ELECTROSTATICS Student Learning ‘The students will: «state that an electric field is an example of a field of force, + Define and calculate electric field strength [Use F * q E for the force on a charge tn an electric field. Use E = AV/AE to calculate the field strength of the uniform field between charged parallel plates], «Represent an electric field by means of field lines. * Describe the effect of a uniform electric field on the maton of charged particles. ‘* state that, for a point outside a spherical conductor, the charge on the sphere may be considered to be @ point: charge at its center. + Explain how a Faraday cage works [by inducing Internal electric fields that work to shiela the influence of external electric fields). * State and apply Coulomb's law (F = * Use £ = k Q/rfor the electric field strength due to a point charge in free space, * Describe how ferrofluids work [they make use of temporary soft magnetic matertals suspended fn Uguids to develop fluids that react to the poles of a magnet and have many applications in flelds such as electronics). fromte “i for the force between two paint charges tn free space, ware k=POON ctrcrrostaries q We know that alt matter Is made up of atoms, These atams are made of electeans, prety, Neutrons, Each proton has one untt of positive charge and each election Has ON UIE Af jgg! charge, The neutron has no charge, The protons and neutrons are HUhtly packed inn fhucleus, Electrons may be thought of as sinall charged clouds at Saute gy, atoms, An atom normally has the same number af electrons as protons ANU WHYS Keine Han etectron fs removed, the ator fs left with a positive charge that Is, an ercess af Pah, If an extra electron ts added, the atom has a negative charge that fs, an &7C0%8 Of electra, the cover picture, tt fs shown that when we rub a comb nour hairs, the comb gets ‘harp, When this charged comb is brought near to the pleces of papers then these plecers get attra yt by them due to induction. im, In In this chapter we begin an investigation of electric forces. We dlecuss abOUt the diterey phenomena associated with the positive and negative charges. s Through the work of scientists in the late 18th century, the main features of the electrostary. force were found and expressed as a mathematical formula. The mathematical formula for th, electrostatic force ts called Coulomb's law after the French physicist Charles Coulomb (17%, 1806), who performed experiments and first proposed a formula to calculate It. This tay 5 defined as: If we consider two point charges q,and qzhaving distance r between them, then according to coulomb’s law the magnitude of the force / is given by: | Foeqnde 1 Fas By combining the equations (i) & (Ii), we get: ue F oc Be i sd _ permittivity of fee space ti, fie, k=” 182am This is mathematical form of coulomb's law. The equation (10.2) gives the force between the two charges when there is air or vacuum between them. value of k depends upon system of units used and medium between the charges. In SI system, k=9X 10° Nm’C*, This value of k is applicable if there is vacuum between the charges. Coulomb’s law is applicable to point charges and uniform spherical charge distribution. A point charge is an imaginary charge located at a single point in space. An electron can be considered asa point charge. is is true only if the spherical conductor is isolated. If another charged object is brought near the spherical conductor, it will induce surface charges in the spherical conductor that are not spherically symmetric, and therefore we can no longer treat it as a point charge. The strength of the electric field of a spherical conductor is proportional to the total electric charge on the sphere, and the direction of the electric field is radially outward from the center of the sphere if the sphere is positively charged, and radially inward if the sphere is negatively charged. When using Coulomb’s force law, remember that force is a vector quantity and must be treated accordingly. Coulomb's law in vector form for the electric force exerted on a charge q: by a second charge qz, is written as: = patee Fy ak tP hg (iii) Where, #2 is unit vector in the direction of F,2. Similarly, the electric force exerted on a charge qo by a charge qy, is written as: Rh. = poe Ba = khan (iv) Where, #,, is unit vector in the direction of Fy. Since A= Fer So, from equation (iii) and (iv), we can write: Equation (10.3) shows that two forces are same in magni tude but opposite in illustrated in figure 10.2. For like charges the product 4:42 Will be positive and there is a force of repulsion between these two charges. For unlike charges the product 142 will be negative and there is a force of attraction between these two charges. 