General Physics 1

The electric force between two objects is

Lesson 1: Electric Force repulsive if the objects carry a “like” or
“similar” charge, that is, both are positively
The Discovery of Electricity charged or both are negatively charged.

Electricity The electric force is attractive if the two

●​ is a form of energy and it occurs in objects carry “unlike” charges, which means
nature, that one charge is positive, and the other is
●​ rather than invented, it was negative.
discovered.
The terms like and unlike thus refer to the
●​ In about 600 BC, the Ancient Greeks
signs of the charges, not to their magnitude.
discovered that rubbing fur on amber
(fossilized tree resin) caused an
attraction between the two – and so ELECTRIC CHARGE
what the Greeks discovered was static
is also known as electrical charge, or
electricity.
simply charge
The Greek word for amber, “electron”, is the
the fundamental property of matter
origin of the terms electricity and electron

The amount of charge that is “on” or

Static Electricity
“carried by” a particle determines how the
●​ a stationary electric charge, typically
particle reacts to electricity and magnetic
produced by friction, which causes
fields.
sparks or crackling.
●​ the result of an imbalance between
The charge of a particle is the measure of
negative and positive charges in an
the amount of “electric-ness” it carries.
object.

Two Types of Electric Charge

(1)​positive charge; proton (subatomic

particle)
(2)​negative charge; electron (subatomic
particle)

Coulombs (C)
●​ is the SI system of units of charge
●​ named after French Physicist Charles
Like charges repel each other, unlike charges de Coulomb
attract.

The charge on a single electron

−19
𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 =− 𝑒 =− 1. 60𝑥10 𝐶

The charge on a single proton

−19
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 =+ 𝑒 = 1. 60𝑥10 𝐶

Symbol e
●​ to denote the magnitude of the charge
on an electron and proton
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Symbol Q/q (1)​A +10nC charge is 25 cm away from a
●​ to denote charge in general. -20nC point charge. Calculate the
magnitude of the electric force between
Electric Forces and Coulomb’s Law them.

Step 1. List the given for convenience.

Electric Force
Given
is the repulsive or attractive interaction −9
between any two charged bodies 𝑞1 = 10𝑛𝐶 → 10 𝑥 10
−9
𝑞2 = 20𝑛𝐶 → 20 𝑥 10
If the charges carried by two objects are q1 2
and q2 and they are separated by a distance
𝑟 = 25 𝑐𝑚
r, the electric force between the objects can
be written as; Step 2. Convert cm to m then simplify the
answer into scientific notation form.
|𝑞1||𝑞2|
𝐹 = 𝑘 2
2
𝑟 = 25 𝑐𝑚
𝑟 25𝑐𝑚
This formula is called Coulomb's Law. 100𝑛
= 0. 25𝑚
−2
●​ The SI unit for this formula is N. 0. 25 ⇒ 25 𝑥 10
●​ The constant k, also called as 2 −2
Coulomb's constant, has the constant 𝑟 = 25 𝑥 10
value of 2 −2
Constant scientific notation of 𝑟 is 𝑥10
9 2 2
𝑘 = 9 𝑥 10 𝑁. 𝑚 /𝐶
Given
−9
𝑞1 = 10 𝑥 10
−9
𝑞2 = 20 𝑥 10
2 −2
𝑟 = 25 𝑥 10
Step 3. Substitute all given to Coulomb's law (3)​A -10μC point charge is 20 cm away from
or to the formula. a -15μC point charge. Calculate the
magnitude of the electric force between
𝐹 =𝑘
|𝑞1||𝑞2| them.
2
𝑟
Given
−9 −9
𝐹 = 9 𝑥 10 | ||20 𝑥 10 |
9 10 𝑥 10 −6
𝑞1 = 10µ𝐶 → 10 𝑥 10
−2 2
(25 𝑥 10 ) −6
𝑞2 = 15µ𝐶 → 15 𝑥 10
2 −2
Step 4. Calculate. 𝑟 = 20 𝑐𝑚 → 20 𝑥 10
|𝑞1||𝑞2|
𝐹 = 𝑘 2
Solution
𝑟 |𝑞1||𝑞2|
−9 −9 𝐹 = 𝑘
𝐹 = 9 𝑥 10 |
9 10 𝑥 10 ||20 𝑥 10 | 2
𝑟
−2 2 −6 −6
𝐹 = 9 𝑥 10 |
(25 𝑥 10 ) 9 10 𝑥 10 ||15 𝑥 10 |
−0.5 −2 2
𝐹 = 2. 88 𝑥 10 (20 𝑥 10 )
𝐹 = 33. 75
−5
𝐹 = 2. 88 𝑥 10 𝑁
0
𝐹 = 33. 75 𝑥 10 𝑁

