Welcome…

…to Physics 103.

Lecture 1 Objectives:
Electric Charge.
Review of some things you hopefully learned in high school.

Coulomb’s Law (electrical force between charged particles).

You must be able to calculate the electrical forces between one or more charged particles.

The electric field.

You must be able to calculate the force on a charged particle in an electric field.

Electric field due to point charges.

You must be able to calculate electric field of one or more point charges.

Motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field.

You must be able to solve for the trajectory of a charged particle in a uniform electric field.
 Electric Charge

What is charge?
• basic property of matter (just like, say, mass)
• humans cannot directly sense charge but some animals can
• we can observe charge indirectly via its effects on matter
• customary symbol: q or Q, unit: [q] = C (Coulomb)

Two kinds of charge: + -

• like charges repel
• unlike charges attract

Law of conservation of charge:

•net amount of charge does not change in any process
Charges are quantized (come in units of e= 1.6x10-19 C).

Elementary particles that make up atoms:

• Protons + charge +e = +1.6x10-19 C

• Neutrons uncharged

• Electrons - charge –e = –1.6x10-19 C

Helium atom
 Coulomb’s Law

Force between two point charges q1 and q2:

•force is vector, directed along connecting line

´
•magnitude: q1q 2
F =k 2
12 r12

r12 is the distance between the charges

Nm 2 1 -12 C2
k = 9 ´10 2 =
9
with e0 = 8.85 ´10 .
C 4pe0 Nm 2
 a note on starting equations

q1q 2
F =k 2 is an official starting equation
12 r12

• in homework and exam solutions, official starting equations

can be used without deriving them
• all other steps of a solution need to be derived
• you may formulate the official starting equation in different
variables,
QA QB
• for example the equation F = k is “legal”
E2
D

*“Starting” does not mean that a starting equation has to be the first thing that
appears on your paper. It might be several lines before you use a starting equation.
Coulomb’s Law is strictly valid for point charges only.
It is a good approximation for small uniformly charged objects.

r12

+ -

If more than two charges are involved, the net force is the vector
sum of all forces (superposition). For objects with complex
shapes, you must add up all the forces acting on each separate
charge (calculus!!).

+ -
+ -
+ -
Example: a positive charge Q1 = +Q is located a distance d
along the y-axis from the origin. A second positive charge
Q2 = +Q is located at the origin and a negative charge Q3 = -2Q
is located on the x-axis a distance 2d away from Q1. Calculate
the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two charges.

To be worked at the blackboard. You should apply the expert

techniques you learned in ECU 101 when you work ECU103
problems.
Example: a positive charge Q1 = +Q is located a distance d
along the y-axis from the origin. A second positive charge
Q2 = +Q is located at the origin and a negative charge Q3 = -2Q
is located on the x-axis a distance 2d away from Q1. Calculate
the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two charges.

Q1=+Q

d
2d

Q2=+Q Q3=-2Q x
Calculate the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two
charges.

y F = F2 + F3

q1q2 ˆ ( +Q )( +Q ) ˆ Q2 ˆ
F2 = k 2 j = k j=k 2 j
F2 r12 d 2
d

Q1=+Q F3 = F3x ˆi + F3y ˆj

q
F3
d
2d F3 = F3 cos q ˆi - F3 sin q ˆj
q
Q2=+Q x q1q3 q1q3
Q3=-2Q F3 = k 2 cos q i - k 2 sin q ˆj
ˆ
q1q2 r13 r13
F12 = k 2
r12
( +Q )( -2Q ) 3ˆ ( +Q )( -2Q ) 1 ˆ
1 3 F3 = k i -k j
( 2d ) ( 2d )
2 2
sin q = cos q = 2 2
2 2
Note: F2 and F3 are not drawn to scale (F3 is “too long”).
Calculate the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two
charges.

y ( +Q )( -2Q ) 3ˆ ( +Q )( -2Q ) 1 ˆ
F3 = k i -k j
( 2d ) ( 2d )
2 2
2 2

F2
2Q 2 3 ˆ 2Q 2 1 ˆ
F3 = k 2 i -k j
Q1=+Q
4d 2 4d2 2
q

d
F3 3 kQ 2 ˆ 1 kQ 2 ˆ
2d F3 = i- j
4 d 2
4 d 2

q
Q2=+Q Q3=-2Q x
Q2 ˆ 3 kQ 2 ˆ 1 kQ 2 ˆ
F = F2 + F3 = k 2 j + i- j
q1q2 d 4 d2 4 d2
F12 = k 2
r12
1 3 3 kQ 2 ˆ 3 kQ 2 ˆ
sin q = cos q = F= i+ j
2 2 4 d 2
4 d 2

Note: F2 and F3 are not drawn to scale (F3 is “too long”).