183 ELECT RUSIATIC[S VosSeem =SLECTROSTATICN wate bes -| fa, = % % @ Figure 10.2: (a) Charges with the same sign repel each other. (b) Charges with opposite signs "attract each other Like other forces, electric forces obey Newton’s third law; hence, the forces F,. a Equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. From Newton’s third law, Fiz and F,, are a Squal regardless of whether q, and q2 have the same magnitude or not. A comparison of coulomb force and gravitational force shows that both act at a distance With, direct Contact, such force is called field force. Both are inversely. proportional to the distant Squared, with the force directed along a line connecting the two bodies. The mathemati” form is the same, with the masses m; and main Newton's law replaced by qi and qr in Coutem ‘4W and with Newton’s constant G replaced by Coulomb’s'constant k.' qi ki active\or 1¢-——~4, a, ae | q 4, For example, if four charges q;, q2, 43 and q, are placed near each Fiere 10.2 @: om other, as shown in figure 10.2 (c), the resultant force exerted by aoe Four charges q, charges q2, q3 and q, on charge q, is 93 and q, placed CO FSAPALA, ee, j Near each other, The following example illustrates this procedure in two dimensions, Example 10.1: Three point charges located at the figure 10.3, where q; = q3 = 5.00 pC, force exerted on q3. corners of a right triangle, as shown in + 2 = ~ 2.00 UC, and a = 0.100 m. Find the resultant Given: %1=93=5.00HC, q2=-2.00nC, a=0.100m. ToFing: r= Solutions As charge qsis near two other char: forces are exerted in different directions, exerted on charge q3, we solve this exam The force Fyz exerted on qq bi coordinate ges, it will experience two electric forces. These as shown in figure 10.3. Because two forces are ple by using superposition principle. Y 42 is attractive because q, and qshave opposite signs. In the system shown in figure 10.3, the attractive force Faz is to the left (in the negative 184ELECTROSTATICS Va? sarection)-The force Faxexerted on qaby qs repulsive because both charges aré positive: The lsive Force Fy, makes an angle of 45° with the x-axis, 2 a tbh faa Coulomb’s law to find the magnitude of Fy, > (2x 10-6)(5 x 10-5) x19 Fyn= iecene 29x 10° SIE 8.99 N To find the magnitude of F,,is 341. TE, a p EX10-YG x 10°) | Fe = 91 Waa? 9x10? ao 2. 44.2N Find the x and y-components of the force Fay: yen Ficos 45°= 7.94N Faye Basin 45° = 7.94 N Find the components of the resultant force acting on 93? Fag = Faux * Faax = 7-94 N + (-8.99 N) = -1.04 | the corners of a right triangle. N Fy = Faay + Faay = 7.94N + 0=7.94N Sa In vector form, the resultant force aan ‘on qz is: Fy = (-1.04i + 7.94j)N i * assignment 10.1 What is the magnitude of the force of attraction between an iron nucleus pearing ‘charge ffezbetanddfts innermost electron, if the distance between thems 1x10"? m. 10.2 ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY cai 3 ‘An electric field, like other fields (e.g., gravitational or magnetic), is a vector field that surroundsian object. Electric:fields are found around electric charges and help determine the direction and magnitude of force the charge exerts on a nearby charged particle. The‘concept It is Figure 10.3: Three point charges located at Anielectric fiéld is said to exist'in the region of space around a charged object, the source charge.. When another charged object called the test charge enters this electric field, an electric force acts on it. As an example, consider figure 10.4, which shows a small positive test charge q placed near a second object carrying a much greater positive charge Q. The electric 185ELECTROSTATICS wy field vector F at a point in spac charge q placed at that point divided by the test charge. If q is moved away from Q the force will decrease till a certain distance, the force will practically reduce to zero. This is because of the fact that now q is not in the field of Q. Electric field intensity E is a single vector quantity containing information about the field strength and its direction at a point. The strength of the field at a point in space determines the amount of force that a charge will experience if it is placed at that point. The direction in which this unit positive test charge will move or tends to move is the direction of the electric field. The test charge is so small that it does not distort the original field due to the primary source. The force per unit positive test charge at any point is) | Called electric field intensity at that point. iF intensity E at that point is given as: (10.6) © is defined as the electric force /* acting on oN POsitiyg i ty Q mn - Source charge Figure 10.4: A smail posi charge q, placed Tee carrying @ much larger postive Q experiences an electric established by the source charge will always assume that the test. | is so small