Electrostatics

 There were 2 ancient effects that seemed

like ‘action-at-a-distance’
1. Lodestone effect (magnetism)
-Works well on certain metals (Fe, Co, Ni)
-Limited effect: these metals only strongly
attract certain metals

2. Amber effect (electrostatics)

 Electrostatics: History
~600 BC: Thales noted the ‘Amber Effect’
 Amber is semi-transparent, solid, (yellow or
brown) petrified/fossilized tree sap
 Amber had a property of attraction if rubbed
vigorously against a cloth. This is the first
recorded evidence of electrostatic attraction.

Electro= Greek word for amber

Static= stationary
Electrostatics: the study of electric charges at
rest.
 The amber effect works on many substances.
 People thought that only certain substances could
be electrified by friction (electrics) and others
couldn’t (non-electrics)
 ‘Non-electric’s were metals.
 Later it was found that ‘electrics’ didn’t allow
electricity to flow easily (insulators)
 ‘Non-electrics’ were conductors
 Conductors can be charged if they are insulated
from everything else
 It seemed that metals couldn’t be charged. Why
not? Because they are grounded easily. They
have to be insulated from the ground.
Extra: 2 types of effects: Resinous and Vitreous

Dufay’s 2 Fluid Theory. France (1700 AD)

 Dufay proposed that substances were
composed of 2 different types of electric
fluids (vitreous, resinous).
 A positive fluid and a negative fluid.
 Neutral objects would contain equal
amounts of each fluid and friction would
cause an excess of one or the other fluid to
accumulate on the object.
Father of Electricity
 An easier explanation: 1 fluid theory
Benjamin Franklin’s 1 Fluid Theory: (USA
1706 -1790)
 Charges of vitreous and resinous fluids
neutralize each other
 Proposed a 1 fluid theory
 Neutral objects have a ‘normal’ amount of
electric fluid
 “Charges” due to transfer of electric fluid
when rubbed against each other.
 excess of the electric fluid = a positive
charge, lack of the fluid = a negative
charge.
 If an object gains fluid, it becomes positive
 As objects lose electric fluid, they become
more negative
 Fluid composed of tiny (invisible to the
eye) particles
 If you rub a neutral ebonite rod with
neutral fur, the ebonite rod gets a charge
 If Ben’s right, the fur should also get
charged
 Which gained fluid and which lost fluid?

Fur
Ben’s fluid

Modern view: electrons transfer from

glass rod to fur. Fur becomes –ve, glass
+ve
 Ben didn’t know so he arbitrarily decided
that:
 The charge on glass when rubbed with silk
is positive (the glass gained fluid)
 The charge on ebonite when rubbed with
fur is negative (the ebonite lost fluid)
 This convention still holds
 (Electron is not discovered until 1897)
 Electrons are ‘negative’ because they are
repelled by an ebonite rod
 Grounding
Grounding: providing a path for the charge to flow
to/from the ground, leaving the object neutral.
 We insulate conductors so they can hold a
charge: (pith ball is insulated by floss, charged
metal is insulated by insulating stand)
 A ground is an object so large that the gain or
loss of a few e- has a negligible effect
Symbol:
 Law of Electrostatic Charges
 Like charges repel
 Negative opposes Negative; positive opposes
positive
 Unlike charges attract
 Negative attracts positive
 Neutral attracted to both types
 Law of Conservation of Charge
 Discovered by Ben Franklin
 The net electric charge of an isolated
system is constant.
 If a positive charge is created, then a negative
charge is also created in an isolated system (a
free neutron will decay into a proton and an
electron after a ½ life of 11 minutes)
 Franklin described how excess and deficits of
electric fluid account for attraction/repulsion

