Electric Charge

Lesson 1
ELECTRIC CHARGE
› Electricity comes from the
Greek word Elektron or
Amber
ELECTRIC CHARGE
It is given by the name
electricity by Sir Wilhelm
Gilbert because it is the first
substance known that
exhibits an electrification by
rubbing.
ELECTRIC CHARGE
Example:
When you rubbed a plastic
comb into your hair, it can
attract bits of paper.

The Attractive force now is

what we call Electrostatic
Force.
LAWS OF CHARGES
Atoms have electric charges
inside them.
Protons carries a positive
charge.
Electrons carry a negative
charge.
Neutrons carry a neutral
charge.
LAWS OF CHARGES
The charge of protons and
electrons are approximately
1.602 x 10-19 C

Mass of Protons = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

Mass of Neutron = 1.67 x 10-27 kg
Mass of Electron = 9.11 x 10-31 kg
LAWS OF CHARGES
Over 99% of the mass of
any atom is concentrated in
its nucleus.
Normally, atoms have zero
net charge.
Electrons can be moved by
rubbing.
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND LAW OF CHARGE
Two kinds of charges
according to Benjamin
Franklin.
➢Positive Charge
➢Negative Charge
ELECTRIC CHARGE AND LAW OF CHARGE
LAW OF CHARGE
Two positive charges or two
negative charges repel each
other. A positive charge and
a negative charge attract
each other.
CONSERVATION OF CHARGES
Charge is neither created nor destroyed; it only transfers
from one place to another.
COULOMB’S LAW
Charles Agustin de Coulomb
in 1784, a French Physicist
discovered the nature of
electrical forces exerted by
bodies upon one another.
COULOMB’S LAW
The magnitude of the electric force between two-point charges
is directly proportional to the product of the charges and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them.

Fe = q1q2 Fe = 1 q1
Less Fe
q2
r2
greater Fe
q1 q2
COULOMB’S LAW
The magnitude of the electric force between two-point charges
is directly proportional to the product of the charges and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them.

K is 9.0 x 109 Nm2/C2

Fe = electrostatic force N micro = x10-6

q 1 = charge 1 C nano = x10-9
q 2 = charge 2 C pico = x10-12
r 2 = distance m
Sample Problem 1
Two point charges, q1=+8 uC and q2 =-5 uC, are separated by a
distance r= 10 cm. What is the magnitude of the electrostatic
force? Is the force repulsive or attractive?
Given: q1 = +8uC = 8 x 10-6 C
q2 = -5uC = -5 x 10-6 C
r = 10 cm = 0.1 m F = (9x109 Nm2/C2) (8 x 10-6 C) ( 5 x 10-6 C)

F=? (0.1 m)2

F = 36 N attractive
F = k q 1 q2
r2
Sample Problem 2
Two equal charges of magnitude 1.1 x 10-7 C experience an
electrostatic force of 4.2 x 10-4 N. How far apart are the centers
of the two charges?
Given: q1 = q2 = 1.1 x 10-7 C r2 = k q1 q2
F = 4.2 x 10-4 N F
r=? r= k q1 q2
√ F
F = k q1 q2
r2 r= (9x109 Nm2/C2) (1.1 x 10-7)2
√
F r2 = k q1 q2 4.2 x 10-4 N
F F r = 0.51 m
Sample Problem 3
Two like and equal charges are at a distance of d = 5 cm and
exert a force of F = 9 x 10-3 N on each other. Find the
magnitude of each charge.
Given: r = 5 cm = 0.05 m F r2 = k q2
F = 9 x 10-3 N k k
q1 = q2 = q q= F r2
√ k
F = k q 1 q2
r2 q= (9x10-3 N) (0.05 m)2

F= kq2
√ (9x109 Nm2/C2)

r2 q = 5 x 10-8 C
Electric Field
Lesson 2
ELECTRIC FIELD
An electric field is said to
exist in region or space
around charged objects, the
source charge.
An electric field is the
electric force per unit charge
(N/C).

