CHAPTER 1:

ELECTROSTATICS

❖ Coulomb’s Law
❖ Electric Field
❖ Charge in a uniform electric field
❖ Electric Potential
❖ Equipotential
Coulomb’s
Lawthat the electric force,
Coulomb’s Law states
F between two charges separated by a
distance, r, is
(i) inversely proportional to the square of the
separation, r between the two charges, and ;
(ii) directly proportional to the product of the
magnitudes of the charges, Q1 and Q2.

The direction of the force F is along the straight

line joining the two point charges.
It can be written as :
Where ;
k = Coulomb constant which has the value of
9 × 109 N m2 C -2
Q1 = magnitude of charge Q 1
Q2 = magnitude of charge Q 2
r = separation distance between the two
charges.
Constant k is also given by:

Where ;
εo = permittivity of free space which has
the value of 8.854 × 10-12 F m -1
The electric force between two charges is
attractive if the charges are of opposite sign
and repulsive if the charges have the same
sign.
F12 F21
+
Q Q
1 2

F12
+ + F21

Q Q
1 2

The notation F12 denotes the force exerted on

charge 1 due to(by) charge 2 and F21 is the
force exerted on charge 2 due to(by) charge 1.
Since electric forces obey Newton’s third law,
therefore the forces F12 and F21 are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction.
Hence, it can be written as F12 = - F 21
Example 1 :
Three point charges are firmly held on a
straight line of 4 cm in length as shown in the
figure below.
Q1 = +10 Q2 = +5 Q3 = -8
μC 2 μC 2 μC
cm cm
Find the resultant electric force acting on ;

(a) charge Q2
(b) charge Q1
Solution :
F2 F2
(a 3 1
) Q1 = +10 Q2 = +5 Q3 = -8
μC μC μC

The force acting on Q2 due to Q1 is repulsive

because Q1 and Q2 have the same sign,
therefore the direction of F21 is to the right.

The force acting on Q2 due to Q3 is attractive

because Q2 and Q3 have the opposite sign,
therefore the direction of F23 is also to the
right.
The magnitudes of F21 and F23 are given by ;

= 900
N
Therefore, the resultant electric force
acting on charge Q 2 is ;

F = F 21 + F 23
= (+1125) + (+900)
= 2025 N (to the right)
(b
F1 F1
) 2 3
Q1 = +10 Q2 = +5 Q3 = -8
μC μC μC

The force acting on Q1 due to Q2 is repulsive

because Q1 and Q2 have the same sign,
therefore the direction of F12 is to the left.

The force acting on Q1 due to Q3 is attractive

because Q1 and Q3 have the opposite sign,
therefore the direction of F13 is to the right.
The magnitudes of F12 and F13 are given by ;
Therefore, the resultant electric force
acting on charge Q 1 is ;

F = F 12 + F 13
= (-1125) + (+450)
= -675 N (to the left)
Exercis
es
1. In a hydrogen atom, the electron is at a distance of 5 X
10-11 m from the nucleus which consists of a proton. Find
the force between the electron and the proton. [9.2
X 10-8 N]
 
2. Three point charges of -1 μC, +2 μC and +3 μC a fixed
along a straight line as shown in the figure. Calculate
the resultant force on charge +2 μC. [105 N
towards -1 μC]
2cm 3 cm

-1 μC +2 μC +3 μC
Electric Field
An electric field, E is a region in which an electric
force will act on a charge that is placed in the
region. field strength E
Electric
Definition
The electric force acting on a small test charge
that is placed in the electric field region divided
by the charge qo of the test charge.

E is a vector quantity and the unit is N C-1.

Electric field patterns can be represented by
electric field lines which is drawn pointing in
the direction of the E vector at any point.
• These lines do not intersect each other and
the number of lines determine the strength
of the electric field.

• Thus, E is large when the field lines are close

together and small when they are far apart.

• A positive and a negative charge can produce

electric field.
Below are some patterns of E for different
types of charges and its location with each
other.

The direction of E for a positive point

charge is outward from the charge in all
direction (3 dimension)
The direction of E for a negative point
charge is towards the charge in all
direction (3 dimension)
The strength of E will decrease when the
distance from the charge increases.
The figure shows the
electric field lines
(patterns) for two
equal and opposite
point charges.

The figure shows the

electric field lines
(patterns) for two
equal and positive
point charges.
The figure above is the
electric field lines
(patterns) for a point
charge +2q and a
second point charge -
q.

Electric field strength, E can also be written

in terms of k, Q and r. It is derived from the
definition of E and F.

Consider a point charge Q located at a

distance r from a test charge qo,
r

Q q
o
According to Coulomb’s Law ;

eq. 1

From definition ;
eq. 2

By substituting eq. 1 into eq. 2, we get ;

Notice that E is inversely proportional to r2

The relationship between E and r can be

shown in the graph below.
E

r
EXAMPLE 3 :
Determine:

(a) the electric field strength at a point X at a

distance of 20 cm from a point charge Q =
+8 μC.

