SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

EEE2204 : ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

ELECTRIC FIELDS IN
MATERIAL SPACE
SEMESTER 2 YEAR 2
By
Mr. Luutu Stephen Gonzaga
&
Mr. Matsiko Joshua
 Outline
• Recap of previous lecture
• Electromagnetics preamble
• Electric charge densities
• Coulomb‘s law
• Electric field intensity

Learning outcomes
At the end of this topic, the student should be able to:
oQuantitatively use Coulomb’s law in analyzing
force fields, due to static charges, either at any given point
or on a given charged particle in material space
 Recap of Previous Lecture
• Commonly used coordinate systems – rectangular,
cylindrical and spherical
• Scalar and vector quantities, unit vectors and vector
magnitudes
• Position and distance vectors
• Vector addition and subtraction operations and their laws
• Vector multiplications – dot and cross products
• Del operator – its operation and properties
 Electromagnetics Preamble
• Electromagnetics (EM) study electric and magnetic fields
phenomena resulting from interactions between electric charges, both
at rest and in motion
• The electric fields, whose source are electric charges, provide a base
for understanding EM
• EM is broadly classified into two categories:
o Electrostatics – studies electric field effects associated with
stationary electric charges (i.e. charges at rest)
o Magnetostatics – studies magnetic field phenomena resulting from
electric charges moving with constant velocity
• Accelerated charges result in electromagnetic fields consisting of time-
varying electric and magnetic fields that are mutually perpendicular to
each other
o Radio signals radiated by radio antennas are a common
example of electromagnetic fields
 Electric Charge Densities
• Electric charges are either positively or negatively charged particles
within given material space and are normally found:
o At a point
o On a line
o On a surface
o Within an enclosed volume
• A point charge typically occupy very small physical spaces, i.e. the
dimensions of an electric charge distribution are very small compared
to their distance towards other neighboring electric charges
• The point charge model is applicable to either small charged particles
(e.g. electrons) or when two charged bodies are separated by such a
large distance that these bodies appear as point charges to each other
 Differential Line (Displacement) Integral
• A differential displacement (length), dl, is defined as:
ഥ = 𝑑𝑥𝑎ത𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦𝑎ത𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧𝑎𝑧
𝑑𝑙
• Integration of the above equation over a given path results
in a line (single) integral

In cylindrical and spherical

coordinates, dl is defined by:
o 𝑑𝑙ҧ = 𝑑𝑟𝑎ത𝑟 + 𝑟𝑑𝜙𝑎ത𝜙 + 𝑑𝑧𝑎ത𝑧
o 𝑑𝑙ҧ = 𝑑𝑅𝑎ത𝑅 + 𝑅𝑑𝜃𝑎ത𝜃 + 𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑑𝜙𝑎ത𝜙
ഥ is the
• The line integral ‫𝐴 𝐿׬‬ҧ ∙ 𝑑𝑙
integral of the component of A
along the path L
Differential Surface & Volume (Cartesian)
• A differential surface, 𝑑𝑆, is defined as:
𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑧𝑎ത𝑦 or 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧𝑎ത𝑥 or 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑎ത𝑧
• A differential volume, 𝑑𝑉, is defined as:
𝑑𝑉 = 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧
Differential Surface & Volume (Cylindrical)
• A differential surface, 𝑑𝑆 is defined as:
𝑑𝑆 = 𝑟𝑑𝜙𝑑𝑧𝑎ത𝑟 or 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑟𝑑𝑧𝑎ത𝜙 or 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜙𝑎ത𝑧
• A differential volume, 𝑑𝑉, is defined as:
𝑑𝑉 = 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜙𝑑𝑧
 Differential Surface & Volume (Spherical)
• A differential surface, 𝑑𝑆, is defined as:
𝑑𝑆 = 𝑟 2 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙 𝑎ത𝑟 or 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜙𝑎ത𝜃 or 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃 𝑎ത𝜙
• A differential volume, 𝑑𝑉, is defined as:
𝑑𝑉 = 𝑟 2 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙
Differential Surface Example
Example 1

Figure 1-20
Differential Surface Example
 Line Charge Density
• A line charge is a collection of point charges along a thin line,
whose dimensions are very small compared to their separation
apart
• A small length, ∆𝑙, on the line would therefore contain a charge
∆𝑄
 Line Charge Density
• A line charge is a collection of point charges along a thin line,
whose dimensions are very small compared to their separation
apart
• A small length, ∆𝑙, on the line would therefore contain a charge
∆𝑄
• A line charge density, 𝜌𝑙, along a line of charge is defined
as:
∆𝑄
𝜌𝑙 ≜ lim (𝐶𝑚−1 )
∆𝑙→0 Δ𝑙
• The charge ∆𝑄 in the limit becomes 𝑑𝑄, a point charge,
and is given as 𝜌𝑙𝑑𝑙 𝐶
 Surface & Volume Charge Densities
• Surface charge refers to an electric charge aggregate on a surface
• The charge, 𝑑𝑄, on a differential surface 𝑑𝑆 can be viewed as a
point charge
• A surface charge density, 𝜌𝑠, is defined as:
∆𝑄
𝜌𝑠 ≜ lim 𝐶𝑚−2
∆𝑠→0 ∆𝑠
• A volume charge however refers to an aggregate of electric charges
within an enclosed volume
• A volume charge density, 𝜌𝑣, is defined as:
∆𝑄
𝜌𝑣 ≜ lim 𝐶𝑚−3
∆𝑣→0 ∆𝑣

