LECTURE-1

PHY 123

2024-2025
Course contents
Electric Charges- Coulomb's Law- The Electric Field -
Gauss's Law - Potential Difference and Electric Potential -
Capacitors - Electric Current – Resistance .Magnetic Flux-
Charged Particle in magnetic field - The magnetic field of
a Solenoid- Gauss's Law in Magnetism. Faraday's laws.
Self and Mutual Inductance; Magnetic Energy in Coils;
Displacement Current. Magnetic Moment; the Biot-
Savart Law, Maxwells Equations; Electromagnetic Waves;
Energy in Electromagnetic Waves. The Nature of Light -
Geometric Optics: Reflection – Refraction - Huygens's
Principle – Rainbow- Measuring the refractive index-
Total Internal Reflection- Thin Lenses - Lens Aberrations-
Optical fiber.
Course Assessments
No. Assessment Method Weights
1 Mid Term Examination (90 Mark) 30%
Quizzes (30 Mark)
tutorial (15 Mark)
2 Semester work 30%
Attendance (FW)
Practical (45 Mark)
3 Final Term Examination (120 Mark) 40%
Total 100%
Reference book

Physics for Scientists and Engineers

with Modern Physics, 9th edition
Contents

Electric Charges

Coulombs Law (Electric Force)

Electric Field
Electric charges
• There are two types of charges in nature
1- Positive charges (such as proton and positive Ion [atom which striped by
electron]). +
2- Negative charges (such as electron and negative ion [atom has excess of
electrons]). -

• Several experiments demonstrate the existence of

these types of charges. For example, if you rube a 2
ballons on your hair and suspend them freely with a
light silk, Then let them approach each others, you will
observe that they repel each others. As shown for the
two ballons in the front Figure.
Electric charges
• Electric charges are always conserved for an isolated
system, which means when a glass rod rubbed by silk,
negative charges are transferred from the glass rod to silk.

• Similarly, for a rubber rode rubbed by

Fur, negative charges are transferred
from Fur to rubber. So, we conclude
that charges are not created it is just
transferred from one object to
another.

Section 23.1
Electric charges
• In a series of simple experiments, it is found that
there are two kinds of electric charges, which were
given the names positive and negative by Benjamin
Franklin (1706–1790).

• Experiment in the front Figure: shows

glass rode rubbed by silk and plastic

rod rubbed by fur and suspended

freely by lightly Silk.

• This observation shows that the rubber and glass are in

two different states of electrification. On the basis, of
these observations, we conclude that like charges repel
one another and unlike charges attract one another
Electric charges
• Charges (q) are quantized, which means it is an integral
multiple of a fundamental charges (e) as has been
discovered by Robert Milikian in 1909, Where 𝑒 = 1.6 ×
10−19 Coulomb (C). In another meaning 𝑞 = ±𝑁𝑒, and N
is some integer value.
• The quantity of charges (q or Q) is measure in Coulombs
(C) unit as we have mentioned earlier.
• Electron has charge –e.
• Proton has charge +e.
• Some particles such as neutrons have no charges. So, they
are called neutral particle.
Section 23.1
Coulomb’s Law
Using a torsional balance (Two spheres one of
them (B) are freely suspended to move/twisted.

Charles Coulomb could measure the magnitude

of the electrical force between two charges.
Once A and B spheres are charged by rubbing,
the electric force between them was found to be
proportional with the absolute amount of
charges and inversely proportional to the
distance.

Section 23.3
Coulombs Law
• The electric Force
|𝑞1 ||𝑞2 |
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒
𝑟2
Where 𝑘𝑒 is the coulombs constant
𝑘𝑒 = 8.987 × 109 𝑁. 𝑚2 /𝐶 2
𝑘𝑒 = 1/4𝜋𝜖0
𝜖0 = 8.854 × 10−12 𝐶 2 /𝑁. 𝑚2
𝜖0 is called the permittivity of free space