q   q '
Attraction/Repulsion can cause motion

Polarization is the separation of charge in a

body.
Polarization can occur if there is a charged
influence.
conductor 17-2
Wooden needle 17-06
 Modern Explanation: key points
~1800: Dalton’s model of the atom proposed
1897 electron and 1911 proton discovered
Only e- s are transferred, p+ s are trapped in the
nucleus
 Positive = deficit of electrons
 Negative = excess of electrons
 Neutral have equal numbers of p+ s and e- s
 Electrons are much easier to move than a nucleus
Franklin is pretty close. He pictured a positive fluid
exchange, not negative electrons
Dufay is pretty close. Both +ve and -ve particles exist
Materials are categorized according to
electrostatic behavior.
 Conductors: ‘Free’ electrons
In conductors, negative charges can move easily.
Law of electrostatic charges: charges want to be as
far apart from like charges and close to unlike
 Solids = only e- s move from one atom to the next.
Electrons are not bound tightly to an atom
 Liquids/solutions/gases = both +ve and -ve parts
can drift, causing polarization (eg ions)
Conductor: Material in which the e- s of the outermost
region of the atom are free to move
 Insulators: Localized effects
 Movement of charge is difficult.
 An excess/deficit of charge remains localized
 Electrons bound to atoms/molecules may shift
but not leave.
Insulators: Material in which the e- s are tightly
bound to the nucleus and not free to move
within the substance
Charge shift: movement of e- s in an atom
where one side becomes -ve and the other
+ve (polarization).
 Extra: Semi conductors: special paths
Crystalline structure provide low resistance
channels (hallways) for e- flow
 Good conductors in some circumstances
and good insulators in others
Eg: selenium is an insulator in the dark and a
conductor in the light. Important component of
a photocopier drum.
Extra: Superconductors: very chilly
Onnes (1911) observed mercury lost
resistance when cooled to -269ºC
 No measurable resistance at cold
temperatures (100% efficient current)
 1986 high temperature (-216ºC)
superconductors YBa2Cu3O7
 Latest: copper alloys (-123ºC)
 Imagine if we found room temperature
superconductivity!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VGACLNfZ8s
 Methods to attain charge:
1. Friction: energy input causes e- transfer
2. Conduction: transfer of charge by contact
 Both objects share the charge of the system
 Net charge is conserved
 Unequal charge sharing if objects are
different shapes/sizes/materials
3. Induction: polarization of charge due to an
influence and then grounding
 Due to the law of electrostatics, charge (-)
moves toward or away from influence charge
 Charging by Friction

2 neutral objects: after rubbing

which will have an excess of e- s?
 When materials are rubbed together, the
energy is used to move electrons from
one material to the other.
 The material that holds electrons loosely
becomes +ve, the material that holds e-
tightly becomes –ve.
Electrostatic Series
 Charging by Conduction
Transfer from
area of high
concentration
to lower

Law of electrostatic charges helps us predict the

distribution of charge: the goal of the electrons is
maximum personal space
 Charging by Conduction
• There is perfect charge sharing if the conductors
have the same size/shape/material
 Studying Electrostatics:
electroscope
metallic knob &
stem CONDUCTOR

Insulating
rubber stopper

glass box

gold foil

Neutral Charged electroscope

electroscope All conducting parts
share the charge thus
the 2 foils repel
 Charge Migration: Polarization

Conductor!

Electrons shift
away
Insulator

Everything
stuck in
place

Law of Electrostatic Charges and category of material

helps us explain the electron story
 Movement of charge
Charge migration: movement of e- s in a
neutral object where one side of the object
becomes positive and the other negative
The object is in a POLARIZED state
Grounding: the process of transferring of
charge to and from the Earth
 Use ‘electron stories’ to explain phenomena
 Where are the electrons are moving from/to?
 Use a known charge on a pith ball or ebonite
rod to determine if another object is +ve or
–ve. Bring the object close to the pith ball,
attract or repel?
 Remember that polarization is very common.
 Why does a balloon stick to a wall?
 Sometimes a neutral pith ball attracts to a
charged object and sticks to it for a while
before repelling. Why?
 Charging by Induction 17-01

Charging an object by polarizing it by induction, then

retain the charge by grounding
 Extra: Electrophoresis 17-03
How does the metal plate attain a charge?
 Rub the resin block with fur, resin becomes –ve
 Put metal disk on resin and ground the metal
 Remove the metal disk and test its charge with
a pith ball (metal has +ve charge)
 Repeat steps and keep getting more charge
without losing original –ve charge on resin!
Whilmhurst 17-04
 Process of induction is driven by the law of
electrostatic charges.
Your tools: the electroscope

neutral electroscope charged electroscope

 Lab: Develop a procedure to charge an
electroscope: Negative
 Process #1: Conduction
 Process #2: Induction
 You must start at the beginning. Choose
the correct equipment (begins neutral)
 Show the charge movement in the
diagrams
 The electron story: Use proper
terminology to explain what happens and
why
 Formation of Lightning 17-11

