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Electric Fields II: Electric Fields Are Produced by Point Charges and Continuous Charge Distributions

1) Electric fields are produced by point charges and continuous charge distributions. The electric field E at a point due to a point charge q is defined as F/q, where F is the force on a charge q' placed at that point. 2) An example of a continuous charge distribution is an electric dipole consisting of equal and opposite charges +q and -q separated by a distance a. The electric field E due to the dipole can be derived as a function of the distance and orientation relative to the dipole. 3) The electric field E at a point due to a continuous charge distribution can be calculated by dividing the source into infinitesimal point charges dq and summing their contributions. The integral

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Vikash Sharma
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30 views14 pages

Electric Fields II: Electric Fields Are Produced by Point Charges and Continuous Charge Distributions

1) Electric fields are produced by point charges and continuous charge distributions. The electric field E at a point due to a point charge q is defined as F/q, where F is the force on a charge q' placed at that point. 2) An example of a continuous charge distribution is an electric dipole consisting of equal and opposite charges +q and -q separated by a distance a. The electric field E due to the dipole can be derived as a function of the distance and orientation relative to the dipole. 3) The electric field E at a point due to a continuous charge distribution can be calculated by dividing the source into infinitesimal point charges dq and summing their contributions. The integral

Uploaded by

Vikash Sharma
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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Electric Fields II

Electric fields are produced by point charges


and continuous charge distributions
Definition:
F qE
. E

q
F

is force exerted on charge by an external field


Note: q produces a field but it is not external
Example: Electric Dipole
Derive an expression for at point B.
E

y
a a
x
B : (0,y)
A : (x,0)
-q +q
Dipole solution:
For fun: find E at point A, and show that it is
approximately proportional to x
-3
, at large distances x.

E = ?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Source
+
Continuous Charge Distributions
Cut source into small (infinitesimal) charges dq
Each produces
2
( )

e
dq
dE k
r
r
dE
r

dq
2
e
dq
dE k
r

or
Steps:

Draw a coordinate system on the diagram

Choose an integration variable (e.g., x)

Draw an infinitesimal element dx

Write r and any other variables in terms of x

Write dq in terms of dx

Put limits on the integral

Do the integral or look it up in tables.

Example: Uniformly-Charged Thin Rod
(length L, total charge Q)
L
d
? E

Charge/Length = Linear Charge Density


= constant = Q/L
2
rod rod

e
dq
E dE k
r


+ + +
+ + + + +
+

Solution:
In 2D problems, integrate components separately
to obtain the electric field:
) (cos
2



r
dq
k dE E
x x
x-component of
E
.......

y y
dE E
Example: Uniformly-Charged Ring
Total charge Q, uniform charge/unit length,
radius R
Find: E at any point (x, 0)
x
y
(x,0)
R
Solution:
Example: Uniformly-Charged Semicircle
Charge/unit length, , is uniform

Find: at origin E

R
y
x
+
+ +
+
Solution:
Summary
Field of several point charges q
i
:
Field of continuous charge distribution:
i
i
i
i
e
r
r
q
k E

2
2
cos( )
sin( )
x e
y e
dq
E k
r
dq
E k
r

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