GENERAL PHYSICS 2 - GRADE 12

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ____________________

Grade: ______________________________________ Section: ___________________

Quarter: 3 Week: 1 SSLM No. 1 MELC(s): Describe using a diagram charging by rubbing
and charging by induction (STEM_GP12EMIIIa-1). Explain the role of electron transfer
in electrostatic charging by rubbing (STEM_GP12EMIIIa-2). Describe experiments to
show electrostatic charging by induction (STEM_GP12EMIIIa-3). Calculate the net
electric force on a point charge exerted by a system of point charges
(STEM_GP12EMIIIa-6). Describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge
experiences a force (STEM_GP12EMIIIa-7). Calculate the electric field due to a system
of point charges using Coulomb’s law and the superposition principle
(STEM_GP12EMIIIa-10).

Title of Textbook/LM to Study: General Physics 2: Electric Charge, Coulomb’s Law, Electric
Fields, and Electric Flux SLM

Lesson. Electric Charge, Coulomb’s Law and Electric Field

➢ Objectives:
1. Describe using a diagram charging by rubbing and charging by induction.
2. Explain the role of electron transfer in electrostatic charging by rubbing.
3. Describe experiments to show electrostatic charging by induction.
4. Calculate the net electric force on a point charge exerted by a system of point
charges.
5. Describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a
force.
6. Calculate the electric field due to a system of point charges using Coulomb’s law
and the superposition principle.

Let Us Discover

With advent of technology, electricity plays vital role in the development of human
civilization. Electricity has been an important part of our lives. On a greater extent, and literally
speaking, electricity becomes a part of our existence.
In this lesson on electrostatics, it discusses the concepts of electric charges, the forces
between them, and their behaviors on materials. An object that contains electrons which are
the prime movers of electricity may have static electricity. These negatively charged electrons
are in constant motion and affect the behavior of matter through electric charge.

GSC-CID-LRMS-ESSLM, v.r. 03.00, Effective June 9, 2021

ELECTRICAL CHARGES AND FORCES
Activity 1. Static Electricity at Work
Consider the given materials and procedure.
Materials: Small Pieces of Paper
Pen
Procedure:
1. Get a piece of paper and cut it into smaller pieces.
2. Then, get your pen and rub it against your shirt.
3. After which, place your pen near the tiny pieces of paper and observe what happens.

Questions:
1. What happens to the pieces of paper when the pen is moved closer to it?
_________________________________________________________________________
2. How do you relate electricity to the interaction between the pieces of paper and pen?
_________________________________________________________________________

In this activity, it shows how electrostatics works. The pen becomes charged when it
is rubbed against the shirt which causes a strange of influence on the small pieces of paper.
This influence is known as the electric force that makes the pen to attract the small pieces of
paper, which have neutral charge. In addition, this electric force can also be exerted between
a charged object and other charged object.
The electric force comes from particles in atoms. Refer to Figure 1.

Based on the figure, an atom has a

positively charged nucleus containing
protons and neutrons. Protons are
positively charged particles, while
neutrons are uncharged particles. The
electrons which are negatively
Figure 1. Atomic Structure.
charged particles, orbit around the Source: https://www.visionlearning.com
/en/library/Chemistry/1/Atomic-Theory-II/51
nucleus.

Atoms are electrically neutral charged particles (with zero net charge). They have
equal number of protons and electrons. The positively charged protons attract with the
negatively charged electrons. On the contrary, electrons repel other electrons. Always
remember that opposite charges attract, while like charges repel. The attractive and repulsive
force is attributed to a property known as charge. There are two types of charges, the negative
and positive charges. These charges exist in all materials and states of matter. They arise
from electrons and protons, respectively. In your activity earlier, the pen becomes positively
charged material when it is rubbed against your shirt because it loses its electrons. While the
negatively charged particles – electrons, are transferred to the shirt.