Electrostatic
1.Frictional discharge can
effects
be FAST

3.Electrons
Eg lightning
flow down
Electrostatic
2.Polarization discharge can
Induced
be SLOW
Eg lightning rods
 Coulomb: France, 1785
 Joseph Priestly had proposed that the
formula for electric force between 2 charges
would be similar to Newton’s Universal Law
of Gravitation: Gm1m2
Fg  2
r
 Priestly proposed that the size of Fe would
depend on 3 things:
F e  q1q2
 Size of charges
 Distance between charges 1
Fe  2
 Medium r
 Coulomb
 Coulomb used a torsion balance to find the
electric force constant k.
kq q
F 
e
1 2
2
r
 Coulomb did this 13 years before Cavendish
used a torsion balance to find G
 G is much harder to measure than k, because
Fg is about 1000 times weaker than Fe.
http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/104_2012_web_projects/cicely_shankle/Images/coulomb%20torsion%20balance.gif
retrieved Feb 28, 2014
 Torsion Balance
 Use small charges (“point charges”) so you
use the distance between their centers.
Remember that charge accumulates on the
outside of objects.
Fe (N)
Fe (N)

Fe (N)
r (m) 1/r (m-1) 1/r2 (m-2)
 Torsion Balance
 When q is manipulated, it’s hard to keep r
constant.

Fe (N)
Fe (N)

q1 q2
 Electrostatic Force: Charles de Coulomb
Attractive or Repulsive
Coulomb’s Law: the strength of electrostatic
interaction depends on:

F e  q1q2
1
Fe  2 kq1q2
r Fe  2
r
 k = 8.99 x 109 Nm2/C2
 k is a proportionality constant. It makes the units
work properly, so you must use the correct units.
 BMU#2
 Unit of Charge: coulomb
 A coulomb is the laboratory developed standard
unit of charge
 Symbol for coulomb: C
 Proton p+ = +1.60 x 10-19 C
 Electron e- = -1.60 x 10-19 C
 Alpha particle α2+ = +3.20 x 10-19 C
How many electrons are contained in 1.0 C?
Elementary charge = 1.60 x 10-19 C/e- , so: 6.25 x 1018 e/C
How much charge is contained in an
1. SO42-
2. Fe3+
3. Fe atom
4. Fe2(SO4)3
 2 spheres each have a 1.0 C charge and are
1.00 m apart. Find the force between them.
Fe = kq1q2/r2

Fe 
 8.99 x 10 9
Nm 2
/C 2
 1.0 C 1.0 C  = 9.0 x 109 N repel
(1 m) 2

 This is a massive force! These would be

killer spheres, they’d repel through walls,
people, etc
 1.0 C is a ridiculously large static charge!!
In a hydrogen atom, the e- and the p+ are separated by
5.29 x 10-11 m. What is the electric force on the electron?
Coulomb’s law gives the strength of the interaction. Since the
charges are opposite in sign, they will attract.

q e = -1.60 x 10-19 C, q p = +1.60 x 10-19 C, r = 5.29 x 10-11 m

q1q2
Fe  k 2
r

Fe 
 8.99 x 10 9
Nm 2
/C 2
1.60 x 10 -19
C 1.60 x 10 -19
C
(5.29 x 10-11m) 2
Fe = 8.22 x 10-8 N attraction

How does this compare to gravitational force?

 The Fe between 2 charges is 3.00 x 10-6 N
repulsion, what will be the force if:
 The charge on each is doubled?
 1.20 x 10-5 N repulsion
 The distance is halved?
 1.20 x 10-5 N repulsion
 The charge on one is doubled and the
distance is tripled?
 6.67 x 10-7 N repulsion
 Could these particles be (p+, e), (p+, alpha),
or (p+, neutron)?
 Solving Ratio Problems
 Find the equation relating the variables
 Set up the new (prime ‘ ) as the numerator
 Set up the old as the denominator
 Cancel the variables that don’t change
q1q2
Fe  k 2
r
q1 ' q2 ' 2q1 2q2
Fe ' k ' 2
k' 2
 r'  r' 4
Fe q1q2 q1q2
k 2 k 2
r r
The Fe between 2 charged objects is 400 N at distance
r apart. If the objects have their charges reduced to ½
their original charge, and the distance between them is
reduced to 1/3 r, find the new force between them
q1q2
Fe  k 2
r
1 1
q1 q2
k' 2 2 2
q1 ' q2 ' 1 
Fe ' k '  r
 r '2
  3 

9
400 N q1q2 q1q2 4
k 2 k 2
r r
9
F e '  (400 N )  900 N
4
 Vector nature of Fe
(net force must be determined)
The charged spheres below are touched
together and then returned to their position.
Find the electrostatic force on A.