E= F E= kQ
q r2
ELECTRIC FIELD
The direction of the fields is defined by the force on a positive test charge.

The positive test charge is repelled The positive test charge is attracted
by a positive charge, so the by a negative charge, so the
direction extends away from it. direction is towards a negative
point charge.
ELECTRIC FIELD

Electric field lines of two Electric field lines of two

same point charges. opposite point charges.
Sample Problems 1
A charge of 6μC exerts a force of 2.4 x
10-4 N in the right side of a positive test
charge. What is the magnitude and
direction of the electric field at the
location of the test charge.
T
+ +
6 μC
2.4 x 10-4 N
E= F = = 40 N/C
F = 2.4x10-4 N Q 6 x 10-6 C
left
Q= 6x10-6 C
Sample Problems 2
What is the magnitude and direction
of electric field 0.10m on the left
hand of -4.2μC charge?

T 0.01m
+ _

-4.2 μC

KQ 9 x 109 x 4.2 x 10-6

E= = = 3,780,000 N/C
r2 (0.10)2
3.78 x 106 N/C
right
Sample Problems 3
Two charges -2x10-7 and 3.4x10-7
are 4m apart. What is the
magnitude and direction of electric
field at a point midway between the
two charges? E1 T E2
_ 2m 2m
+ +
-2x10-7C 3.4x10-7C
E1= 450 N/C
E = E1 + E2
E2= 765 N/C
= -450 N/C + -765 N/C
= -1215 N/C
Sample Problems 4
What is the magnitude and direction
of electric field at a point midway
between two equal and opposite
charges of 3.5x10-8C which are 5m
apart? E1 T E2
+ 2.5m 2.5m _
+
3.5x10-8C -3.5x10-8C
E1= 50.4 N/C
E = E1 + E2
E2= 50.4 N/C
= 50.4 N/C + 50.4 N/C
= 100.8 N/C
 Sample Problems 5
A 30μC charge is placed at the origin
and -25μC is placed 3m to the right of it.
What is the magnitude and direction of
the electric field 7m to the right of the
origin?
T

E1=5,510.20 N/C E2= 14, 062.5 N/C

7m

3m
E = E1 + E2

(0,0) _ = 5,510.20 N/C – 14,062.5 N/C

+ +
30μC -25μC T = -8,552.3 N/C
E1 E2
Electric Flux and
Gauss’s Law
Lesson 3
 Electric Field Lines
➢Lines begin on positive charges (or at infinity) and terminate on
negative charges (or at infinity). For a positive point charge the
electric field lines point radially outward and for a negative point
charge, the electric field lines point radially inward.
 Electric Field Lines
➢The number of lines drawn leaving a positive or a
approaching a negative charge is proportional to the
magnitude of the charge.
+q -2q

+ -
 Electric Field Lines
➢No two field lines can intersect one another.

= Electric field

= Electric field lines

 Electric Field Lines

➢For a point charge, the electric field

strength decreases as the distance
from the origin increases.
Electric Field Lines
Observations
➢ Plane A and Plane B the same surface area
➢ Plane A is closer to the origin of electric
fields.
➢ Plane B is placed farther compared to Plane
A.
➢ Plane B has lower number of electric field
lines compared to Plane B.

For a point charge, the electric field strength

decreases as the distance from the origin
increases.
Electric Field Lines
➢ The relationship can be mathematically
described as:

