Recall: Gravitational Force

𝑚1
𝑚1 𝑚2
𝑚2 𝐹g = 𝐺
𝑟2
𝑟 SI unit: Newton [N]

where 𝐺 – universal gravitational constant

N ⋅ m2
𝐺 = 6.67 × 10−11
kg 2

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 1

Looking at the bigger picture…
▪ Gravitational force is one of the Four Fundamental Forces
of Nature.
➢ Fundamental quantity: Mass

Physics 71

Source: csun.edu

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 2

Looking at the bigger picture…
▪ Another fundamental force of nature is the Electromagnetic
(EM) Force.
➢ Fundamental quantity: Electric charge

Physics 72

Source: csun.edu

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 3

Electromagnetism
▪ Deals with electromagnetic (electric and magnetic) forces.
▪ Interaction of charged particles.

ELECTROSTATICS
➢ Deals with the interaction of electric charges at rest.

ELECTRODYNAMICS
➢ Deals with electric charges in motion.

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 4

Electric Charge and
Electric Field
PHYSICS 72 – ELEMENTARY PHYSIS II

ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD

Electric Charges
1

National Institute of Physics

College of Science
University of the Philippines Diliman
Objectives

Apply the concepts of the dichotomy, quantization,

and conservation of electric charge.

Given the initial/final charge distribution, calculate

the final/initial charge distribution using conservation
principle.

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 7

Electric Charge
▪ An intrinsic property of matter
▪ As fundamental as mass

▪ Scalar quantity
➢ Magnitude only
➢ No direction
▪ Symbol: 𝑄
▪ SI unit: Coulomb ( [C] )

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 8

Electric Charge

➢ Experiments in electrostatics verifies the existence of ONLY TWO

charges.
➢ Benjamin Franklin coined the terms positive and negative to
describe these charges.

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 9

Principles of Electric Charge
PRINCIPLE 1: Dichotomy
➢Charges can be either positive (+) or negative (–).

+ Positive Charge (+)

Example: Proton (p+)

– Negative Charge (–)

Example: Electron (e–)

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 10

Principles of Electric Charge
PRINCIPLE 1: Dichotomy
➢Charges can be either positive (+) or negative (–).

+ +
+ –
– –
Like charges repel Opposite charges attract

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 11

Principles of Electric Charge
PRINCIPLE 2: Charge Conservation
➢The algebraic sum of all the electric charges in any closed
system is conserved.

෍ 𝑄initial = ෍ 𝑄final

+ – – – Charging process
– + – +
+ + – + e.g. rubbing + – + –
Initial Final

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 12

Principles of Electric Charge
PRINCIPLE 3: Quantization
➢ Any observable amount of electric charge 𝑄 comes in
integer multiples of the elementary charge 𝑒.

𝑄 = ±𝑛𝑒
where:
▪ 𝑛 = 1, 2, 3, ...
▪ 𝑒 – elementary charge constant
➢ (a fundamental constant)

𝑒 = 1.602 × 10−19 [C]

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 13

Principles of Electric Charge
PRINCIPLE 3: Quantization
➢ Any observable amount of electric charge 𝑄 comes in
integer multiples of the elementary charge 𝑒.

𝑄 = ±𝑛𝑒

Analogy:
Any amount of Philippine peso is an
integer multiple of one centavo, the
smallest denomination.

Figure from bsp.gov.ph

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 14

Conductors vs. Insulators
Conductors Insulators
▪ Electrons move freely. ▪ Electrons are bound to atoms.
▪ Permit flow of electric charge. ▪ Do not permit flow of electric
charge.

Figures from ecstuff4u.com

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 15

Polarization
▪ Shifting of the distribution of charges in a material.

Charged
Uncharged rod
metal ball
– + +
+ + – + –
– + –
+ – +
– –
Metal ball
Insulator (polarized)

NOTICE:
The charges within the neutral metal ball is conserved (as long as the
rod and the metal ball are not touching).

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 16

Charging by Induction
Induction by Grounding

+ + + + +
+ – + +
+ –– + – +
+
– –
–
–
– – – –
1. Polarized metal 2. Ground the ball 3. Remove the
ball (electrons will sink to grounding and the
the ground) rod
➢ We are left with a positively charged ball from an originally neutral
metal ball.

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 17

Charging by Induction
Charge Redistribution

+2q –2q

–6q –2q

1. Two identical 2. Placed in 3. Then separated

conductors contact

Remember: Electric charge is conserved.

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 18

 EXAMPLE Example
Two conducting cubes, with initial charge +𝑄 and −2𝑄, are
touching each other. What is the charge of each cube after
contact?

+𝑸 −𝟐𝑸 ? ?

SOLUTION

Total (net) charge: +𝑄 + −2𝑄 = −𝑄 The net charge is

distributed evenly to the
Final charge of each cube: −𝑸/𝟐 conducting cubes.

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 19

 EXAMPLE Example
Consider three conducting cubes A,
B, and C, shown below. A is made
to touch with C. Then, A is made to
touch with B. What is the final +𝟑𝑸 −𝑸 +𝑸
charge of the cubes?
A B C

SOLUTION

State A B C

Initial +3𝑄 −𝑄 +𝑄
Net charge of AC: +4𝑄
AC touch +2𝑄 −𝑄 +2𝑄
Net charge of AB: +𝑄
AB touch +𝟎. 𝟓𝐐 +𝟎. 𝟓𝐐 +𝟐𝐐

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 20

 EXAMPLE Example
Consider two conducting cubes A and
C, and an insulating cube B, shown. A
is made to touch with C. Then, A is
made to touch with B. What is the final
+𝟑𝑸 𝟎 +𝑸
charge of the cubes?
A B C

SOLUTION

State A B C
B is an insulator.
Initial +3𝑄 0 +𝑄 No transfer of charge
AC touch +2𝑄 0 +2𝑄

AB touch +𝟐𝐐 𝟎 +𝟐𝐐

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 21

References
▪ University Physics 13th ed., H. Young and R. Freedman
Pearson Education 2014.
▪ Physics 72 Lectures by R. Aguilar, A. Dumigpe, M. Onglao,
and M. Ugalino.

➢ Annotations by: Art Graeson B. Dumigpe

➢ Edited by: Jonel F. Binamira

Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) 22