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Electric field

The document explains the concept of electric fields and Coulomb's Law, detailing how charged particles experience forces within these fields. It provides equations for calculating electric field strength and discusses the relationship between electric fields and potential gradients. Additionally, it includes example questions and illustrations of electric fields around point charges and uniform electric fields.

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Robin Biswas
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8 views12 pages

Electric field

The document explains the concept of electric fields and Coulomb's Law, detailing how charged particles experience forces within these fields. It provides equations for calculating electric field strength and discusses the relationship between electric fields and potential gradients. Additionally, it includes example questions and illustrations of electric fields around point charges and uniform electric fields.

Uploaded by

Robin Biswas
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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08/02/25

ELECTRIC FIELD
The Electric Field
This is a region where a charge particle
experiencesThea force.
field is from + to -

Neutral
Point
Positive Plate

Negative Plate
08/02/25

QQ1 Q2
1

r
Here, F∞Q1Q2
AND, F ∞ 1/ r2
Combining ,we get,

F = kQ1Q2
Coulomb’s
Law r2
08/02/25
Coulomb’s Law
Like gravity, electrostatic force is one of
the four fundamental forces. The
equation looks pretty similar too…

F = kQ1Q2
Coulomb’s
Charles Law r2
Coulomb 1736-
1806

…where k = 9.0 x 109 Nm2C-2 (the “Coulomb Law


Constant”).
This comes from k = 1/4πε0 …

…where ε0 = permittivity of free space (i.e. 8.85 x 10-12


08/02/25
Electric Fields
Electric field strength E = (this is a bit like gravitional
F field strength g = F/m)
q
Let’s compare this to F = kQq
Coulomb’s
Coulomb’s Law: r2
Law

Putting these equations together gives us…

Electric field strength E = kQ


(in NC-1) r2
08/02/25
Example questions
1) Calculate the electric field strength at a distance of
0.1m from a point charge of 20nC.
2) The electric field strength on an electron in hydrogen is
approximately 1x1011 NC-1. How far away from the
nucleus is it?
3) Sketch a graph of electric field strength against
distance:
E

r
Electric fields around a point08/02/25
charge

+Q -Q

Strong
field

Weak
field
08/02/25
Uniform electric fields
Consider two charged plates:

Now consider a point


charge:
+
Work done
= qV
+q
V

For an electron,
qV = ½mv2
-
08/02/25

Consider two charged plates again:

2V
1.5V

Q 1V

0.5V

0V
If a charge moves across an
equipotential it’s energy doesn’t
08/02/25
Potential Gradients
Consider two charged plates yet again:
Work done = QV

2V 0V But work done =


force x distance =
Fx
Therefore F = V =
E
Q x
V
F/Q is the electrical field
strength and V/x is the
potential gradient. They
have units of NC-1 and
Vm-1, which, in base
x
units, are identical.
Deflection in electric field
+ + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + +
α source

β α
γ source
γ

β source

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _
Deflection in electric field
+ + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + +

α source
d cm
α
source

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
x cm _ _

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