1
I E I ∝ ____
r2

For a point charge, the electric field strength

decreases as the distance from the origin
increases.
Electric Field Lines
 Electric Flux
Definition Formula
➢Electric flux Φ is the number of ➢Electric flux is mathematically
electric field lines crossing a described as:
given area.
Φ =EA
➢It is the product of the
where Φ is the electric flux, E is
magnitude of the electric field
the electric field and A is the
and the surface area
surface area perpendicular to the
perpendicular to the field.
field.
➢The unit for the electric flux is
Nm2/C
Electric Flux for Uniform Electric Field
Scenario 1
➢The plane is positioned
vertically and is perpendicular
to the electric field lines.
Φ =EA
Electric Flux for Uniform Electric Field
Scenario 2
➢The plane is positioned
horizontally and is parallel to
the electric field lines.
Φ =0
Electric Flux for Uniform Electric Field
Scenario 3
➢The plane is inclined with an
angle θ.
➢The component of electric field
perpendicular to the area
contributes to the electric flux.
➢The electric field component
parallel to the surface area will
not contribute to the electric
flux.
Φ = (Ecosθ)A
Electric Flux of Radiating Electric Field
Observations
➢ For a point charge, the electric field strength
decreases as the distance from origin
increases.

The electric flux ALSO decreases as the

distance from the origin increases.
 Gauss’s Law
Definition Formula
➢It states that the total of the ➢Electric flux is mathematically
electric flux out of a closed described as:
surface is equal to the charge qenclosed
enclosed divided by the Φclosed surface= _________
permittivity of free space. ε0
where Φclosed surface is the flux of
electric field through any closed
surface (Gaussian surface), qenclosed
is the net charge enclosed and ε0 =
8.854 x 10-12 C2/Nm2 is the
permittivity of free space.
Sample Problem 1
Charges q1 and q2 are shown in the figure below. Identify the signs of
two charges and find the ratio q1 over q2.
Given: Required:
Signs of q1 and q2
I q1/q2 I
Solution
By inspection we can see that q2 has 18 electric field
lines radiating outward. This states that q2 is
positive.
The charge q1 has 6 electric field lines radiating
inward. This states that q1 is negative.
Sample Problem 1
Charges q1 and q2 are shown in the figure below. Identify the signs of
two charges and find the ratio q1 over q2.
Given: Required:
Signs of q1 and q2
I q1/q2 I

Solution
q1/q2 = 6/8
q1/q2 = 1/3
Sample Problem 2
Calculate the electric flux through the rectangle of sides 6 cm and 12
cm. It is pierced by a uniform electric field of 100N/C. The angle of
inclination θ is 60o. Find the electric flux. Suppose θ becomes zero,
what is the new electric flux?
Given:
E = 100 N/C ; θ = 60o
S1 = 6 cm ; S2 = 12 cm
Required:
Let Φnew be the new flux when θ is 0
Φ
Φnew
Sample Problem 2
Given: Solution:
E = 100 N/C ; θ = 60o A = S1  S2 = 6cm  12cm
S1 = 6 cm ; S2 = 12 cm A = 7.2x10-3 m2
Required: Φ Φnew

Φ = EAcosθ
= (100N/C)(7.2x10-3m2)(cos60o)
= 0.36 Nm2/C
Φnew = EAcosθ
= (100N/C)(7.2x10-3m2)(cos0o)
= 0.72 Nm2/C
Sample Problem 3
Calculate the electric flux through each Gaussian surface shown
below.
Given: Solution:
qenclosed
Φsphere = _________
ε0
2x10 -6 C
=__________
8.854x10-12C2/Nm2
= 225.887x103 Nm2/C
= 225.887 kNm2/C
Sample Problem 4
Calculate the electric flux through each Gaussian surface shown
below.
Given: Solution:
qenclosed
Φcube = _________
ε0
4μC + 6μC - 10μC
=_______________________
8.854x10-12 C2/Nm2
= 0 Nm2/C
 Sample Problem 5
At the center of a sphere of radius 0.5m a point charge of 2μC is
placed. What electric flux is passing through the sphere?

kq Φ = E A 4πr2
E=
r2 = (72 000) x 4π(0.5)2
= (9 x 109)(2 x 10-6) = 2.26 x 105 Nm2/C
(0.5)2
qenclosed
= 72 000 N/C Φsphere = _________
ε0
2 x 10 -6
= _________ = 2.26 x 105 Nm2/C
8.854x10-12