A B
0.500m
-3.00μC +4.00 μC
 Solution: according to the Conservation of charge,
once contact made between the spheres the net
charge will be shared evenly. After contact they will
have the same charge and a repulsive force will
result (Law of Electrostatics). Coulomb’s law will tell
us the magnitude
Net charge = -3.00 μC + +4.00 μC = +1.00 μC

A B
0.500m
+0.50 μC
+0.50μC

kq1q2
Fe  2
r

Fe 
 9
8.99 x 10 Nm /C2 2
  0.500 μC 2

[repulsion]  8.99 x 10-3 N  left 

 0.500 m 
2
Where should a charge be placed so it
would remain stationary?
4.00 m
A B
C
X=??
A=+3.00C
B=+9.00C

 Solution: in order to remain stationary

Fnet= 0, thus the forces must be equal.
Fe  Fe
ac bc

kq a q c kq b q c
=
 4.00 m - x 
2 2
x
Choose the mathematical path to make things easier.
Fe  Fe
ac bc

kq a q c kq b q c
=
 4.00 m - x 
2 2
x
qa qb
= cross multiply and
 4.00 m - x 
2 2
x

qa x2
=
 4.00 m - x 
2
qb

3.00C x

9.00C  4.00 m - x 
x = 1.46 m from A or 2.54 m from B
 Find Fnet on B

-5.00 C -2.00 C
+3.00 C
A
2.00 m 3.00 m C
B

 Use Coulomb’s law to find the magnitude

of the force
 Use the Law of Electrostatics to find the
direction.
 Vector add the forces to find Fnet
This is like the planetary questions
from gravitation in P20:
 Steps: find the interaction between each
charge
 Use law of electrostatics to find direction
and draw free body diagrams
 Vector add the forces to find Fnet
 Find Fnet on B

-5.00 C -2.00 C
+3.00 C
A B C

kqa qb kqc qb
Fe  2 F e 
ab r bc r2

 8.99 x 10 Nm /C  (3.00 C)(5.00 C) F e 

9 2 2  8.99 x 109
Nm 2
/C 2
 (3.00 C)(2.00 C)
Fe  bc
 
2

 2.00 m 
ab 2 3.00 m
Fe  5.99333 x 109 N  attraction 
F e  3.37125 x 1010 N [attraction] bc
ab

Fnet on B = 2.77 x 1010 N [left]

 Find the Fnet on B
Solution: Find the size of
N
each force using qA = -2.10 μC
Coulomb’s Law. Draw
qB = +1.50 μC
a vector diagram of the
forces using the law of qC = +1.80 μC
rab = 2.00 cm
electrostatics. Find the A B
resultant FNet

rbc = 3.00 cm

C
 Evaluate Fnet on B

Fe 
 8.99 x 10 9
Nm 2
/C 2
 2.10 x 10 -6
C 1.50 x 10 -6
C

 2.00 x 10 m
AB -2 2

B
Fe  70.79... N attraction west
AB

Fe 
 8.99 x 10 9
Nm 2 /C2 1.80 x 10-6 C 1.50 x 10-6 C 

 3.00x10 m
cb -2 2

Fe  26.97 N repulsion north A

cb

F e netB  26.97 N 2  70.80 N 2  75.8 N

 26.97 N 
  tan 1    20.9° nt of wt
 70.80 N 

The net Electric force experience on B is

75.8N 20.9º nt of wt
 Analyzing amount of Charge
 Stationary Fnet = 0
 Thus Fg + Fe + FT = 0
We know the Fg = mg
We can see the angle,
separation and length of
string.

Lab Challenge: analyze the amount of

charge 0.055g stryofoam bits …
Assume: charge on each is the same
and they are the same mass
Equal masses of 2.00 g are attached to the ends of a
1.00 m long thread. When charged, they diverge 30.0º.
Find the charge on each.
 Use the triangle to calculate r
 Calculate Fg and then use triangle to calculate Fe
 Apply law to find q
FT
Fe

Fg = mg
1 Employ ½ of the triangle for a right triangle
r = (sin15.0)(0.50 m) = 0.129...m, then r = 0.25888 m
2
m = 2.0 g = 2.0 x 10-3 kg
F g  m g   2.0 x 10-3 kg  (9.81 m/s 2 ) = 0.01962 N