(b) the electric force that acts on a point

charge q = -1 μC placed at point X.
Solution :
(a) From

E = 1.8 × 10 6 N
C-1
(b) Knowing that ;

F=
Eq= (1.8 × 106)(1 ×
10-6)
= 1.8 N towards
Q
EXAMPLE 4 :
Two point charges, Q1 = +7 μC and Q2 = -5 μC
are separated by a distance of 0.3 m between
each other as in figure below. Determine the
resultant E produced by these two charges at
point P.
P

0.4
m

Q 0.3 Q2
1 m
Solution :
First, we have to draw the vector diagram for E
produced by Q 1 and Q 2 at point P.
E1 is produced by Q 1 and E2 is produced by Q 2.

E1

P θ
E2
Given that ;
tan θ = 0.4/0.3
θ = 53.13°
Since E is a vector quantity, so we have to
resolve E1 and E2 into x and y component and
find the summation of each of the component.
Therefore, the magnitude of the resultant E is ;
The direction of the resultant E is given by ;

above the positive x-

axis
Exercis
es
1. Point charges of +2 μC and – 8 μC are at the
points A and B respectively. Find the
magnitude and direction of the electric field
strength at the point P which is 10 cm from
P
both A and B.
10 10
cm cm

A B

+2 μC -8 μC

[7.42 X 10 6 NC-1 ,
14.040 ]
2. Two point charges of +2 μC and -5.0 μC
are separated by a distance of 6.0 cm. Find
the electric field at the midpoint between the
charges.
[69.9 MN/C]

3. An electric dipole consists of charges +5

μC and -5.0 μC separated by a distance of
20 nm. Calculate the electric field at a point
40 nm from the midpoint of the dipole along
the perpendicular bisector of the line joining
the two charges.
[1.40 X 10 19 NC-1]
Charge in a uniform electric field.
-- - -- - - -- - - -- - -- - - -- - - -- - --

++ + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + +

A uniform electric field is represented by a set

of electric field lines which are straight, parallel
to each other and equally spaced.
It can be produced by two flat parallel metal
plates which is charged, one is positive and one
is negative and is separated by a distance as
shown in the figure above.
The direction of a uniform E is from the positive
plate to the negative plate.
Case 1: Stationary
charge
+ + + + + + + + + + +
F=e
- E

E W=m
- - - - - - - - - - -
-
g

A charge of weight W stationary in the uniform

electric field between two charged horizontal
parallel metal plates.
Since the charge is stationary,
then
Fe = W
eE = mg
Case 2: Charge moving perpendicularly to
the field

If a charged particle (eg : an electron) is held in

between the two plates and then released, it
will accelerates to one of the plates (in this case,
to the positive plate).
An electric force will be exerted on the
electron and the magnitude of the electric force
is given by ;
Where a is the acceleration of the electron and
Fe can also be written as ;

By equating these two equations, we get ;

Where me = mass of electron

= 9.11 × 10-31 kg
To find other kinematics quantities such as v, s
and t, we can always use the equations of linear
motion.

If the electron is being shot perpendicular (90°)

to the direction of E, it will be deflected to the
positive plate in a projectile motion and it will
follows a parabolic path as shown in the figure
above.
Knowing that ;

By substituting q = -e (for electron) in the

equation above, we get ;

We can determine the velocity in the x and y

component.

In y-component, uy = 0, therefore ;
The final position [coordinate ; (x,y)] of the
electron at a certain time can be determined
from ;

Knowing that u y = 0 in y-component, therefore ;

Case 3: Charge moving parallel to
the+ field
E -
-
+
+
+ F=q -
+ E -
-
+ F=e - -
+
+
E -

A charge is in the electric field E experiences a

electric force ,F = qE for a positive charge in the
direction of the field E and F = eE for a negative
charge in the opposite direction to the electric
fieldelectric
An E. force will be exerted on the
electron and the magnitude of the electric force
is given by ;
Where a is the acceleration of the electron and
Fe can also be written as ;

By equating these two equations, we get ;

If initially the charge is stationary, that is u = 0,

after a time t the velocity of the charge is
v = u + at = 0 + (eE/m e )t
If u is the initial velocity of the charge in the
direction of the electric field E, then after a time t,
its velocity is
v = u + (eE/me )t
If the electron is being shot parallel (0°) to the
direction of E, then the motion is along a
straight line
Case 4: Charge in dynamic
equilibrium
This case there is no acceleration acted on the
charge since the resultant force on the charge
will be zero.
EXAMPLE 5 :

A uniform electric field exists in the space

between two identical parallel charged metal
plates. The plates are 1.0 cm apart. An electron
is released from rest at the negatively charged
plate. It arrives at the positively charged plate
2.0 ns later.
Determine ;
(a) the electric field strength

(b) the speed of the electron when it arrives

at the positively charged plate.

