EP 106 General Physics II

Chapter 2: Electric Field

Lecture Outline
1. The Definition of Electric Field
2. Electric Field Lines
3. The Electric Field Due to Point Charges
4. The Electric Field Due to Continuous
Charge Distributions
5. The Force on Charges in Electric Fields
Electric field
A charge can experience an electrostatic
force due to the presence of other charges.
The idea of a field is required in order to
explain the "action at a distance."
Recall the idea of gravitational field.

m
Fg
g

In this view, Earth creates a force on the mass m. This is “insane.” Earth isn’t even touching
the mass. So we introduce the idea of a gravitational field. Now we take the view that the
field due to Earth, g, is exerting the gravitational force on the mass. Since the force is
F
Fg = mg , the gravitational field is defined as, g ≡ g . Let’s take the same approach with the
m
electric force.

E
q q1
Fe
Instead of thinking of q exerting the force on q1, we think of q creating a field and the field
exerting the force on q1.
Mathematically, we can write
G
G G G Fe
Fe = q1 E ⇒ E =
q1
which is the definition of the electric field. The electric field is a vector, and its direction is
the same as the direction of the force F on a positive test charge. It has units Newton per
coulomb (N/C)
Note:
-The surrounding charges (not q) is the ones that create an electric field.
-Similarly between electric field and gravitational field

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 1

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II

The electric field due to a point charge

Definition of the
kq
E = 2 rˆ electric field
r
The electric field due to N charged particles
n
kq i
E = ∑i =1 r0 i
rˆ
2 0i

Example: A point charge Q1 = + 10.0 C is at the origin, and a second charge Q2 = -5.0 C is
placed on the y-axis at y = 1.0 m. What is the total electric field at the point P with
coordinates x = 2.0 m, y = 1.0 m ?

We use Coulomb laws to find the field due to each charge, and then we find the vector sum.

First, we found the field E1 due to Q1

Q1 9 N .m
2
(10.0C ) (2iˆ + ˆj )
E1 = k ˆ
r
2 1
= (9.0 × 10 ) = [1.6iˆ + 0.8 ˆj ] × 1010 N / C
r1 C 2
[(2.0m) + (1.0m) ]
2 2
5
The field at P due to the negative charge Q2 is in the –x direction:
Q N .m 2 (−5.0C ) ˆ ˆ
E2 = k 22 rˆ2 = (9.0 × 10 9 2
) 2
i = i (−1.1 × 1010 N / C )
r2 C ( 2.0 m )
E = E1 + E2 = [1.6iˆ + 0.8 ˆj − 1.1iˆ] × 1010 N / C
= [0.5iˆ + 0.8 ˆj ] × 1010 N / C
or E =(0.94x1010)N/C, in direction 0.5iˆ + 0.8 ˆj

Electric field lines

We need a more descriptive image of the field. The most useful idea is “Electric Field Lines.”
Field Lines or Lines of Force are used to visualize the field. The rules for drawing them are:
1. The tangent to the field line points in the direction of the force on a positive test charge.
2. The density of lines is proportional to the strength of the field (bigger charges make more
lines).
One way to visualize the electric field is drawing connecting lines of vector (electric field)
and these connecting lines are called electric field lines.

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 2

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II

Calculation of Electric field due to point charges

In this section we will demonstrate calculation of electric field on illustrative examples.
Example 1
A proton and an electron form two corners of an equilateral triangle with sides of length
3 x 10 -6 m. What is the magnitude of their net electric field at the third corner?
Answer:
For this problem we draw as a diagram of the charges and find E at point P(x,y).
Known:
n q1 = p+=1.6 x 10 -19 C;
kq i
E = ∑i = 1 r0 i
rˆ
2 0i
q2 = e-= -1.6 x 10 -19 C;
r = a = 3 x 10-6 m

Red line: electric field vector of proton

Blue line: electric field vector of electron.
Since electric field is a vector quantity, we can write
G G G
E = Ee + E p
G
Ee = Ee cos 600 xˆ − Ee sin 600 yˆ
G
E p = E p cos 600 xˆ + E p sin 600 yˆ
q
and magnitude of Ee = E p = k 2 ; q = 1.6×10−19 C
a
G −4
E = 4.8×10 xˆ ( N / C )

Example 2:
Two charges are at the corners of a square of side a=1 cm. The net electric field at C due to
the charges is along –y direction and force acting on the charge Q2 due to Q1 is along +y
direction. If the magnitude of force is 2 N, determine:
a) magnitude of charges Q1 and Q2,
b) Magnitude of electric field E.