F e  tan15.0 F g  tan15.0(0.01962 N) =0 .0052573 N

since q1 =q 2
kq1q2
Fe 
r2
kq 2
Fe  2
r
 0.0052573 N  0.25888 m 
2 2
Fe r
q  = 1.9792 x 10-7 C
k  8.99 x 10 9
Nm 2
/C 2

q  0.20  C
How is Fe transmitted between charged objects?
Theories:
 Action at a distance: Fe appears at 2nd object
without travelling through intervening space: magic?
 Electrical Ether: there are no vacuums and Fe is
transmitted by stresses and strains in the electrical
ether. Problem: ether has never been detected.
 Modern version: particle exchange
 Electrical Fields: what we’ll use. You don’t have to
believe in electric fields, but the equations give the
right answers.
 Field theory: Faraday (1791-1867)
 Electric field were proposed by
Faraday in 1840ish
 Faraday invented the idea of
fields to explain how Fe is
transmitted
 Field: a region of influence
surrounding an object
 Einstein used field concept for
gravity: mass warps the space
around it, if a 2nd body enters
the field, the field puts a force
on the 2nd object.
BMU-03
 Review: Gravitational Field
 Gravitational field surrounding a large
mystery mass = Fg on a small test mass
𝐹Ԧ𝑔
𝑔Ԧ = Gm1

𝑚𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 g  2
r
 Value of g represents how warped the
gravitational space is. The more warped, the
higher the acceleration
 Units for g: m/s2 or N/kg
 Electric Field
• Electrical field surrounding a large mystery
charge = Fe on a small positive test charge
• Unit for Field intensity = N/C
kq1q2
Fe  2
r

Fe kqsource
 2
 E
qtest r
 Quantifying Electric field strength
Fe
E  This equation can be used in all cases
qtest

kqsource
E  2
can only be used for
r
electric field surrounding a point charge
• Field Direction: same direction as 𝐹Ԧ𝑒 would be on a
positive ‘test’ charge
• Unit for Field intensity = N/C or V/m
• Field lines DON’T cross each other!!
 Electric Field Lines
1. Field is stronger where field lines are closer
together.
2. Direction of electric field lines is the same
direction as Fe would be on a positive test
charge.
3. Field lines don’t cross
4. Field direction at a point is tangent to the
curved line
Direction of Electric Field around a
Point Charge 17-07 17-08

Convention: think “how would a positive

test charge move?”
 Drawing Electric Field Lines 17-10

Convention: field direction is same as Fe on a

positive charge. Field lines don’t cross.
 Electric Fields point away from
positives and toward negatives

The number of field lines indicates the strength of the field at that point. Notice
in the diagram above how the field lines are more dense close to each
charge and become spread further apart away from the charges.
Draw the electric field lines for 2 identical positive point
charges which are a short distance apart.

Direction of electric field is by definition the

same direction as the Fe would be on an
imaginary positive test charge
A -2.0 μC charge experiences Fe of 6.0 x 10-2 N
left. Find the electric field at that point
 Direction: if a –ve charge experiences Fe left, a
+ve charge would experience Fe to the right

E =
Fe
==
 6.0 x 10 N 
2

= 3.0 x 10 4
N/C
q  2.0 x 10 C 
6
 What is the electric field 300 cm to the right of a
-3.0 μC point charge?
Field strength intensity is equal at a radius of
300 cm. This is a non-uniform field because
it gets weaker as r increases.

kq emitter
E =
r2

E=
 8.99 x 10 9
Nm 2
/C 2
 3.0 x 10 6
C
(3.00 m)2
3
E = 3.0 x 10 N/C left
A 60 μC charge is placed into an electric field. If the
mass of the charge is 0.25 mg and it experiences an
acceleration of 1.25 x 104 m/s2, what is the electric
field strength at that point?

 Remember Newton’s 2nd law tells us

Fnet = ma
Assuming Fnet = Fe
 The 6.0 x 10-5 C is the charge trapped in
the field
Calculate the force on the particle at that instant
F e  F net  m a   2.5 x 10 kg  (1.25 x 10 m/s )
-7 4 2

F e = 3.125 x 10-3 N
calculate the electric field strength at that point
Fe3.125 x 10-3 N
E   -6
= 52 N/C
q 60 x 10 C
 2.4 x 1020 excess electrons are loaded on to the
surface of a sphere with a diameter of 4.0 cm. What is
the electric field intensity at a distance of 16 cm from
the surface of the sphere? (Hint: What assumption is
made for Coulomb's law?)