TRANSFER OF ELECTRIC CHARGES

 Atoms are normally neutral in charge. However, by means of different charging
processes which can add or remove electrons, materials can gain net charge. Electrons may
transfer from one atom to another. It happens because electrons are found on the outer part
of an atom which can easily be transferred. This means that an object becomes negatively
charged if it gained electrons more than the number of protons in an atom.
On other hand, an object can become positively charged when it loses its electrons,
making more number of protons than electrons in an atom. Electric charges can be conserved.
The law of conservation of charge states that the net charge of an isolated system remains
constant. Hence, a charge is neither created nor destroyed; it can only be transferred from
one system to another. There are different ways for an object to become charged – rubbing
and induction.

Charging by friction or rubbing is also

referred to as triboelectric charging process.
Different materials are made up of different
atoms which affect their electrical properties. One
of these properties is electron affinity, which is
referred to as the quantity of energy released
upon the addition of electrons to a neutral atom
or molecule forming negative ion. A high electron
affinity material means a relatively high attraction
Figure 2. Charging by friction.
for electrons. Source: https://www.toppr.com/ask/
content/concept/charging-by-induction-209363/
Charging by means of induction happens
when a charged object is placed near a
conducting (neutral) surface. During this process,
the electrons move from one part of an object
caused by the electric field of another object. In
this process, it induces charges to move. This
means that the object does not lose its charges
instead the charges simply aligned in two sides -
negative charges on one side and positive
charges on the other. This phenomenon is
closely related to polarization which is the
process of separating opposite charges within an
object. Figure 3. Charging by induction.
Source: https://www.toppr.com/ask/
content/concept/charging-by-induction-209363/
ELECTRIC FORCE
The electric force holds atom together; the positive nucleus (with protons) attracts the
orbiting electrons. It is the result of an interaction between particles due to their electrical
charges. This type of force is called a non-contact force. This allows objects to interact without
physical contact with each other. This is similar with gravitational force.
COULOMB’S LAW
Coulomb’s law was formulated by Charles Augustin de Coulomb, which shows the
quantitative expression for the effect of the magnitude of charges of two charged particles, as
well as the separation distance between them, on the strength of electric force. In addition, it
states that “the electric force exerted by a small charged object (q1) on another small charged
object (q2), is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges, and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them”.
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
Mathematically, this can be expressed as 𝑭 =𝒌 𝒓𝟐
where, F (Electric Force) is the magnitude of the electric force with a unit newton, and is always
positive;
q1 and q2 are the magnitudes of the charges in coulomb (C), these can either be
positive or negative;
r is the distance between the centers of both charge and NOT the distance between
their nearest surfaces, which is measured in meters (m); and
k is a proportionality constant known as Coulomb’s constant with an approximate value
of 9 × 109 𝑁.𝑚2/𝐶2 .This value of k is only applicable if the charges are in air or vacuum. The
value of k can be reduced up to a factor of 80 if the charges are present in water. Like any
other forces, electric force is a vector quantity, and it acts along the line joining the two charged
particles. The magnitude of the electric force can be determined using Coulomb’s law, and its
direction can be determined using the fundamental rules of charge interaction.