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 3

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II

c) What charge must be placed at D so that the

electric field at C will be zero? A C
Q1
E
Solution:
Remember electric field is a vector quantity.
a) Vector sum of the fields at point C:
G G G
E = E1 + E2
(It is easy! to see that the first charge will be positive and F
second charge will be negative) Q2
G G B D
Q1 Q2
E1 = k 2 xˆ ; E2 = k (−xˆ − yˆ )
a 2a 2
Since E has no x component, then Q1 = Q2 / 2 .
On the other hand according to the coulomb law
G QQ
F = k 1 2 2 yˆ ; F = 2N then Q1Q2 = 2a 2 / k
a
I thin you can solve the remaining….
Example 3
Electric field of a dipole moment. An electric dipole is a system of two equal and opposite
point charges separated by a small distance. The extended straight line joining the two point
charges in a dipole is called the dipole axis. The perpendicular bisector of the dipole axis is
called the neutral axis.
y Dipole
E+
Axis
r1 E-

r
+Q r2
θ
a/2
a/2 Neutral x
-Q Axis

The question is: calculate electric field at a distance r from the center of the dipole. The
answer of this question is very easy. From the definition of electric field, we calculate
G G G Q ⎛⎜ 1 1 ⎞
E = E+ + E− = ⎜ 2 rˆ1 − 2 rˆ2 ⎟⎟⎟
4πε0 ⎜⎝ r1 r2 ⎠⎟
In practice a is a very small quantity when it compared to r. Distance a is in atomic scale.
Therefore it is necessary to make an approximation ( r  a ). The calculation is tedious. Let
us write the vectors:
G G a G G a
r1 = r − yˆ ; r2 = r + yˆ .
2 2
Magnitude of the vectors can be calculated from the dot product property:
2 2
⎛ a ⎞⎟ ⎛ a ⎞⎟
2 2 ⎜ 2 2 ⎜
r1 = r + ⎜ ⎟⎟ − ar cos θ; r2 = r + ⎜ ⎟⎟ + ar cos θ
⎜⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝⎜ 2 ⎠

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 4

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II
G G
r1 r2
and the unit vectors: rˆ1 = ; rˆ2 =
r1 r2
The electric field takes the form:
⎛ ⎞⎟
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎜⎜ G a G a ⎟⎟
G r − yˆ r + ˆ
y
Q ⎜⎜ 2 2 ⎟⎟
E= ⎜⎜ 3/ 2
− 3/ 2 ⎟⎟
4πε0 ⎜⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜⎜r 2 + ⎜ a ⎟ + ar cos θ ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟⎟
2 2
⎛ ⎞
⎜⎜⎜⎜r 2 + ⎜ a ⎟ − ar cos θ ⎟⎟ ⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎟ ⎟ ⎟ ⎟
⎜
⎜⎜⎜
⎝⎝ ⎝⎜ 2 ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟ ⎝⎜
⎜ ⎝⎜⎜ 2 ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟⎟
The calculation can be completed later. (Potential section). Here we calculate specific form of
the field.
Electric field on the dipole axis: To calculate electric field on the dipole axis we set θ=0 and
G
r = yyˆ , y is the distance from the origin to a point on the positive y-axis.
The electric field takes the form:
⎛⎛ ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎜ a ⎞⎟ ⎛
⎜ a ⎞⎟ ⎟⎟
− ⎟ ˆ + ˆ
⎟ ⎟
Q ⎜⎜⎜ ⎜⎝⎜ ⎝⎜⎜
y y y y
G 2 ⎠⎟ 2 ⎠⎟ ⎟⎟⎟
E= ⎜ − 3⎟
4πε0 ⎜⎜⎛ ⎛ a ⎞
3
⎞⎟ ⎛ ⎛ a ⎟⎞⎞⎟ ⎟⎟⎟
⎜⎜ ⎟ ⎜
⎜⎜ y − ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟⎟ ⎜⎜ y + ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟⎟ ⎟⎟⎟
⎝⎜⎜⎜⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠ ⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠ ⎠
using the identity (1 + s) n ≈ 1 + ns when s  1 we obtain:
G Qa
E= yˆ
2πε0 y 3
G
We define the dipole moment p = Qayˆ ^which is directed from negative to positive charge.
G G
p
Then the electric field: E = .
2πε0 y 3
Electric field on the neutral axis: To calculate electric field on the neutral axis we set
G
θ = π / 2 and r = xxˆ , x is the distance from the origin to a point on the positive x-axis.
The electric field takes the form:
⎛ ⎞⎟ ⎛ ⎞⎟
⎜⎜ ⎟ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎜ xxˆ − a yˆ ˆ + yˆ ⎟⎟⎟ ⎜
a ⎟
G Q ⎜⎜⎜ xx
Q ⎜⎜ ⎜ −ayˆ ⎟
2 2 ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟
E= ⎜⎜ − ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟⎟
4πε0 ⎜⎛ 2⎞ 3/ 2
⎛ 2⎞ 3/ 2 ⎟
⎟ 4 πε ⎜⎜⎛ 2⎞ 3/ 2
⎟
⎛
⎜⎜⎜⎜ x 2 + ⎜ ⎟ ⎟⎟
a ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜⎜ x 2 + ⎜ ⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟
a 0 ⎛ ⎞
⎜⎜⎜⎜ x 2 + ⎜ ⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟
a
⎜⎜ ⎜⎝⎜ ⎠⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎟
⎝⎜⎜ 2 ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟⎟ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎟
⎝⎜⎜ 2 ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟ ⎠⎟⎟
⎝⎜⎝⎜ 2 ⎠ ⎝ ⎝⎜⎝⎜
using the identity (1 + s) n ≈ 1 + ns when s  1 we obtain:
G Qa
E =− yˆ
2πε0 x 3
G
We define the dipole moment p = Qayˆ ^which is directed from negative to positive charge.
G G
p
Then the electric field: E = − .
2πε0 x 3
Electric field of continuous charge distributions
What ’s about continuous charge?