Charge is concentrated
In a point charge
R measured center to center

 (1.1 x 1013 N/C)

What is the net field strength at the
center of a 16.0 cm2 square?
Red + 2.00 C Blue -3.00 C

Key:
Distance between the center
and a corner = 2√2 cm
The 2 opposing positive corners
cancel therefore this is a linear
problem
Electric field is a vector! Vector
addition applies.
2 2cm = 0.02828427 m
r 2 =  0.00080 m 2 

E red
kq red
= 2 =
 8.99 x 10 Nm /C   2.00 C 
9 2 2
13
= 2.2475 x 10 N/C toward blue
r  0.00080 m  2

E blue
kq blue
= 2 =
 8.99 x 10 Nm /C   3.00 C 
9 2 2
13
= 3.37125 x 10 N/C toward blue
r  0.00080 m  2

Since field from each are in the same direction, E net is the sum
E = (2.2475 + 3.37125) x 1013 N/C = 5.6 x 1013 N/C towards the negative (blue
 Special Rules for Charged Conductors

1. Field lines meet the surface of a charged

conductor at 90° to the surface
2. Charge concentrates at sharp points on a
conductor!!
3. There is no charge and no electric field
inside a charged solid conductor. All the
charge resides on the ‘outside’ of the
conductor.
 Charged Irregular Shaped Conducting Object and
Electric Field Lines 17-09
• Charge accumulates at points on
objects.
• The non-pointy side has a larger SA. A
larger total charge on that side (when
evenly spread out) causes charges to
migrate toward the smaller SA
• Result: the strong 𝐸 near the point
causes neutral molecules to polarize,
attract, touch, transfer charge and repel.
Charge ‘leaks off’ of points.
• If excess electrons evenly distributed,
huge charge on the side with the larger
SA. Charges on the large SA side repel
and move closer together on the smaller
area
 Charged Solid Conducting
Sphere and Electric Field Lines

Net Field inside any closed conductor is ZERO

 Charged Hollow Conducting
Object and Electric Field Lines
 Minds on p. 559 Pearson
Famous demonstration: Faraday’s ice pail
 Complete charge transfer

http://dev.physicslab.org/img/5c2413e2-bc46-4ee8-9f6a-8296a8b3c796.gif
Retrieved March 3, 2014
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Faradays_ice_pail_experiment_-_electric_fields.png/330px-Faradays_ice_pail_experiment_-
_electric_fields.png
Retrieved March 2, 2014
Faraday’s Ice Pail 17-15
Faraday Cage 17-14
Charged Solid Flat Conducting
Plate and Electric Field Lines
 Homework:
 Utilizing Howstuffworks.com
Research the effects of electricity on the human body
Compare and contrast (application, effects,
magnitude of the power involved)
1. TASER,
2. Defibrillator,
Pair and Share: each group
3. TENS,
member research 1 application
4. Pacemakers and share the results with your
team. 1 paragraph +perhaps a
diagram
Reference source
 Charged Parallel Plates and
Electric Field Lines
The behavior of a charge
in the uniform field provides:
Fe
E
q

Even distribution of Charge results in a UNIFORM FIELD,

•Uniform Force
•Uniform Acceleration (kinematics is useful)
 Applications for parallel plates
Parallel plates give charges Ek to do work or other
energy conversions
Particle accelerators are used for:
 CRTs (TV’s)
 Electron microscope
 Electrostatic filters
 Diodes (LED etc)
 Research
 X-ray tubes
 Fluorescent bulbs
 Smoke precipitator 17-16
A 5.25 mg positive dust particle with a +13.0
μC charge is projected into uniform field
strength of 2.50 kN/C right. The particle has
an initial velocity of 50.0 m/s at the positive
plate (ignore gravitational effects )
 Find the Fe
 Find the acceleration
 Find the final lateral speed after 2.00 ms
 How long does it take to travel 1.00 m?
 F e  E q =  2.50 x 103 N/C  13.0 μC  = 3.25 x 10-2 N
A positive charge will accelerated in the same direction as
Newton's
the field. The2nd law: Fnetplates
parallel =Fe +Fhave
g a uniform field intensity
but Fg  5 x 10-5 N and perpendicular then Fnet horizontal = Fe