• The total charge, 𝑄𝑙, 𝑄𝑠 and 𝑄𝑣, on a given length of a line of charge, a
surface of charge and a volume of charge respectively can be found by
integration as given below:

𝑄𝑙 = ‫𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝜌 𝐿׬‬ 𝑄𝑠 = ‫𝑠𝑑 𝑠𝜌 𝑠ׯ‬ 𝑄𝑣 = ‫𝑣𝑑 𝑣𝜌 𝑣ׯ‬

Volume Charge Density Example
 Coulomb's Law
• Any two point charges, 𝑄1 and 𝑄2, within proximity of each
other in material space will experience either an attractive or
repulsive force between them
• Coulomb’s law states that:
The force F between two stationary point charges 𝑄1 and 𝑄2 is
proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional
to the square of the distance R between them; i.e.,
𝑄1 𝑄2 𝑄1 𝑄2
𝐹∝ 2 →𝐹=𝑘 2 N [1]
𝑅 𝑅

o where 𝑘 is a proportionality constant given as:

1
𝑘=
4𝜋𝜀
o 𝜀 is the material’s permittivity
 Coulomb's Law
• In vector form, coulomb’s law is written as:
1 𝑄1 𝑄2
𝐹ത2 = 2 𝑎 ത𝑅12 (𝑁) [2]
4𝜋𝜀 𝑅12
where:
o 𝐹ത2 is the Vector force (N) on point charge 𝑄2 due to point charge 𝑄1
o 𝜀 is the material’s permittivity [permittivity of free space, 𝜀 𝑜, is given as
𝜀𝑜 = 8.854 × 10−12 (𝐹/𝑚) ]
o 𝑅12 is the distance (m) between the location of 𝑄1 and 𝑄2
o 𝑎ത𝑅12 is the unit vector along a straight line from 𝑄1 (the force source)
towards 𝑄2 (the location of 𝐹ത2 )
ത
• Since 𝑎ത𝑅12 = 𝑅12ൗ𝑅12 , equation 2 can be rewritten as:
1 𝑄1 𝑄2
𝐹ത2 = 3 𝑅ത12 (𝑁) [3]
4𝜋𝜀 𝑅12
 Coulomb's Law
• The force on charge, 𝑄1 , due to charge, 𝑄2 , through the
use of equation 2, is:
1 𝑄2 𝑄1
ത
𝐹1 = 𝑎
ത 𝑅 = −𝐹ത2 (𝑁) [4]
2
4𝜋𝜀 𝑅21 21

• 𝐹ത1 = −𝐹ത2 since 𝑎ത𝑅21 = −𝑎ത𝑅12

• Note that the force on a charge due to more than two-point
charges is equal to the vector sum of the forces due to each of
the other charges acting alone (superposition principle)
Coulomb's Law – Example
 Electric Field Intensity of Point Charges

• The vector force field, 𝐹ത𝑡 , acting on a positive electric point test charge,
𝑄𝑡, divided by 𝑄𝑡 is defined as the vector electric field intensity 𝐸ത𝑡 (or just
𝐸ത at the location of 𝑄𝑡
• From Coulomb’s law (equation 2), the vector electric field intensity, 𝐸ത𝑡 , is
given as: 𝐹ത 𝑄1
𝐸ത𝑡 = 𝑡1 = 2 𝑎
ത𝑅1𝑡 (𝑁/𝐶) [5]
𝑄𝑡 4𝜋𝜀𝑅1𝑡
 Electric Field Intensity of Point Charges

• The electric field intensity, 𝐸 ഥ at a given point, P, due to n point charges

in space is equal to the vector sum of the electric field intensities due to
each charge acting alone.
i.e. 𝐸ത𝑝 = 𝐸ത𝑝1 + 𝐸ത𝑝2 + ⋯ + 𝐸ത𝑝𝑛 = σ𝑘=𝑛 ത
𝑘=1 𝐸𝑝𝑘 (𝑁/𝐶) [6]

• The superposition principle in equation 6 is justified by the validity of

superposition in Coulomb’s law. Using equation 5, equation 6 becomes

𝑄1 𝑄2 𝑄𝑘 𝑄𝑛
• 𝐸ത𝑝 = 2 𝑎ത 𝑅1𝑝 + 2 𝑎
ത𝑅2𝑝 + ⋯+ 2 𝑎
ത𝑅𝑘𝑝 + 2 𝑎
ത𝑅𝑛𝑝 [7]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅1𝑝 4𝜋𝜀𝑅2𝑝 4𝜋𝜀𝑅𝑘𝑝 4𝜋𝜀𝑅𝑛𝑝
𝑄𝑘
= σ𝑘=𝑛
𝑘=1 4𝜋𝜀𝑅 2 𝑎 ത𝑅𝑘𝑝 (𝑁/𝐶)
𝑘𝑝
 ഥ due to Continuous Line Charge Distribution
𝑬

