COULOMB'S LAWE FLECTRIC

110

same fieb!
could produce E at
nt origin
that P,
Case (ii) To find charge
(0, 0.5, 0)
(0, 0, 0)

due
origin. Since the field at P to the
Oign
Let isr, in
distance
be question,
the of P fron the
the unit vector , 1s directed towards P. Let the charge at tha charge a
oigin be Q.

- 0) å, +(0 - 0) à,
"g = (0 - 0) &, +(0.5
or,
r; = 0.5 a,

T3 =|ral = 0.5.

'3
0.5 a,
0.5

Or,
9x 10,
X
Field at P due to the charge Q is, E, = 2
a, 0.52
4 nE 0'3

....0
Or, E = 36 x10° Qá,.

The required condition is, Eg = E.

Equating right side of Eqs(1) & (2), we have,
36 x 10° Qâ, = 386å,,
Or,
Q= 10.72 x 10- C.
10
The charge at origin that produces a field E= 386 â at P is 10.72 x

Example 14 :
m apar
Two point charges 5uC and -3 uC are placed along a straight lineto10
no force.
Determine the location of a third charge 4 nC such that it is subjected (8marks)
Aug.!
B.U. EE.
 cULOMB'S LAW &ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY 111

Solution:

Let.
From data
Q,=5 C & Q, =-3 C.
on the
placed on
position coordinate values for , &Q, we see that the two charges
are y-coordinate at
placed aty=(10+- d) where it
y = 0 &y = 10
asshown in the figure. will be subjected torespectively.Let the third charge Q, be
no force. The positions can be represented

0=5 uC
,=4 uC
(0. 0. 0) ->y
(0, 10, 0) (0, 10+d. 0)

(10 +d)

Since both the forces are acting on Q., the unit

vector for both of them will be a
hecause of the position of Q, that can be seen in the figure.
Force on Q, due to Q, is,

F18
4nE, (10 +d) -å, **.l)

Force on Q, due to Q, is

F3 4 TEn a .(2)
.. Using Eqs(1) & (2), resultant force on , is,

4ne| (10+d)'

35x10-6 3x10-0
4TE 0 |(10+d)² (3)

AS per the requirement, the force on Q, must be zero, i.e., F = 0,

5 x 10-6 3x 10-6
if.
(10 +d)'
 COULOMB'S LAW &
112
ELECTRIC
O1,
5d =3(10 + d)'.

Taking square roots, V5 d = /3 (10 + d). Or, (10 + d) = d

(10 + d) = 1.29 d,
10
d=
0T, 0.291
d= 34.36 m.
Thus, the 4 uC charge will be subjected to no force when placed at a
mfrom -3 uC charge in the positive direction. However it may be noted
distance of 34.36
location, it is not just the 4 uC charge but any other charge irrespective of
zoo
that,its at thik
experiences no force; the fact is, the resultant field at that location is value
Example 15 :
Three equal charges of 1 uC are plaecd at the corners of a square of lenelk.
cm. Find the direction and magnitude of the electric field intensity at the n10
corner. (08 marks
VTU, (EE branch) Aug 1
Solution :

C a,,
P.
(0. 0. 0.1)fo. 0. 0.1, 0.1)

(0, 0, 0)
IC (0, 0.1, 0)
CQUL
OME'S/
LAW & ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY
113

The location of charges may be represented as shown in

the figure.
,=% = Q, =10- C.
LetI z r, be the distances of Pfrom the charges Q,, , & 3 4,, ^,, &a,
are the
Orresponding unit vectors.

Now. , =(0-0) à, + (0.1-0) å, +

(0.1-0) â, =0.1à, + 0.1å,
and. r=|r|= (0 - o) +(o.1 - o)' +(0.1 - 0) = Vo. 02
Electric field at P due to the charge , is,

E 2 -= 105 (0.1å, +0.1â,)

4nE o'; 47e 0"1 41E0 (0.02)3/2

10-0
E, =
4TE0
-(35.35 á, +35.35 å,)
Blectric field at P due to the charge Q, is,

E, =
10 |(0 -0) a, +(0.1-0.1) å, +(0.1-0) a,|
2 3 3/2
4E0

-6
10 0.1

4ne0 \0.1

10o-6
E, =
4 E0
-(130 ä,).
Electric field at P due to the charge Q is,

E
10-6 (o-o) á, +(0.1- 0) a, +(o.1 - 0.1) å,
47E >3 4nE0 "3 4TE0
(o)"
0.1

4rE,0,1
 COULOMB'S LAW &
114
ELECTRIC
10
E
4 nE0
-(100 à,).
The resultant field at P due to all the 3 charges is,

E - E +E, + E = (35.35 å, +35.35 a, +100 á, +100 &)

4 TE 0
l0-6
E = -(135.35å, +135.35 å, ),
4I X8.854 x l0-12

Or, E = 8.988 x 10*(135.35 &,, +135.85 å,).

Magnitude of electric field =8.988 x10° V135.35 + 135.35 = 1.7203 x 10

’

Or, E =|El = 1.7203x 10° V/m.

Direction of the field is, 0 = tan1 135.35 = 45°.