Section 23.3
Coulombs Law
• Notice that for electron:
Cℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = −1.602 × 10−19 𝐶
Mass 𝑚𝑒 = 9.11 × 10−31 kg
For Proton
Cℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = +1.602 × 10−19 𝐶
Mass 𝑚𝑝 = 1.67262 × 10−27 kg
For Neutron
Cℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 0
Mass 𝑚𝑝 = 1.67493 × 10−27 kg
Example 1
The electron and proton of a hydrogen atom are separated (on
the average) by a distance of approximately 5.3 × 10−11 m.
Find the magnitudes of the electric force and the gravitational
force between the two particles.
The electrical force is calculated using Coulombs law
|𝑞1 ||𝑞2 |
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒
𝑟2
| − 1.602 × 10−19 || + 1.602 × 10−19 |
𝐹𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒
(5.3 × 10−11 )2
𝐹𝑒 =8.2 × 10−8 𝑁
Follows Example 1
• Estimate How much is the Electrical force greater than the
Gravitational force.
The Gravitational force is calculated using Newton’s law of
universal gravitation
𝑚𝑒 𝑚 𝑝
𝐹𝑔 = 𝐺
𝑟2
9.11 × 10 −31 × 1.67493 × 10−27
𝐹𝑔 = 6.67 × 10−11
(5.3 × 10−11 )2

𝐹𝑔 =3.6 × 10−47 𝑁
Then 𝐹𝑒 / 𝐹𝑔 = 2 × 1030
Coulombs Law
Notice that, when dealing with Coulombs law
remember that the Force is a vector quantity. So that
Coulombs law is written in a vector form in the
following form:
|𝑞1 ||𝑞2 |
𝐹12 = 𝑘𝑒 2
𝑟12
Ƹ
𝑟
= 𝐹12 𝑟12Ƹ
Where 𝐹12 is the force act on the charge number 2 due
to the charge number 1 and also the vector 𝑟12
Ƹ is a
unit vector directed from 𝑞1 to 𝑞2 .

Section 23.3
Coulombs Law
• Notice Also that:
𝐹12 = −𝐹21
The two forces are equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.
That is because, the unite vector 𝑟12
Ƹ is only in the opposite direction
of 𝑟21
Ƹ , as shown in Figure a and b.
Coulombs Law
• When more than two charges are present, the force
|𝑞1 ||𝑞2 |
Ԧ
between any pair of them is given by 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑒 2 𝑟Ƹ .
𝑟
Therefore, the resultant force on any one of them
equals the vector sum of the forces exerted by the
other individual charges.
• For example, if four charges are present, the resultant
force exerted by particles 2, 3, and 4 on particle 1 is:

𝐹1 = 𝐹21 + 𝐹31 + 𝐹41

Example 2:
Consider three point charges located at the corners of a right triangle
as shown in Figure 7, where 𝒒𝟏 = 𝒒𝟑 = 𝟓. 𝟎 𝝁𝑪 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝒒𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟎 𝝁𝑪
and 𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟏 𝒎. Find the resultant force exerted on 𝒒𝟑 .

• First, we calculate the magnitude of

the force act 𝑞3 because of 𝑞1 and
𝑞2 which is the summation of
𝐹23 and 𝐹31 .

|𝑞2 ||𝑞3 |
𝐹23 = 𝑘𝑒 2
= 8.99 𝑁
𝑎
|𝑞1 ||𝑞3 |
𝐹13 = 𝑘𝑒 = 11.2 𝑁
( 2𝑎) 2
Figure 7
Continue
Follow Example 2:
Because the force is a vector quantity,
𝐹23 = 𝐹23 −𝑖Ƹ = −8.99 𝑖Ƹ

𝐹13 = 𝐹13 cos 𝜃 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐹13 sin 𝜃 𝑗Ƹ

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = 𝒂/ 𝟐 𝒂 = 𝟏/ 𝟐
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 = 𝒂/ 𝟐a = 𝟏/ 𝟐
𝐹13 = 11.2 ∗ 1/ 2 𝑖Ƹ + 11.2 ∗ 1/ 2 𝑗Ƹ

So, the total force acts on 𝑞3 is equal to

𝟏𝟏. 𝟐 𝟏𝟏. 𝟐
𝑭𝟑 = −𝟖. 𝟗𝟗 + 𝒊Ƹ + 𝒋Ƹ Figure 7
𝟐 𝟐
= −𝟏. 𝟎𝟓 𝒊Ƹ + 𝟕. 𝟗𝟒 𝒋Ƹ N
Example 3 :
Three point charges lie along the x axis as shown in Figure 8. The
positive charge 𝑞1 = 15.0 𝜇𝐶 is at x = 2.00 m, the positive charge
𝑞2 = 6.0 𝜇𝐶 is at the origin, and the net force acting on 𝑞3 is zero.
What is the x coordinate of 𝑞3 ?

