is the ampere
(A), named after the French physicist
André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836).

André-Marie Ampère made the

revolutionary discovery that a wire
carrying electric current can attract or
repel another wire next to it that's
also carrying electric current. The
attraction is magnetic, but no
magnets are necessary for the effect
to be seen.

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The rate at which the charges flow past a location – that is,
the amount of charge per unit time – is known as the
electric current.
If you ever take a course in first aid or safety, you may have
heard that in the event of electric shock, it is the current, not
the voltage, which is the important factor on the severity of
the shock and the amount of damage to the human body
When charges flow through a medium, the current depends
on the voltage applied, the material through which the charges
flow, and the state of the material.

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Where:
Q is the amount of charge passing through a given cross-
sectional area in time t.

The SI unit for current is the ampere (A)

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Jens Martensson
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George Simon Ohm was a German
physicist, best known for his “Ohm’s
Law”, which states that “the current flow
through a conductor is directly
proportional to the potential difference
(voltage) and inversely proportional to
the resistance.”

The physical unit of electrical resistance,

the Ohm (symbol: Ω), was named after
him.

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The resistance is a measure of how difficult it is to pass
current through a wire or component. Resistance is the
hindrance to the flow of charge.

Resistance depends on the resistivity.

The resistivity is a characteristic of the material used to

fabricate a wire or other electrical component, whereas
the resistance is a characteristic of the wire or
component.
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STOREISR

RESISTOR

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RESISTOR
A common component in electronic
circuits is the resistor. The resistor
can be used to reduce current flow or
provide a voltage drop.

We use the ANSI standard in this text

for its visual recognition, but we note
that for larger, more complex circuits,
the IEC standard may have a cleaner
presentation, making it easier to read

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Launch

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Review Questions

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Answer:

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Jens Martensson
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The German physicist Georg Simon
Ohm (1787-1854) was the first to
demonstrate experimentally that the
current in a metal wire is directly
proportional to the voltage applied:
𝑽
𝑰=
𝑹
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Where:
V is the voltage measured in volts
across the object;
I is the current measured through the
object in amps; and
R is the resistance in units of
ohms.

As stated, any device that shows a

linear relationship between
the voltage and the current is known
as an ohmic device. A resistor is
therefore, an ohmic device.

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Current is EQUAL on all
resistors connected in series

𝐼𝑇 = I1 = I2 = I3 = I4
𝑉𝑇 = V1 + V2 + V3 + V4
𝑅𝑇 = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4

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Voltage is EQUAL on all resistors
connected in parallel

𝐼𝑇 = I1 + I2 + I3 + I4
𝑉𝑇 = V1 = V2 = V3 = V4
𝑅𝑇 = (1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + 1/R4) −1

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