(given ; me = 9.11 × 10 -31 kg)

Solution :
(a) From F = mea and F = eE

From kinematics equation ;

Given that u = 0 (from rest), so ;

Therefore ;

(b) From v = u + at
Example
6
An oil drop of mass 4.5 μkg has 12 electrons on it.
It is stationary between two parallel horizontal
charged plates X and Y as shown in the figure.
What is the magnitude and direction of the
electric field between the plates?

F = 12
eE
E W=
mg
Solutio
•n:The weight of the oil drop acts downwards.
• To balance the weight, the electric force F
must act upwards.
• Since the charge on the oil drop is negative,
the force is in opposite direction to the
electric field E, that is downwards.
F=W
12 eE =
mg
= (4.5 X 10 -6)(9.81)/12(1.60 x
10-19)
= 2.30 x 10 13 Vm-1
Exercis
es parallel electrodes X and Y are separated by a
1. Two
distance of 1.80 cm. The electric field between the
electrodes is 2.40 X 10 4 NC -1. Electrons are emitted with
negligible velocity from electrode X.

a) What is the force on an electron due to electric field?

b) Calculate

i. The acceleration of electron in the electric field.

ii. The velocity of the electron when it reaches electrode Y.
iii. The time taken by the electron to travel from the
electrode X to Y.

(Charge of electron = -1.6 X 10 -19C, mass of electron = 9.11

X 10-31 kg)
-15 15 -2 7 -1 -9
2. Each of the figure shows an electron being projected
into a uniform electric field in the directions shown.
Copy the figures and sketch the subsequent paths of
electrons. Explain why the electrons follow the paths
drawn. E

- v
v
-

- v

E
Electric Potential
Electric potential, V is defined as the work done
per unit charge to bring a test charge from
infinity to a point in an electric field produced by
a source point charge, Q.

Electric potential, V is a scalar quantity and the

unit is J C -1 or Volt (V).
V can also be written in terms of k, Q and r
which is given by ;
If the electric potential at a point in an electric
field is V, then a charge q at that point has
electric potential energy, U of ;

When calculating the electric potential V or

electric potential energy U, the sign of the
charges must be included in the substitutions.
The values of V and ,either positive (+) or
negative (-) must be shown.
Equipotential Surfaces

Equipotential surface is a surface on which all

points are at the same potential.
This means that all points on the surface of a
sphere which is centered at the point charge and
of radius r have the same electric potential V.

The equipotential surfaces around a point charge

are concentric spheres.

The potential difference between any two

points on an equipotential surface is zero.
Hence, no work is required to move a charge at
constant speed on an equipotential surface.
The electric field at every point on an
equipotential surface is perpendicular to the
surface.
Potential Difference

Potential difference between two points is the

work done per unit charge to bring a positive
point charge from point A to point B in an
electric field.

Where ;
VBA = V B – V A (final – initial)
Relationship between uniform E and potential
difference.
The relationship between uniform electric field
produced by two parallel plates separated by a
distance r and potential difference is given by ;

From this relationship, the magnitude of E can

also be written as ;

Where ;
r = separation distance between the two plates
or normally we use d.
EXAMPLE 7 :
Points A and B are at distances of 2.0 cm and
3.0 cm respectively from a point charge Q =
-100 μC. Determine ;
(a) the electric potentials at A and B,
(b) the energy required in moving a point
charge q = +2.0 μC, from A to B.
Solution :
(a)
(b) the energy required is given by ;
EXAMPLE 8
: point charge q1 = +5.0 μC is at the origin and a
A
point charge q2 = -2.0 μC is on the x-axis at (3,0)
m as in figure below.
y (m)
P
(0,4)
m

Q2 x
Q (3,0) (m)
1
m
Find the total electric potential due to these
charges at point P.
V at P due to each charge can be calculated
from ;

The total V is the scalar sum of these two

potentials.
Therefore, Vp = V 1 + V 2
= (+1.12 × 10 4) + (-0.36 × 104)
= 7.6 × 10 3 V
EXAMPLE
9
300
B
0V
400
0V
600
A
0V

C 700
0V
800
0V

20
mm
a) Discuss whether the point charge is a positive
or a negative charge.
b) What is the work done to move a charge of 8.0
μC from the point B to the point A?
c) What is the work done to move a charge of 5.0
μC from the point B to point C?
Solutio
a)nThe point charge is positive because the
electric potential decreases as the distance
from it increases.
b) To move a charge of 8.0 μC from the point B to
point A
Work done = q ( VA – V B )
= 8.0 μ (4000 - 7000)
c) To move a charge of 5.0 μC from the point B to
the point C
Work done = q ( VC – V B )
= 5.0 μ (4000 – 4000)
=0J
Exercis
1.es
a) State one similarity and one difference for
the electric force between point charges and
gravitational force between point masses.
b) XYZ is an equilateral triangle of side 20.0 mm.
Point charges of +6.0 μC and - 6.0 μC are
located at X and Y. Z
Calculate
i. The electric field strength,
ii. The electric potential,
X Y
ii. The force on an electron, +6.0 -6.0
At Z μC μC
[1.35 X 10 8 Vm-1, 0 V, 2.16 X 10-11 N]