Sol
Figure 8
• Because both 𝑞1 and 𝑞2 will attract
the charge 𝑞3 , therefore both
𝐹13 and 𝐹23 will act along the x-axis
but in the opposite direction of each
other. So, Figure 8

𝑭𝟑 = 𝐹13 + 𝐹23 = 0
Follows Example 3

𝑭𝟑 = 𝐹13 + 𝐹23 = 0
|𝑞1 ||𝑞3 | 𝑞2 𝑞3
= 𝑘𝑒 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑘𝑒 −𝑖Ƹ = 0
(2 − 𝑥)2 𝑥2
|𝑞1 ||𝑞3 | 𝑞2 𝑞3
𝑘𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒
(2 − 𝑥)2 𝑥2 Figure 8
(2 − 𝑥)2 𝑞2 = 𝑥 2 𝑞1

Substituting the value of each charge

(2 − 𝑥)2 ∗ 6 = 𝑥 2 ∗ 15
9𝑥 2 + 24𝑥 − 24 = 0 Figure 8
3𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 8 = 0

Solving the quadratic equation get

𝑥 = 0.775 𝑚

Continue
 Example 4: Two identical small charged spheres, each having a mass
of 3 × 10−2 𝑘𝑔, hang in equilibrium as shown in Figure 9a. The length L of
each string is 0.150 m, and the angle 𝜃 is 5𝑜 . Find the magnitude of the
charge on each sphere positive charge?

Sol

Figure 9
At equilibrium the charges are in balance under the action of tension
force 𝑻 in the string and the weight of the charge 𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈, where 𝒈 is
the acceleration due to gravity equals 9.8 𝒎/𝒔2 . So, by analyzing the
in both and direction as shown in Figure 9b. We get; Contiue
 Follows Example 4 :
𝑭𝒆 = 𝑇 sin 𝜃
𝒎𝒈 = 𝑇 cos 𝜃
Dividing these two last equations
we get:
𝑭𝒆 Figure 9
= tan 𝜃 ⇒ 𝑭𝒆 = 𝒎𝒈 tan 𝜃
𝒎𝒈
|𝑞||𝑞| Class Activity to
𝑘𝑒 = 𝒎𝒈 tan 𝜃 calculate q
(2𝑎)2
2
2
𝒎𝒈 tan 𝜃 ∗ 2𝑎
|𝑞 | =
𝑘𝑒
|𝒒| = 4.12 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝐶
2
2
𝒎𝒈 tan 𝜃 ∗ 2 𝐋 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽
|𝑞 | =
𝑘𝑒
The Electric Field
An electric field is said to exist in space around a charged object (source
charge 𝒒). When another charged object (test charge 𝒒𝒐 ) enters this
space of electric field surrounds the source it feels an electric force (𝑭𝒆 )
acting on it. So, We define the electric field due to the source charge at
the location of the test charge to be the electric force on the test charge
per unit charge. Mathematically 𝑬 field could be represented in the
form:

𝑭𝒆
𝑬=
𝒒𝒐
|𝑞|
= 𝑘𝑒 2 𝑟Ƹ 𝑵/𝑪
𝑟
Where
|𝑞||𝑞𝑜 |
𝑭𝒆 = 𝑘𝑒 𝑟Ƹ
𝑟2
The Electric Field
𝑭𝒆 |𝑞|
𝑬= = 𝑘𝑒 2 𝑟Ƹ 𝑵/𝑪
𝒒𝒐 𝑟
Where
|𝑞||𝑞𝑜 |
𝑭𝒆 = 𝑘𝑒 2 𝑟Ƹ
𝑟
Notice that;
always when we calculate the electric field at some point 𝑷 (the field
point) in space, we imagine this point as a positive test charge (+𝒒𝒐 ).
Therefore, if the source (𝒒) charge is positive, there will be a repulsive
force That repels 𝒒𝒐 away from 𝒒. If the source charge (𝒒) is negative
there will be attraction force that attracts the 𝒒𝒐 towards 𝒒 .
The Electric Field
A demonstration of the direction of the electric field and the electric force in the
below figure 10, shows that both the electric force and the electric field act on the
test are always in the same direction (whatever the sign of the source charge is!)

figure 10
 Example : Charges 𝒒𝟏 and 𝒒𝟐 are located on the x axis, at distances a
and b, respectively, from the origin as shown in Figure 11. Find the
components of the net electric field at the
point P, which is at position (0, y)
Sol
• First, we calculate the magnitude of the electric
field acts at because of 𝑞1 and 𝑞2 which is the
summation of 𝐸2 and 𝐸1 .
|𝑞2 | |𝑞2 |
𝐸2 = 𝑘𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒 2 𝑁
𝑟22 𝑏 + 𝑦2
|𝑞1 | |𝑞1 |
𝐸1 = 𝑘𝑒 = 𝑘𝑒 𝑁
𝑟12 𝑎2 + 𝑦 2