F net 3.25 x 10-2 N

a   -6
= 6.19 x 10 3
m/s 2
[along the field]
m 5.25 x 10 kg
v f  vi
kinematics : a 
t
v f  v i  at  50.0 m/s + (6.19 x 103 m/s 2 )  2.00 x 10-3 s 
= 62.4 m/s
use v 2f  vi2  2ad to find v f at 1.00 m
v f = vi 2 +2ad  (50 m/s) 2 +2(6.19 x 103 m/s 2 ) 1.00 m 
v f =121.98 m/s
v f  vi 121.98 m/s - 50 m/s
t  3 2
= 1.16 x 10 -2
s
a (6.19 x 10 m/s )
 An alpha particle is shot 2.00 x 105 m/s into the middle
of parallel plates that have a field intensity 3.30 N/C. If
the plates are 10.0 cm long, what is the deflection from
the original path? Draw field lines, particle’s path
 Is gravity significant? Draw the forces acting on the
particle.
 Projectile motion can be analyzed using kinematics and
dynamics once Fnet and acceleration are calculated

Negative

vi

positive
Solution: vix is perpendicular to the electric field. The
Fe acting on the particle will be vertical and therefore
the viy = 0. This is a horizontal projectile question.

Road map
 Draw electric field lines
 Draw free body diagram for the particle
 Draw the path of the particle
 Calculate Fe, Fnet, a
 Sort info into vertical and horizontal components
 Solve the projectile problem with the acceleration
 Calculate dy
 3.30 N/C

Given:
m = 6.65 x 10-27 kg Fg = mg ≈ 10-26 N
q = 3.20 x 10-19 C
Fe ≈ 10-18 N
Fg << Fe
Field = 3.30 N/C
so Fnet = Fe
g = 9.81 m/s2
Vix = 2.0 x 105 m/s
dh Size of plates: 10.0 cm
F e  E q   3.30 N/C  (3.20 x 10-19 C) = 1.056 x 10-18 N

F net 1.056 x 10-18 N

a   -27
=1.58796 x 108
m/s 2
[up]
m 6.65 x 10 kg
use uniform horizontal motion for the time in the plates
dx 0.100 m
t=  5
= 5.0 x 10 -7
s
v 2.00 x 10 m/s
use vertical accelerated motion to find d y
1
d y  v iy t  a yt 2
2
1
d y  0+ (1.58796 x 108 m/s 2 up)(5.00 x 10-7 s) 2
2
d y = 1.98 x 10-5 m [up]
 Voltage: energy per charge
 Unit: volt V or J/C
 Scalar but can be mapped
 Represents ‘height’ in electrical space
 Electric Potential at a certain position is the work
done by an external agent in moving a +ve test
charge from a reference level to a new position
 V = (Ep at position A)/qtest+
 NB: work done against a conservative force
increases Ep of system
Potential Difference: ΔV or work/charge
change in energy/charge
 Voltage: energy per charge
 Electrical potential
difference between E
points A and B is V 
q
the change in
electrical potential V  V2  V1
energy per unit E work Fd
V   
positive test q q q
charge in moving E qd
the +ve test charge but F e  E q, then V=  Ed
from A to B q
V
E  For uniform fields, parallel plate!!
d
 V = ΔE/q
 If something loses Ep, it gains Ek
 If a charged particle is released (dropped) in
an electric field, it will fall (lose Ep elec and gain
Ek) in the direction of the Fe on it
 If the electric field is uniform, then there’s a
constant Fe, constant acceleration, and you
can use kinematics equations
Calculate the change in Ek when a p+ falls
through a p.d. of 300 V.
 V = ΔE/q
 ΔEk = qVaccel
 ΔEk = (1.60 x 10-19 C)(300 V)
 ΔEk = 4.80 x 10-17 J
 Typically ΔEk for atomic particles are very
small and awkward numbers
 A new unit of energy was developed: the
electron-volt (eV)
 New useful unit of energy:
1 electron volt = 1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J
Key: Measure the charge as # of elementary
charges
Eg: alpha particle accelerated through 100V
potential difference
 ΔE = ΔVq = 100 V(2e) = 200 eV
Nice large round numbers instead of
ΔE = ΔVq = (100V)[2(1.60 x 10-19 C)] = 3.20 x 10-17 J
Find the electrical potential energy of an alpha particle at A, B,
and C of an apparatus with a 100 V potential difference
between the plates

