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Created by C. Mani, Principal, K V No.1, AFS, Jalahalli West, Bangalore

This document discusses the concepts of electric fields and field intensity. It defines electric field as a region of space around charged particles where other charges will experience electrostatic forces. Electric field intensity is defined as the electrostatic force per unit positive test charge. The electric field due to a point charge is derived. The superposition principle states that the total electric field is the vector sum of the fields due to individual charges.

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Añoop Gāur
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79 views

Created by C. Mani, Principal, K V No.1, AFS, Jalahalli West, Bangalore

This document discusses the concepts of electric fields and field intensity. It defines electric field as a region of space around charged particles where other charges will experience electrostatic forces. Electric field intensity is defined as the electrostatic force per unit positive test charge. The electric field due to a point charge is derived. The superposition principle states that the total electric field is the vector sum of the fields due to individual charges.

Uploaded by

Añoop Gāur
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ELECTROSTATICS - II : Electric Field

1. Electric Field
2. Electric Field Intensity or Electric Field Strength
3. Electric Field Intensity due to a Point Charge
4. Superposition Principle
5. Electric Lines of Force
i) Due to a Point Charge
ii) Due to a Dipole
iii) Due to a Equal and Like Charges
iv) Due to a Uniform Field
6. Properties of Electric Lines of Force
7. Electric Dipole
8. Electric Field Intensity due to an Electric Dipole
9. Torque on an Electric Dipole
10. Work Done on an Electric Dipole

Created by C. Mani, Principal, K V No.1, AFS, Jalahalli West, Bangalore


Electric Field:
Electric field is a region of space around a charge or a system of charges
within which other charged particles experience electrostatic forces.
Theoretically, electric field extends upto infinity but practically it is limited to a
certain distance.
Electric Field Strength or Electric Field Intensity or Electric Field:
Electric field strength at a point in an electric field is the electrostatic force per
unit positive charge acting on a vanishingly small positive test charge placed
at that point.
+q + q0 -q + q0

F F

q – Source charge, q0 – Test charge, F – Force & E - Field

1 q
Lt F F or E= r
E= or E= r
∆q → 0 ∆q q0 4πε0 2

The test charge is considered to be vanishingly small because its presence


should not alter the configuration of the charge(s) and thus the electric field
which is intended to be measured.
Note:

1. Since q0 is taken positive, the direction of electric field ( E ) is along the


direction of electrostatic force ( F ).

2. Electrostatic force on a negatively charged particle will be opposite to the


direction of electric field.

3. Electric field is a vector quantity whose magnitude and direction are


uniquely determined at every point in the field.

4. SI unit of electric field is newton / coulomb ( N C -1 ).


Electric Field due to a Point Charge:
Y
Force exerted on q0 by q is
1 q q0 F
F= r + q0
4πε0 r2
r P (x,y,z)
1 q q0
or F= r
4πε0 r3 +q
O X
F
Electric field strength is E=
q0 Z
1 q
E (r) = r
4πε0 r 3

E
1 q
or E (r) = r
4πε0 r 2

The electric field due to a point charge has


spherical symmetry.
If q > 0, then the field is radially outwards.
0 r2
If q < 0, then the field is radially inwards.
Electric field in terms of co-ordinates is given by

1 q
E (r) = ( xi + y j + z k )
4πε0 ( x2 + y2 + z2 ) 3/2

F14
Superposition Principle:
The electrostatic force experienced by a - q5
charge due to other charges is the vector + q1
+ q2
sum of electrostatic forces due to these F15
other charges as if they are existing
individually.
F12
F13
F1 = F12 + F13 + F14 + F15 + q4 - q3

N
1 ra - rb
Fa (ra) = ∑ qa qb F12
4πε0 F1
b=1 │ ra - rb │3
b≠a
F15
In the present example, a = 1 and b = 2 to 5. F13
If the force is to be found on 2nd charge, F14
then a = 2 and b = 1 and 3 to 5.

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