Because the electric field is a vector quantity,

𝐸1 = 𝐸1 cos ∅ 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐸1 sin ∅ 𝑗Ƹ
𝐸2 = 𝐸2 cos 𝜃 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐸2 sin 𝜃 −𝑗Ƹ
The total field (𝐸𝑃 ) acts at the field point 𝑃 equals: Figure 11
𝐸𝑃 = [𝐸1 cos ∅ +𝐸2 cos 𝜃 ] 𝑖Ƹ +
𝐸1 sin ∅ − 𝐸2 sin 𝜃 𝑗Ƹ 𝑟22 = (𝑏2 + 𝑦 2 )

Section 23.4 𝑟12 = (𝑎2 + 𝑦 2 )

Example (Quiz) : For the result of the electric field 𝐸𝑃 = [𝐸2 cos ∅ +
𝐸1 cos 𝜃 ] 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐸2 sin ∅ − 𝐸1 sin 𝜃 𝑗Ƹ obtained in the last example.
Find the magnitude of electric field due to the electric dipole when point P
is a distance y >> a from the origin as shown inn the figure below.
Sol

Student activity
|𝑞2 | |𝑞2 |
𝐸2 = 𝑘𝑒 = 𝑘 𝑒 2 𝑁
𝑟22 𝑏 + 𝑦2
|𝑞1 | |𝑞1 |
𝐸1 = 𝑘𝑒 = 𝑘 𝑒 2 𝑁
𝑟12 𝑎 + 𝑦2
If y >> a

|𝑞2 | |𝑞2 |
𝐸2 = 𝑘𝑒 2 = 𝑘𝑒 2 (𝑁)
𝑟2 𝑦
|𝑞1 | 𝑞1
𝐸1 = 𝑘𝑒 = 𝑘 𝑒 2 (𝑁) Figure 11
𝑟12 𝑦
Electric Field Lines
Electric field lines are a convenient way of
visualizing electric field patterns.
These lines are related to the electric field in the
following manner:
1. These lines are drawn with arrowhead to be
tangent to the electric field vector 𝐸.
2. The direction of the line is that of the force on
a positive test charge placed in the field.
3. The number of lines per unit area through a
surface perpendicular to the lines is
proportional to the magnitude of the electric
field in that region. Therefore, region of
intense electric field its field lines are close
together and vice versa.
All these behavior are shown in Figure 12. Figure 12
Section 23.6
Electric Field Lines
Representative electric field lines for the field due to a single positive point
charge are shown in Figures 13a. Similarly for a negative point charge are
shown in in Figure 13b.

Notice that,
The lines become closer
together as they approach
the charge, indicating that
the strength of the field
increases as we move
toward the source charge

Figure 13
Electric Field Lines
Field lines have the following
properties
1. The field lines must begin on a positive
charge and terminate on a negative
charge.
2. The number of lines drawn leaving +𝑞
or approaching a negative charge −𝑞 is
∝ | ± 𝑞| Figure 14
3. No two field lines can cross.
Electric Field Lines
If two charges are of equal magnitude
but of opposite signs:
The number of lines that begin at the
positive charge must = the number that
terminate at the negative charge.

At points very near the charges, the field

lines are nearly radial, as for a single
isolated charge. Figure 14

The high density of lines between the

charges indicates a region of strong
electric field.
Electric Field Lines
▪If two charges of non-equal magnitude and
opposite signs,
▪ the number of lines leaving +2q is twice the
number terminating at -q. Hence, only half
the lines that leave the positive charge reach
the negative charge, the remaining half
terminate on a negative charge we assume to
be at infinity.

▪ At distances >> the charge separation, the

Figure 15
electric field lines are equivalent to those of a
single charge +q.
Electric Field Lines
If two charges are of equal magnitude and same sign:
▪ In the vicinity of charges, the electric field lines are nearly radial. So,
the electric field lines end infinitely far away.
▪ At great distances from the charges, the field is approximately equal
to that of a single point charge of |2q|.

Figure 16
List of Problems from chapter 23 (Physics for Scientists
and Engineers with Modern Physics 9th edition)

Section 23.1
Problem #1
Section 23.3
Problem #11
Problem #12
Problem #15
Section 23.4
Problem #23
Problem #25
Thank you