(2)​A +25mC point charge is 20 cm away

from a +15mC point charge. Calculate the
magnitude of the electric force between
them.
Given
−3
𝑞1 = 25𝑚𝐶 → 25 𝑥 10
−3
𝑞2 = 15𝑚𝐶 → 15 𝑥 10
2 −2
𝑟 = 20 𝑐𝑚 → 20 𝑥 10

Solution
|𝑞1||𝑞2|
𝐹 = 𝑘 2
𝑟
−3
𝐹 = 9 𝑥 10 |
9 25 𝑥 10 ||15 𝑥 10−3|
−2 2
(20 𝑥 10 )
𝐹 = 84. 375000
−3
𝐹 = 84. 375 𝑥 10 𝑁
Lesson 2: Electric Field The Electric Field Lines

The Electric Field A convenient aid for visualizing electric field

patterns is to draw lines pointing in the
Coulomb’s law gives the electric force direction of the electric field vector at any
between a pair of charges, but there is point.
another way to describe electric forces.
These lines were introduced by Michael
Electric Field Faraday and called electric field lines.
●​ a single isolated point charge,
where a presence of this charge No two field lines can cross each other. It only
produces an electric field meets in the middle.
●​ pertains to lines and pattern of 1
charge Repulsive Charge (like signs)
●​ is a vector because it has both
magnitude and direction

“E”
●​ the symbol of the electric field

Newton per Coulomb “N/C”

●​ the SI unit of electric field

Charges and their direction

(1)​positive (+) point charge
●​ directed radially outward
Attractive Charge (unlike signs)

(2)​negative (-) point charge

●​ directed inward, toward the
charge
𝑘𝑄2
The Electric Field Equation
𝐸= 2
𝐿
𝑘𝑄 ( 9 −6
9𝑥10 )(2.0 𝑥 10 )
𝐸= 2 𝐸2 = 2
(0.030𝑚)
𝐿
Where
9 2 2 Step 4. Calculate (separately)
●​ 𝑘 = 9 𝑥 10 𝑁. 𝑚 /𝐶
𝑘𝑄1
●​ L = length 𝐸1 = 2
𝐿
9 −6
𝐸1 = (
SAMPLE PROBLEMS 9𝑥10 )(4.0 𝑥 10 )
2
(0.030𝑚)
(1)​Two-point charges with Q1= 4.0μC and
Q2= 2.0μC What is the electric field at the
𝐸1 = 40 000 000
origin if L= 3.0 cm? 7
𝐸1 = 4. 0 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶
Step 1. List the given for convenience.

Given
−6
𝑄1 = 4. 0µ𝐶 → 4. 0 𝑥 10
−6 𝑘𝑄1
𝑄2 = 2. 0µ𝐶 → 2. 0 𝑥 10 𝐸2 = 2
2
𝐿
𝐿 = 3. 0 𝑐𝑚 ( 9 −6
9𝑥10 )(2.0 𝑥 10 )
𝐸2 = 2
(0.030𝑚)
Step 2. Convert cm to m then simplify the
answer into scientific notation form.
𝐸2 = 20 000 000
2
𝐿 = 3. 0𝑐𝑚 7
3.0𝑐𝑚
𝐸2 = 2. 0 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶
100𝑚
= 0. 030𝑚

Given Step 5. Find the 𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 by input the two

𝑄1 = 4. 0 𝑥 10
−6 magnitudes in the formula..
−6
𝑄2 = 2. 0 𝑥 10 Given
7
2 𝐸1 = 4. 0 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶
𝐿 = 0. 030𝑚
7
9 𝐸2 = 2. 0 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶
𝑘 = 9𝑥10
𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ?
Step 3. Substitute all given to the electric field
formula where Q1 and Q2 are two separate
computations.
𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = (𝐸1)2 + (𝐸2)2
2 2
𝑘𝑄1 𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = (4. 0 𝑥 107 𝑁/𝐶) ( 7
+ 2. 0 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶 )
𝐸= 2
𝐿
9 −6
𝐸1 = (
9𝑥10 )(4.0 𝑥 10 ) Note: Cancel the “x10^n” first then add it to the total.
2
(0.030𝑚)
●​ Gold;
2 2
𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = (4. 0 𝑥 10 7
)
𝑁/𝐶 ( 7
)
+ 2. 0 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶 ●​ Mercury; and
●​ Human body.
2 2
𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = (4. 0) + (2. 0) Insulators

𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 20 These are materials or substances in which

electric current is not allowed or does not
7 flow freely.
𝐸𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 4. 5 𝑥 10 𝑁/𝐶
Electrons in these materials are not able to
move freely through the material. The atoms
of the insulator have tightly bound
Lesson 4: Conductors and
electrons that cannot readily move.
Insulators
Electrical insulators are used to hold
Conductors conductors in position, separating them from
one another and from surrounding structures.
These are materials or substances through They form a barrier between energized parts
which electricity can flow or transmit in of an electric circuit
them.
Examples of this are
●​ Amber;
Each Cu atom by itself is electrically neutral,
●​ Plastic;
with equal numbers of protons and electrons.
●​ Quartz;
●​ Wood;
●​ Rubber;
●​ Glass; and
●​ Clothes.