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 5

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II

When we deal with continuous charge distributions, it is most convenient to express the
charge on an object as a charge density rather than a total charge.

r2 ∆E1
∆q2

r1 ∆E2
∆q1

The total electric field is just the sum of the fields of the small (point) charges ∆q's.

∆ qi
E= ∑ ∆E i = ∑ k ˆr
r 2i i
For maximum accuracy we want the ∆q's to become smaller and smaller. In this limit, the
sum becomes an integral:
G 1 dq continuous charge
E= ∫
4πε0 r 2
rˆ
distribution
Interpretation of dq
For a line of charge, for example, we would report the linear charge density (or charge per
length) λ (C/m). Table below shows the other charge densities we shall be using:

Name Symbol SI unit

charge q C
Linear charge density λ C/m
Surface charge density σ C/m2
Volume charge density ρ C/m3

Example: Electric field for lines of uniform charge

Find the electric field at distance a m as in figure, from the line of charge with charge density
λ C/m, length L.

y
L/2 Step
dq I: let dy be the length of an element
II:Relate the charge dq of the element to the
y length of the element with dq=λdy
III:Express the field E produced at given point
a by dq using field equation for charge
θ x distribution.
IV:If the charge on the line is positive, then at
given point draw a vector E that points directly
away from dq. If the charge is negative, draw
the vector pointing directly toward dq. The
distance from dq to the point is r!
V:Express r in other forms for integration (∫dx)
-L/2
e.g. r = a 2 + y 2

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 6

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II

VI:Express E in components e.g., E x , E y

VII:Look for canceling and adding components
VIII:Transform (x,y) to (r, θ) or (r, θ) to (x,y)
IX: Finalize your answer
K 1 dq 1 λdy
E=
4πε0 r∫ 2
rˆ = ∫
4πε0 a + y 2
2
rˆ

1 λdy
Ex = ∫
4πε0 a + y 2
2
cos θ

1 λdy
Ey = ∫
4πε0 a + y 2
2
sin θ

substituting cos θ = a / r and sin θ = y / r we obtain

1 aλdy
Ex = ∫
4πε0 (a 2 + y 2 )3/ 2
1 yλdy
Ey = ∫
(a 2 + y 2 )
3/ 2
4πε0
ydy 1 ady y
using the identities: ∫ =− and ∫ =
(a 2 + y )
2 3/ 2
y2 + a2 (a 2 + y )
2 3/ 2
a y2 + a2
and taking the limits of the integrals from –L/2 to L/2 we obtain:
1 λL
Ex =
4πε0 a a + L2 / 4
2

E y = 0 (as expected)
What is the electric field as L tends to infinity!
Example
Find the field on the axis of a ring of charge, q, (distributed uniformly over the ring) and
radius, a, as a function of the distance from the center, x.

dq Using the field due to the point

dq
charge dq, dE = k 2 ˆr . By the
r
a
r symmetry of this problem the field
will only point in the x-direction so
we only have to worry about the x-
dq
components, dE x = k 2 cosθ .(You
r
θ x can find the electric field for y
component, this will be zero).
dE
Notice that r is the same for all the
dq's and cosθ is also the same for all dq's so the integral is straight forward.
dq cosθ q
E x = k ∫ 2 cosθ = k 2 ∫ dq = k 2 cosθ
r r r