that the field of the ¢ charge is unaffected by its presen ce, the force experienced bya test charge q placed inside the field, then the value of elegy, We a If we use coulomb’s law, #=kS2F, then the above equation appear as: mana (7) ‘The Si unit of E is newton per coulomb (NC) or volt per metre (Vm""). The strength of the fel {s proportional to the magnitude of the source charge. Its strength decreases as the test charge moves away from source charge. # is always directed from positive to negative charges. Example 10.2: Determine electric field at the surface of a sphere of radius 3.0 m while thé point charge of 9 uC is placed at the centre. Given: Electric field = E radius of sphere = r = 3.0m point charge at the centre = q=9 uC = 9x10°C To Find: Electric field intensity = ? ‘Solution: Using the formula for electric field intensity: E=k 3 ; By putting the above values in the equation, we get: i E = 9x10" 22-9 x19%6 @ E=9x10°N/C 186| ELECTROSTATICS (eu) “ ; Assignment 10.2 conducting sphere carries a charge of 200 jC. Find the electric field intensity at a distance 60 cm from the centre of the sphere. 0,3 ELECTRIC FIELD LINES We have defined the electric field mathematically through Equation 10.6. Now we see the electric field ina Pictorial representation. Away of visualizing electric field patterns is to draw lines, called electric field lines. Electric field tines were first introduced by Faraday. june direction and intensity of electric fieta\in the vicinity of a[charge’ body cari Bey)" Pres _Tepresented by drawing imaginary lines called electric lines of force. It is important to remember that electric fields are three- [ epee dimensional. Representative electric field lines for the field due | | toa single positive point charge are shown in figure 10.5. This | two-dimensional drawing shows only the field lines that lie in the plane containing the point charge. The lines are actually directed radially outward from the charge in all directions; therefore, instead of the flat “wheel” of lines shown, you should picture an entire spherical distribution of lines. Because a positive test charge placed in this field would be repelled by the positive source charge, the lines are directed radially away from the source charge. The electric field lines representing the field due to a single _ negative point charge are directed toward the charge (Figure 10.6). Ineither case, the lines are along the radial direction and extend all the way to infinity. Notice that the lines become closer together as they approach the charge, indicating that the strength of the field increases as we move toward the source charge. Figure 10.7 shows the symmetric electric field lines for two point charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign. This charge configuration is called an electric dipole. Note that the field lines start from positive charge and ends at negative charge. The high density of lines between the charges indicates a strong electric field in this region. The field is stronger in the region between the charges. It is due to reason that here the resultant intensity {s equal to the sum of intensities due to positive charge and negative charge. The number of lines that begin at the positive charge must equal the number of lines that terminate at the negative charge. 187PU evectrostarics ‘N Figure 10.8 shows the field lines of two positive charges. The fleld Is weaker boy, Charges. The individual forces on a test charge (n that : = Fegion are in opposite directions, At some points the | Fesultant intensity is zero which fs called neutral points. Two negative charges also produce the fields very similar to the field produced by two positive charges, except that the directions are reversed. The electric lines of force between two oppositely charged parallel plates separated by a small distance fs shown in figure 10.9. The one plate has a uniform Positive charge distribution while the other plate has a uniform negative charge. The field lines start from the Positive plate and ends at negative one plate. The field between the plates is uniform in strength. If the plates have finite length, then field lines at the ends of plates will be curved,as shown in figure 10.9. Such curved field at the ends of plates is called “fringing field”. Fringing field shows that field is not uniformat:the ends: From above discussion we conclude that: | hy * The field tines never intersect each other. + For the field lines'to either start or end at infinity, a single charge must be used. : ‘© Electric lines of forces originate froma positive — charge and terminate at negative'charge. + The tangent drawn at any point on the line gives direction of electric intensity at that point. The arrows indicate the direction of electric field.at different points. > Intensity of electric field is proportional to the number of electric lines per unit area. Lines of force are close in the region where field is strong and far apart in the weaker region. © The electric lines of force have the tendency to contract in length. This explains attraction between oppositely charged bodies. The potential gradient represents the rate of change of Potential along with displacement. In other words, it represents the slope along which potential is changing. 