Principle: work-energy theorem

Work: ΔE = ΔVq

A 200 V

At A: Ep = 100V(2 e) = 200 eV
C
At B: Ep = 0 eV
At C: Ep= 50V(2e) = 100 eV B 100 V
 Equipotential Lines
 Around a charged object there are a series of
points all at the same electrical potential (like
a height).
 These are called equipotential lines and
they can be mapped with a voltmeter.
 Equipotential lines are perpendicular to
electric field lines
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/imgele/equiv2.gif
Retrieved March 3, 2014
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/imgele/equiv5.gif
Retrieved March 3, 2014
http://www.pstcc.edu/departments/natural_behavioral_sciences/Web%20Physics/Experim%2001.htm
Retrieved March 3, 2014
 Drawing lines
Equipotential lines Field lines
 Locations of equal  Perpendicular to
voltage (potential equipotential lines
difference) from a  Concentration of field
reference level lines show field
 Moving from various strength and direction
locations, you can  Fields lines are drawn
measure the change in +ve to -ve
voltage ΔV
 ΔV= ΔE/q
 Comparing Felectric and Fgrav
 Fe = kq1q2/r2  Only 1 possibility for
 Between point charges field direction and force
 Attractive or repulsive direction (attraction)
 Inverse square law  Fg = Gm1m2/r2
 Range: infinite  Between point masses
 Can be shielded  Inverse square law
 Range: infinite
 No gravitational shield
 Comparing fieldelectric and fieldgrav
 Symbol: 𝐸  Symbol: 𝑔Ԧ
 𝐸 = kq1/r2 = Fe/q = V/d  𝑔Ԧ = Fg/m = Gm1/r2
 Unit: N/C or V/m  Unit: m/s2 or N/kg
 Away from +, towards -  Only 1 possibility for
field direction and force
 Range: infinite direction (attraction)
 Towards source mass
 Range: infinite
 Comparing Ep electric and Ep grav
 Epe needs an Fe to do  An increase in Epg
work in a direction requires an object to be
opposite to the force of moved farther from the
the field on the object. source of the field
 An increase in electric (large mass)
potential energy could  Only 1 possibility for
require a position closer field direction and force
to or farther from the direction (attraction)
source of the field
 WHY?
Find vmax of a fluoride ion (with 19 amu) when it hits the
+ve plate if it enters ┴ at the negative plate at 50 m/s?

 Key: need energy in J to get speed in m/s

 Principle: Conservation of Energy 100V 500V
ΣE = ΣE’
Eki + Ep = Ekf
m = 19 amu  (1.67 x 10-27 kg/amu)
q = -1e = 1.60 x 10-19 C
ΔV= 500 V - 100 V = 400 V 10.0cm

E  E'
E p + E ki = E k f
 1 1
E p  Ek f  Ek i  mv f 2  mvi 2
2 2
1
Vq  m(v f 2  vi 2 )
2
2Vq
 (v f 2  vi 2 )
m
2(400 V) 1.60 x 10-19 C 
= (v f 2 - (50 m/s) 2 )
19 amu  (1.67 x 10-27 kg/amu)
v f = 6.4 x104 m/s
V
Electric field strength F e  E q or E 
d
V 400 V
E  = 4000 V/m = 4000J/Cm = 4.00 x 103 N/C
d 0.100 m
direction of the field is towards the negative plate
even though the acceleration was towards the positive plate
 Tools to solve problems: Uniform Fields
Dynamics and kinematics Conservation of Energy
 Fe = 𝐸 q  ΣE = ΣE’
 Parallel plates have uniform  ΔE = ΔVq
fields, force, and  ΔEelectrical potential = ΔEk
accelerated motion  q moving ⊥ to field, Ek
 Components for projectiles: unchanged
 parallel to plates: uniform
motion: v = d/t Fe V
 Perpendicular to plates,
force and acceleration: E  or E 
Fnet = ma, d = vit + ½at2 q d
compared to:
Field lines show Fe on a +ve
test charge E  Vq
Equipotential lines show ΔV
Charge A (+5.0 μC) is 20 cm to the left of charge B
(+2.0 μC). Find the net electric field at the midpoint
between A and B
kq A (8.99 x 109 Nm 2 /C2 )(5.0 x 10-6 C)
EA  2 
r (0.10 m) 2
E A = 4.495 x 106 N/C
kqB (8.99 x 109 Nm 2 /C2 )(2.0 x 10-6 C)
EB  2 
r (0.10 m) 2
E B = 1.798 x 106 N/C

E net  E A  E B
E net  (4.495 x 106 N/C right) + (1.798 x 106 N/C left)
E net = 2.7 x 106 N/C right
 Extra Fields:
 Nowadays, a field is a mathematical concept that
can be applied to any quantity whose value is a
function of position relative to a source
 Scalar fields: temperature, light intensity, sound,
etc
 Vector fields: gravitational, electric, magnetic, etc