• The electric field intensity of a line of charge can be

obtained by selecting a 𝑑𝑙 length of the line that contains a
charge 𝑑𝑄 = 𝜌𝑙𝑑𝑙 ( 𝐶)
ത is therefore given
• The differential electric field intensity, 𝑑 𝐸,
as:
𝑑𝑄 𝜌𝑙 𝑑𝑙
𝑑𝐸ത = 𝑎ത = 𝑎ത (𝑁/𝐶) [8]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅2 𝑅 4𝜋𝜀𝑅2 𝑅

• Summing all contributions for the whole length from ‘a’ to

‘b’, a vector integral is formed to obtain the total electric
field intensity vector as:

𝑏 𝑏 𝜌𝑙 𝑑𝑙
ത ത
𝐸 = ‫𝑎׬ = 𝐸𝑑 𝑎׬‬ 𝑎ത (𝑁/𝐶) [9]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅2 𝑅
 ഥ due to Uniform Surface Charge Distribution
𝑬
• For a surface charge distribution, the differential point
charge, 𝑑𝑄, on the surface, 𝑑𝑠, is given as: 𝑑𝑄 = 𝜌𝑠𝑑𝑠 (𝐶)
• Applying equation 7, the differential electric field intensity,
𝑑𝐸ത is given as:
𝑑𝑄 𝜌𝑠 𝑑𝑠
ത
𝑑𝐸 = 𝑎ത𝑅 = 𝑎ത𝑅 (𝑁/𝐶) [10]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅 2 4𝜋𝜀𝑅 2

• The total electric field intensity, 𝐸, ത due to the surface

charge distribution is obtained by integrating equation 10
over the surface, 𝑠, to obtain:

𝜌 𝑑𝑠
𝐸ത = ‫𝐸𝑑 𝑠ׯ‬ത = ‫ 𝑠 𝑠׬‬2 𝑎ത𝑅 (𝑁/𝐶) [11]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅
Where ‫ 𝑠׬‬, denotes a surface integral and is thus a double
integral
 ഥ due to Uniform Volume Charge Distribution
𝑬
• Given a volume charge distribution, the differential point
charge, 𝑑𝑄, within the volume, 𝑑𝑣, is given as:
𝑑𝑄 = 𝜌𝑣𝑑𝑣 (𝐶)
• Applying equation 7, the differential electric field intensity,
ത is given as:
𝑑𝐸,
𝑑𝑄 𝜌𝑣 𝑑𝑣
ത
𝑑𝐸 = 𝑎ത𝑅 = 𝑎ത𝑅 (𝑁/𝐶) [12]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅 2 4𝜋𝜀𝑅 2

• The total electric field intensity, 𝐸ത ,due to the volume

charge distribution is obtained by integrating equation 12
over the volume, 𝑣, to obtain:
𝜌𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝐸ത = ‫𝐸 𝑑 𝑣ׯ‬ത = ‫𝑣׬‬ 𝑎ത (𝑁/𝐶) [13]
4𝜋𝜀𝑅2 𝑅

Where ‫ 𝑣׬‬, denotes a surface integral and is thus a triple

integral
 Electric Field Example
EXAMPLE:
A 1uC charge is at the origin and a 2uC charge is at P(0,10,0). (a)What is the
electric field at Q(6,4,5)? (b)If a – 0.5 uC charge is placed at Q, how much force
would it experience?
ROQ = <6,4,5> RPQ = <6,4,5> - <0,10,0> = <6,-6,5>

ROQ
Q
R OQ = 62 + 4 2 + 52 = 77 = 8.775
RPQ
P
R PQ = 62 + (−6)2 + 52 = 97 = 9.849
1 uC 2 uC
ROQ
a OQ = = 0.684a x + 0.456a y + 0.570α z
ROQ
Get the distances and R
unit vectors a PQ = PQ = 0.609a x − 0.609a y + 0.508α z
RPQ
25
 Electric Field Example
Obtain the E-field due to each point charges:
1  10 −6
E QO = (0.684ax + 0.456ay + 0.570a z )
40 (77)
= 79.84ax + 53.23ay + 66.53az V/m

2  10 −6
E QP = (0.609ax − 0.609ay + 0.508a z )
40 (97)
= 112.91a x − 112.91a y + 94.18az V/m

Apply Superposition Principle:

EQ = EQO + EQP = 192.75a x − 59.68a y +160.71a z V/m
26
 Electric Field Example

EQ
-0.5 uC
EOQ
EPQ
FQ P

1 uC 2 uC

Multiply charge Q to E-field to get the total force exerted onto point Q:
→
→ ↼ ↼
F
Since E = , then F = QE :
Q
↼
FQ = −0.5  10 −6 (192.75a x − 59.68a y + 160.71az )
= −96.38ax + 29.84ay − 80.36az uN

27
 Take Away

• Describe areas where charges are normally encountered

• Explain the concept of point charges
• State Coulomb's law and use it to determine
forces exerted on other charges
• Evaluate the vector electric field intensities
Thank You