188aa, yr ELECTROSTATICS © rental difference petween two Points is difference between Potential at. point-A and 0 tial at point B.'If Vj, and Vy is measured Potential at these two points, then V4 —Vp-isthe erential difference. Whereas, potential gradient can be defined as rate of change of potential ctito distance.’ I£AVsis change in Potential between two points: orien will be potential gradient. Points:separated by distance with reSPC re then ferive a relation for potential gradient we consi i i ider a test charge qois moved a small aitance A from point A to B. By using definition of work as: -Work done.on test charge = force acting on test. chargex dis; Tod! placement moved by test charge WeFar = = (i) ssfora charge quin an electric field E, force is given by F= qpE, so equation () becomes: W=q Er ii) slso the work done on the test charge quin moving a potential difference AV is equal to the decrease in electric potential energy,}.€. pee cables, the value of | W=-qoV --------- (if) el lediskept | oo | higher than’ ‘gradient | Negative sign is applied because the work done on qois against of conductor, else the cable is field force. Nowcomparing (ii) and (iii), we get: not safe. If lue of potential gradient is kept high in power qo E Ar = - qoAV _ systems, then it may affect the EAar=-AV = The:equation (10.8) shows that strength of the electric field E is equal to the potential gradient AV/Ar. The negative sign denotes that potential increases in the opposite direction of the electric field vector. The equation (10.8) shows that the unit of electric field E is volt/metre. Examplé'10.3:!The electric field at’a point due to a point charge i# 26 N/C and th Potential at that point is 13 J/C. Calculate the distance of the point from the charge Given; E= 26 N/C V=13J/C re? ! Using the formula of potential gradient, we have V=Er 189UE evectrosrarics ™’ re 2 #0.5m . Assignment 10.3 - : Show that: jyeire ~ enum 10.4.1 Motion of Charged Particle in an Electric Field When a charge ¢q is placed in an electric field, as shown in the figure 10.10, it experiences a force in the electric field E. © If the charge is allowed to move freely in an electric field, it will | move from positive plate to negative plate and acquire kinetic energy © If the charge is moved against the electric field, an external force € if Pt = 4q €) is required to do so. If this charge is released from point, it oe will move back and gain an equivalent amount of K.E. a Oe LOSPEPSFERRORLUIDES SS A ferrofluid is a liquid which becomes highly magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field. Ferrofluid is composed of very small, nanometer-sized particles (diameter usually 10 nm or less) of magnetite, hematite or some | other compound containing iron, and a liquid (usually oil). These particles are suspended in liquid. When there's no magnet around, ferrofluid acts like a liquid. The magnetite R particles move freely in the fluid. But when | oy there's a magnet nearby, the particles are Lk Mies ee! temporarily magnetized that react to the poles | Figure 10.11: Magnified photograph of | of a magnet. Removing the external field _ ferrofluid when influenced by a magnetic field, disappears it. a = —— erraar sr Gt] : sgnetic nanoparticles in a liquid. The nano-particles are usually iron oxide ae % (Fes0,). The liquids are usually water or an i organic solvent like kerosene. Ferrofluids are fascinating materials with a variety of applications in fields such as electronics, optics and medical physics etc, These materials are used in magnetic resonance structure of ferrofluid ure 10.12: Microscopic view of a ferrofluid. 