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 7

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II
x q x
Note that r 2 = a 2 + x2 and cosθ = so we can write E x = k 3 .
2 2
a +x
(a 2 2
+x 2 )
Check the answer by examining the limits as x goes to zero and to infinity.
What happens if a goes to zero! ☺
Example
Find the electric field a distance, x, away from disc of radius R and charge density,
σ(C/m2).
Solution: In the previous example we have obtained electric field of a ring. We can use
the result to obtain field of the disc. Field of the ring of radius a is given by
q x
Ex = k 3 .
(a 2 + x2 )2
We think that disc contains large number of
rings of radius changing from zero to R.
Electric field of each ring is directed along x-
x
axis.
Here let us obtain the electric field by direct
integration. Because of symmetry the electric field directed along x-axis. We can write:
1 xdq
dEx = ; dq = σρ d ρ d φ
4πε0 (ρ 2 + x 2 )3/ 2

d ρ is thickness of each ring. Integration yields:

σx R 2πρ d ρ σ ⎛⎜ x ⎞⎟
⎟⎟ .
Ex = ∫ = ⎜⎜1−
R 2 + x 2 ⎠⎟
4πε0 0
(ρ 2 + x ) 2 3/ 2 2ε0 ⎜⎝

When R tends to infinity we obtain electric field of a large conductor with surface charge
density σ(C/m2).
σ
Ex =
2ε0

Motion of the Charges in Electric Fields

This section can be recognized as the application of the Newton’s laws.
Please review the kinematics, force, energy etc. sections in EP 105. q F
The force on a single charge, as shown at the right, can now be written e

in terms of the field it feels. According to the definition of electric E

F
field, E ≡ e ⇒ Fe = qE .
q
Example
Figure shows an electron of mass m and charge e projected with speed v0 at right angles to a
uniform field E. Describe its motion.

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 8

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II
y
1 eE 2
x = v0t and y = at 2 = t since F = ma = eE
2 2m
v0
E eE 2
x Eliminating t yields y = x for the
2mv02
equation of trajectory.
Remember projectile motion!!!

Example:
The Earth has an electric field of about 150N/C pointed downward. A 1.00µm radius water
droplet is suspended in calm air. Find (a)the mass of the water droplet, (b)the charge on the
water droplet and (c)the number of excess electrons on the droplet.

F
(a)Use the definition of density and the volume of a sphere, e
m 3 −6 3 −15
ρ≡ ⇒ m = ρ(vol) = ρ 43 πr = (1000) 43 π(1.00x10 ) = 4.19x10 E kg
vol F
g

(b)The forces on the droplet are its weight and the electric
force. Using Newton’s Second Law, ΣF = ma ⇒ Fe − Fg = 0 ⇒ Fe = Fg
Using the definitions of the electric and gravitational fields,
mg (4.19x10 −15 )(9.80)
qE = mg ⇒ q = = = 2.74x10 −16 C
E 150
q 2.74x10 −16
(c)Since charge is quantized, q = Ne ⇒ N = = = 1710 electrons
e 1.60x10−19
Example
A dipole in a constant electric field as shown at the
left. It feels no net force because the two forces on it
F
caused by the field are equal and opposite. The
p dipole does feel a net torque, however. This torque
E tends to align it with the field.
F θ ∑ τ = (asin θ)(qE ) + (a sinθ )(qE) = 2aqE sinθ = pE sinθ
This torque points into the paper so we can write the
torque on the dipole as,
τ = p×E The Torque on
a Dipole

The potential energy of the dipole can be found from the definition of potential energy,
∆U ≡ − W c .
The work done as the dipole rotates through an angle, dθ, is, dW = τ dθ = −pE sinθ dθ .
θ
The total work done as the angle goes from π/2 to θ is, W = − ∫π pEsin θ dθ = pE cosθ .
2
The potential energy is ∆U = U(θ) − U( π 2 ) = −pE cosθ ⇒ U = − p • E , where the zero for
potential energy is θ = π 2 .
U = −p • E The Potential Energy of a Dipole

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 9

Department of Engineering Physics
EP 106 General Physics II

Example
Water molecules have a dipole moment of 6.20x10-30 C·m. Find (a)the maximum torque on a
water molecule in the E-field of Earth and (b)the potential energy lost as the molecule moves
from the position of maximum torque until it aligns with the field.

(a)The torque on a dipole in a constant field is τ = p × E . The maximum occurs

when the dipole moment is perpendicular to the field,
τ = pE = (6.20x10−30 )(150) = 9.30x10 −28 N ⋅ m

(b)The potential energy of a dipole is U = − p • E . When the moment is perpendicular

to the field this is zero. When the moment is aligned with the field
−28
U = −pE = −9.30x10 J . This then is the energy that is lost U lost = 9.30x10 −28 J .

Gaziantep University Faculty of Engineering 10

Department of Engineering Physics