Comments:

Once you have become an expert at problems like this, you can
combine and perhaps even skip some steps.

Skipping steps on work to be graded is not recommended!

You may express your answer in unit vector notation, as on the

previous slide.
3 kQ 2 3 kQ 2
Or you may write Fx = Fy =
4 d2 4 d2

You may also express your answer as a magnitude and

direction.

All three of the above ways of writing F completely specify the

vector.
 y

F2
F
Q1=+Q
q
F3
d
2d
q
Q2=+Q Q3=-2Q x

If Q1 were free to move, what direction would its initial

acceleration be? How would I calculate the acceleration?

Would the acceleration remain constant as Q1 moved? Could I

use the equations of kinematics (remember them from Physics
ECU101?) to describe the motion of Q1?
 Coulomb’s Law:
it’s just part of a bigger picture

Coulomb's Law:
1 q1q 2 r12
F =
12 4πε 0 r12
2
, + -
Q1 Q2

Charged particles produce forces over great distances.

How does a charged particle "know" another one is “there?”

Introduce concept of electric field

• new way of thinking about the Coulomb force
 The Electric Field

• a charged particle creates a “field” in F12

all space.
+
• other charged particles sense F13
the field and experience a force
in response F31
+
• Distinguish source charges like -
and test charges charges F21 unlike
repel charges
attract

A charged particle modifies the

properties of the space around it.
Definition of electric field:
• one or more source charges
• define the electric field E via force they exert on a test
charge q0:
F0 The subscript “0” reminds you the force is on the
E= “test charge.” I won’t require the subscripts when
q0 you use this equation for boardwork or on exams.

F = qE

This is your second starting equation. It is a vector equation that tells you magnitude
and direction of the force!
 éë F0 ùû N
The units of electric field are éë E ùû = =
newtons/coulomb. [q0 ] C

You will also learn that the units of electric field can also be
expressed as volts/meter:
N V
[E] = =
C m

The electric field can exist independent of whether there is a

charged particle around to “feel” it.
Remember: the electric field direction is the +
direction a + charge would feel a force.

A + charge would be repelled by another + charge.

Therefore the direction of the electric field is away from

positive (and towards negative).

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys03/afieldint/default.htm
 Gravitational Fields

The idea of a field is not new to you. You experienced fields

(gravitational) in ECU 101.

m1m 2
FG =G 2 , attractive
r12

FG Units of g are
g(r) = actually N/kg!
m

g(r) is the local gravitational field. On earth, it is about 9.8

N/kg, directed towards the center of the earth.

A particle with mass modifies the properties of the space around it.
 The Electric Field
Due to a Point Charge

Coulomb's law says q1q 2

F =k 2 ,
12 r12

treat q1 as source charge and q2 as test charge, divide by q2,

the electric field due to point charge q1 is

q1 q
|E q1 |=k 2 or, generally E=k
r12 r2

This is your third starting equation.

If we define r̂ as a unit vector from the source point to the field
point…
source point
r̂ +

field point

…then the vector equation for the electric field of a point

charge becomes:
You may start with either equation
q for the electric field (this one or the
E=k 2 rˆ one on the previous slide). But
r only use this one if you REALLY
know what you are doing!
Example: calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the
electron’s distance away from the proton in a hydrogen atom
(5.3x10-11 m).

+e -e EP
+ -

D
EP =
kq
=
k(+e)
=
9 ´ 10 9
(1.6 ´ 10 -19
) N
r2 ( 5.3 ´10 ) C
-11 2
2
D

N
E P = 5.1´10 11

For comparison, air begins to break down and conduct

electricity at about 30 kV/cm, or 3x106 V/m.
 A Dipole

A combination of two electric charges with equal magnitude and

opposite sign, separated by a fixed distance, is called a dipole.

+q + - -q

The distance between the charges is d. Dipoles are

“everywhere” in nature.

This is an electric dipole. Later in the course we’ll study magnetic dipoles.
 The Electric Field of a Dipole

Example: calculate the electric field at point P, which lies on the

perpendicular bisector a distance L from a dipole of charge q.