190ELECTROSTATICS (th) en (MRI), bio-sensing, medical (maging, medichal therapy, dynamle loudspeakers, optic sensors, heat transfer/dissipation and many more, Inthe near future, ferroflutds d to carry medications Lo specific locations tn the body. imagin8 magneto" may be use’ CLA TITTET sraday cage is a cage made of a ing material. A Faraday cage ites charge or radiation around ge's exterior, it cancels out ic charges or radiation within the In short, a Faraday cage is a conductor, in which the charge mains on the external surface of the fields within a conductor cancel out external fields, so the electric ithin a conductor is zero. The raday cages act as big hollow conductors. We can put things into the Faraday cage to shleld from electrical fields. Coulomb's la he force of attraction or repulsion between two charged bodies is directly proportional to the product of magnitude of charges and inversely proportional to the square of distance between them. Coulomb’s law is applicable to point charges and uniform spherical charge distribution, soe The Superposition Principle of Force: When a number of separate charges act on the charge of interest, each exerts an electric force. These electric forces can all be computed separately, one at a time, then added as vectors. This is known as the superposition principle of force. Electric Field: The region around a charge in which a test charge can feel an electric force is called electric field. Electric Lines ‘of Force: The direction and intensity of electric field in the vicinity of a charge body can be represented by drawing imaginary tines called electric lines of force, = = Charge: Property of matter that causes a force when near another charge. Charge comes i in two forms, positive and negative. % Potential Gradient: The rate of change of electric potential AV with respect to displacement 4r is known as potential gradient. Ferrofluids: Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles ina liquid. The . 191mir ELECTROSTATICS =~ mec aa ron onde (Feo. The liquids are usually water or 5, i, EXERCISE. Multiple Choice Questions Encircle the Correct option. ss. 1) Which of the following is equivalent to 1 volt a. newton/second —_b. joule/second @ joule/coulomb —d. coulomb /joute 2) Two positive charges are placed on a screen. Which statement describes the electric fy produced by the charges? a. It is constant everywhere. b. It is zero near each charge. c. It is zero halfway between the charges. d. It is strongest halfway between the charges, 3) Four charges are kept at the corners of a square ABCD as shown. B, e ‘The force on a positive charge placed at the centre of the square is +q =a a0 b. Along diagonal AC ct diagonal BD wisogtis 624. +24] ‘@Sperpendicular.to side AB A D 4) The bob of a pendulum of mass m and length | and a charge of q is in the rest position in a uniform horizontal electric field of E. The tension in the string of the pendulum is: amg bsqE Olona? + GP 4. emg)? + QE} 5) A negatively charged particle is placed in a uniform electric field directed from South to ‘North. In which direction will the particle move after it is released? a. East south c. North 4. North-West 6) If two points are at the same potential, are there any electric field lines connecting them? a) yes No c) may or may not ) insufficient information. y 7) Coulomb taw is usually applied in the area of a. Electromagnetism @)Electrostatics c. Magnetism d. Gravitation 8) Let F is the force between two equal point charges at some distance. If the distance between them is doubled and individual charges are also doubled, what will be force acting between the charges? @F b. 2F ce4F d. F/2 192aquestions _ ne e “answers of the following ¢ questions, sho! Give air passenger touches the knob of the toilet door during a flight, he may get an rm wren rock Why it is so? ric will the radius of a flexible ring change if it is given positive charge? iow yi plications of electrostatics in real life, wv write some apl ra at are the limitations of coulomb’s law? iptv points are at the same potential, are there any electric field lines connecting them? i what is the difference between electric field and electric field strength? comprehensive Questions ewer the following questions in detail. ni coulomb’s law for free space? 3) What is electric field strength? Explain with the help of examples. ) What js meant by the term potential gradient? Show that £ = AV / Ar. 5 peseribe the motion of @ charged particle in a uniform electric field. 5) What is ferrofluids? Explain, Numerical Problems Charges of magnitude 100 microcoulomb each are located in vacuum at the corners A, B and C of an equilateral triangle measuring 4 meters on each side. If the charge at A and C are positive and the charge B negative, what is the magnitude and direction of the total force on the charge at C? (Ans:5.625 N, force is parallel to AB ) 1) 2) What is the magnitude of a point charge that would create an electric field of 1.00 N/C at points 1.00 m away? (Ans: 1.11 x 10°" C) 3) Consider a point charge +q placed at the origin and another point charge -2q placed at a distance of 9 m from the charge +q. Determine the point between the two charges at which electric potential is zero. (Ans:3 m from +q ) 4) An object having a net charge of 24 uC is placed in a uniform electric field of 610 N/C directed vertically. What is the mass of this object if it floats in the field? (Ans:1.5g) 193