SUPERPOSITION PRINCIPLE
Electric force, being a vector quantity, can be added like any other forces, and it obeys
the superposition principle. This principle states that “the net electric force a particular charged
particle experiences due to a number of other charges, and is equal to the vector sum of the
electric force exerted by each point charge on that particle”. For instance, if you are given q 1,
q2, and q3, and you wanted to determine the net force on q2 which is simultaneously attracted
by the other two charges, this can be calculated using vector addition. The result is that q2
experiences the combined effect of the two forces.
ELECTRIC FIELD
In physics, a field is defined as a property of a region of space that can exert a force
to objects found within that region. When we say of gravitational field, we are referring to the
property of that surrounds the objects having mass. On the other hand, electric field is a
property of region of space that exerts a force to charged objects within that region of space.
Hence, a charged particle in an electric field will experience an electric force.
The strength of the electric field is known as the electric field intensity, which is the
force that a test charge will experience when placed at that point can be quantitatively
determined using the equation ⃗𝑬 = ⃗𝑭.𝒒𝒐 ,
where ⃗𝑭 is the force in newtons;
q0 is the magnitude of the test charge in coulomb; and
⃗ is the electric field intensity with the unit newtons per coulomb (N/C).
𝑬
Similar to the electric force, the electric field is also a vector quantity with a direction
that is always directed away from a positive charge and always directed toward a negative
charge. More so, if the electric field ⃗𝑬 at a certain point is known, then the force on any other
charge placed at that point can be determined using the equation ⃗𝑭 = 𝒒.𝑬 ⃗ . If the charge
happens to be negative, the direction of the force on the negative charge is opposite to the
direction of the field.
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
You can also write the electric force using Coulomb’s law, 𝑭 = 𝒌 . Substituting
𝒓𝟐
𝑸𝒒 𝟏
this to the definition of electric field, we get ⃗𝑬 = ⃗𝑭. 𝒒𝒐 , ⃗𝑬 = 𝒌 ∙
𝒓𝟐 𝒒𝟎
 where 𝑄 is the charge that sets up an electric field around it; and

𝑞 is the small charge within the field of Q;

q0 is the magnitude of the test charge in coulomb; and
|𝑸|
⃗ =
Hence, the magnitude of the electric field is given by the equation 𝑬 .
𝒓𝟐

Let Us Try

Read each problem and understand the process of finding the answers.
1) What is the force of attraction between the lone electron and proton in a hydrogen atom, if
the average distance between them is 7.50 x 10-11m?
Given: q1 (charge of the electron) = -1.6 x 10-19 C
q2 (charge of the proton) = +1.6 x 10-19 C
r = 7.5 x 10-11m
k = 9 x 109 Nm2 /C2
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
Formula: 𝑭 =𝒌 𝒓𝟐
Unknown: F = ?
Solution: Disregard the signs of the charged particles; substitute the values in Coulomb’s law
equation. The signs provide idea regarding the type of charges involved.
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
𝑭 =𝒌
𝒓𝟐
= [9 x 109 Nm2 /C2 ] [ (1.6 x 10-19 C)( 1.6 x 10-19 C) / (7.5 x 10-11m)2]
= 4.1 x 10-18 N

2) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at point P which is 30 cm to the right of point
charge Q = -9.0 x 10-6 C.
Given: Q = -9.0 x 10-6 C
r = 30 cm
k = 9 x 109 Nm2 /C2

Unknown: ⃗𝑬 = ?
|𝑸|
Formula: ⃗𝑬 = 𝒌
𝒓𝟐
|𝑸|
⃗ =𝒌
Solution: 𝑬
𝒓𝟐
 = [(9 × 109 𝑁𝑚2 /𝐶2 )][ (9.0×10−6𝐶) / (0.30𝑚)2]

= 9. 𝟎 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝑵/𝑪

Let Us Do

Answer the given problems. Show your solution completely.

1) A metal sphere has a charge of -5.0 x 10-6 C and a second sphere a charge of +4.0 x 10-6
C. The spheres are separated by a distance of 0.010 m. What is the electric force between
them? Is this an attractive or repulsive force?

2) Calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field at point P which is 50 cm to the
right of a point charge Q = -3.0 x 10-8C.

Let Us Apply

Solve. Show your solution.

A uniform electric field is directed downward and has a magnitude of 5 N/C. What is
the magnitude and direction of the force experienced by a charge of -6 C placed in this field?

References

Leonoras, G. (2021). General Physics 2. Activity Sheet No. 1: Electric Charge. Department
of Education Region 6 – Western Visayas
Leonoras, G. (2021). General Physics 2. Activity Sheet No. 2: Coulomb’s Law, Electric Fields,
and Electric Flux. Department of Education Region 6 – Western Visayas
https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Atomic-Theory-II/51
https://www.toppr.com/ask/content/concept/charging-by-induction-209363/

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