I am going to skip this

example in the “live”
P
lecture this semester.
You have a homework
problem similar to this
calculation.
L
The video lecture
segment “electric field
of point charges”
shows the calculation.
Students in the “live” +q + - -q
lecture are welcome
to watch the lecture
videos.
d Skip to slide 41.
Example: calculate the electric field at point P, which lies on the
perpendicular bisector a distance L from a dipole of charge q.
y
E+ E = E+ + E-

q E y = 0 (symmetry)
P q

E x = 2E + ,x (symmetry)
E-
r L r
E x = +2E + cos q

q q
+q + - -q
x

d
Example: calculate the electric field at point P, which lies on the
perpendicular bisector a distance L from a dipole of charge q.
y E x = +2E + cos q
E+

q
P q
d/2 d
E x = +2E + = +E +
r r
E-
r L r
k +q d kqd
Ex =+ 2 = 3
r r r

q d/2 d/2 q - qd ˆ
+q + -q x E = i
4pe0 r 3

d “Charge on dipole” is positive by

convention, so no absolute value
signs needed around q.
 P
E qd
E=
4peo r 3

L Caution! The above

equation for E applies
only to points along
the perpendicular
+q + - -q
bisector of the dipole.
d
It is not a starting
equation.

(r is not a system parameter, but let’s

not worry about that right now)
 Motion of a Charged Particle
in a Uniform Electric Field

charged particle in electric field experiences force, and if it is

free to move, an acceleration.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
if the only force is due to the
electric field -
E
F
å F = ma = qE. + + + + + + + + + + + + +

E is constant a constant,
use the equations of kinematics.
Example: an electron moving with velocity v0 in the positive x
direction enters a region of uniform electric field that makes a
right angle with the electron’s initial velocity. Express the
position and velocity of the electron as a function of time.
y
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
x
-e
v0 E

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

To be worked at the blackboard in lecture. v fx = vix + a x Dt

1
x f = x i + vix Dt + a x ( Dt )
2
What would be different for a proton? 2

Make sure you understand what a uniform electric field is.

Express the position and velocity of the electron as a function of
time.

y FE = qE = ( -e ) E = -eEjˆ = ma

eE ˆ
a=- j
x m
-e
v0 E
FE a eE
ax = 0 ay = -
m

Let’s work the rest of the problem one component at a time.

Express the position and velocity of the electron as a function of
time.

eE
y ax = 0 ay = -
m
0 0
1 2
x = x i + vix t + a x t
x 2
-e
v0 E
FE a x = v0 t

0 0
1 2
y = yi + viy t + a y t
2
Position:
1 eE 2 1 2 1 eE 2
x = v0 t y=- t y = a yt = - t
2 m 2 2 m
Express the position and velocity of the electron as a function of
time.

eE
y ax = 0 ay = -
m
0
v x = vix + a x t
x
-e
v0 E
FE a v x = v0

0
v y = viy + a y t
Velocity:
eE eE
v x = v0 vy = - t v y = a y t= - t
m m
What is the shape of the electron’s path?

1 eE 2
y x = v0 t y=- t
2 m

x
x t=
-e v0
v0 E
FE a
2
1 eE æ x ö æ 1 eE ö 2
y=- ç ÷ = -ç 2 ÷
x
2 m è v0 ø è 2 mv 0 ø

The trajectory of the electron is a parabola, concave down.

Just like the trajectory of a ball thrown horizontally in the
gravitational field of the Earth.
 Concluding Remarks

Homework Hints (may not apply every semester)

There are two kinds of electric field problems in

today’s lecture:

1. Given an electric field, calculate the force on a F = qE

charged particle.
q
2. Given one or more charged particles, calculate E=k
r2
the electric field they produce.
Make sure you understand which kind of problem you are
working on!
 Homework Hints (may not apply every semester)

Symmetry is your friend. Use it when appropriate. Don’t use it

when not appropriate.

GmM
FG,pair = 2 , attractive
r
The above equation is on the ECU 101.
 Homework Hints (may not apply every semester)

Your starting equations so far are:

q1q 2 F0 q
F =k 2 E= E=k
12 r12 q0 r2
(plus Physics ECU 101 starting equations).

Remove the absolute value signs ONLY IF you know that all
charges are positive.

F0 F0
NEVER do this: E = Þ q0 = (why?)
q0 E