Conduction electrons are the electrons

around a solid that are free to move when
an electrical field is applied. Van de Graaff (VDG) Generator

METALLIC BONDS are responsible for the is a machine that continually draws electrons off
electrical conductivity of metals. a large metal dome.

The dome thus becomes strongly positively

Examples of this are
charged once the machine is turned on. If an
●​ Copper; object touches the dome on this machine, that
●​ Aluminum; object also becomes positively charged because
●​ Steel; some of the electrons from the object are drawn
●​ Silver; to the positively-charged dome.
𝑘𝑞1𝑞2
Lesson 5: Electric Potential Energy 𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = 𝑟
9 −17 −19
Electric Potential Energy (9𝑥10 )(6.5𝑥10 )(8𝑥10 )
𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = −8
(2𝑥10 )
is defined as the energy that is needed to −17
move a charge against an electric field. 𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = 2. 34𝑥10 𝐽

“U”
(2)​A particle with a charge 5𝑛𝐶 has a
●​ the symbol that represents the electric
potential energy distance of 0. 5 𝑚 away from a charge of
9. 5𝑛𝐶, what is the electric potential
●​ is also denoted by 𝑃𝐸
𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 energy of the system?
Joules (J)
●​ the SI unit for the electric potential Given
−9
energy q1 = 5𝑛𝐶 → 5𝑥10
●​ can be N/m q2 = 9. 5𝑛𝐶 → 9. 5𝑥10
−9

r = 0. 5 𝑚
The formula for solving for the electric
potential energy is Find: EPE = U = ?

𝑘𝑞1𝑞2
𝑘𝑞1𝑞2
𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = 𝑟 𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = 𝑟
9 −9 −9
(9𝑥10 )(5𝑥10 )(9.5𝑥10 )
Where 𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = (0.5)
●​ k, the coulomb's constant is,
9 𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = 0. 000000855
𝑘 = 9𝑥10
●​ q1 and q2, the values of charges −07
𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐 = 𝑈 = 8. 6𝑥10 𝐽
●​ r is the radius in METER

Sample Problem Electric Potential

−17
(1)​If a charge of magnitude 6. 5𝑥10 𝐶 is
is defined as the amount of work needed to
−8
being held in place 2𝑥10 𝑚 from a move a unit of charge from a reference point
−19
charge of − 8𝑥10 𝐶 which is also being to a specific point on the electric field.
held in place, what is the electric potential
energy of the system? “V”
●​ symbol for electric potential
Given
−17 Volt (V)
q1 = 6. 5𝑥10 𝐶
−19
●​ the SI unit for the electric potential
q2 = − 8𝑥10 𝐶 ●​ in honor of Alessandro Volta
−8
r = 2𝑥10 𝑚 (1745-1827)

Find: EPE = U = ? Remember that, no work done = no electric

potential.
The volt is related to other SI units by

Unit of electric potential:

1v = 1 J/C - 1 N.m/C

The formula for solving for the electric

potential are:

𝑘𝑞 𝑈
𝑉= 𝑟
𝑉= 𝑞

Where
k, the coulomb's constant is, 𝑘 = 9𝑥10
9 Sample Problem
q are the values of charges (1)​Find the electric potential at a distance of
r is the radius in METER 8cm from a charge of 7.5mC charge.

Real-life example of Electric Potential Given

−3
1.​ Low potential region to high potential q = 7. 5𝑚𝐶 → 7. 5𝑥10
region. Work is done. r = 8 𝑐𝑚 → 0. 08 𝑚
2.​ Change of position = Potential 9
k = 9𝑥10
Energy
3.​ When the object falls from a high
Find: EP = V = ?
potential region to a low potential
region, it has Kinetic Energy. 𝑘𝑞
4.​ Work is done. Electricity is generated 𝑉= 𝑟
and utilized. 9 −3
(9𝑥10 )(7.5𝑥10 )
𝑉= (0.08 )
08
𝑉 = 8. 4𝑥10 𝑉