135.35
E is inclined at an angle of 45° to the y-axis.

Example 16 :
Four point charges, each 20 C, are on the x and y axes at t4 m. Findth
force on a200 C point charge at (0, 0, +3) m. (6 mark
B.U. EC/TC Sep %
Solution :
The charge placement can be represented as shown in Fig. 1. Let Q=200 1C. }
q= 20 uC. Let us consider the charge at A.

Force FA due to charge at A on charge at P will be

FA Qa
-a,A
4TE o'A
The distance between A and Pis,

Irl =(0-o)' +fo-(-4)] +3*

or, |ral=5. Similorly after evaluation we find that, |r2l= r =
|pl= .
(0-0) á, +[o- (-4)]4, +(3 - 0) a,
4n, (5) 5
 cOULOME'S LAW &ELEECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY
115

200 x10c! P
(0, 0, 3)

20 x 10 c
AB
4 (4,0,0)
20 x 10C 20 x 10 c
(0, -4, 0) ----+Y
C(0,4,0)
20 x 10 C
D
(4, 0, 0)

Fig. 1

Qg 4ay +3å,
4TE0

Similarly force FR due to charge at B on charge at P will be,

FB
Qq 0-(-4)l4, +(0-0) à, +(8-0)a,
5

0r,
Qg4a, +3 å,
4 E0 L

Force F due to charge at Cat charge at P will be,

[(o-o)a, +(0-4)à, +(3-0)à,
4e, (5) 5

Or, Qg-4à, +3a, 3)

4T80 L 5
 COULOMB'S LAW 6
116
ELECTRIC FY

at P will be,
Force F, due to charge at D on charge
[(0 - 4) á, +(0- 0) à, +(3 - 0)a,
4TE,(5)| 5

-4 d, + 3à.
Fp
4 TE)

The resultant force F at P can be found by using the equation,

F = F+ FR+ Fo+ Fp:
(4 a, + 3a, 4 a, + 3a, -4 a, +3a, +
-4 å, +3a.
F= 3
4 TE) 5

Qa 12 a,
3
4nE0 L 5°

1
We can use,
= 9x 10.
4 nEn

9x 10x200 x 10 x 20 x 10-0
F=
125
-(124,).
F -3.456 @, N.

Example 17 :
Point charges of 50 nC each aro located at A(1, 0, O), B(-1, 0, 0), C(0, 1, 9)
and D (0, 1, 0) m. Find the total force on the charge at A. Also find the electric field
(08 Marks
intensity at A.
VTU(O.S.), July #

Solution :
Since the forces on the charge at A is to be found out, all the 3 unit vectors wilu
directed towards A.
Let the unit vectors oriented,
(i)along BA be a,R:
(ii)along CA be a,c:
and, (iii) along DA be ap:
(OULOMB'S LAW & ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY
117

A0,1,0)

B
(-1,0,0) (1,0,0)

D
0,-1,0)
-y

Fig. 1
Further we can relate the base vectors to unit vectors as follows.

() Unit vector å,k :

Since the unit vector a,R, is oriented along positive x direction, it is the same as the base
vector a,,

.. (1)

(ii) Evaluation of a,p :

If r, is the distance vector from C to A, then, the distance between C &-A is,

Irgl =(1-o)' +(0-1 +(0 - o),

0r,
Ircl =2, ... (2)

and.
e - (1-0)a, +(0-1)å, +(0-0)å, =å, -å,.

Ircl

0r,
.....(3)
 COULOMB'S LAW &
118
ELECTRIC
FIELO ITElNE
(ii) Eva luation of a,n :
a.n is directed from Dto A. Considering the coordinates at Dand A, and
the same procedure as in the preceding case, we have,

Irpl=J(1-o)' +[o -(-1)) +(o-o).

or, Irbl = 2.
(1-o)å, +[o -(-1)]à, +(0- o)à,

at A due .
Let Q be the charge at each of the corners. Force acting on charge
other 3 charges can be considered as follows.
(iv) Force due to charge at B:

2 ..6

Considering the coordinates at B and A, we have,

1-(-1)] +[o -of' +[o -oj' - /4 -2.

Using Eq(1), (5), & the above, we have,
2

-å,,
4nE, (2)
2

or,
4TE, 2
(v) Force due to charge at C:
2

4nE 0'C
(8)

Leiny Bqs(2) & (3), we have, . =

2 J2
COULOMB'S LAW 4 ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY
119

(vi)Force due to charge at D:

4TE 'D

Using Egqs(4) &(5), we have, Fp

N2
2
å, + û,
o
4TE0 2 J2 .... (9)

mhe resultant force acting on A due to all the 3

forces is,

la, -å,) (a, +a,)]

+
2 2/2 242

50 ×10
47 x 8. 854 x 10 12 4

= 2.2469 x
1+2V2

F = 21,5 x 10 a,, newton.

Total force acting on the charge at A is 21.5 &. ON.

The electric field intensity E at A is,

21,5 x 1o-5
E =
50x 10-9

E = 430å, V/m.
The electric field intensity at A is 430 V/m.
Example 18:
It is required to hold four qual point charges +q each in equilibrium at the
coners of a square. Find the point charge which will do this if placed at the center of
ne square. Also find the force exerted on any one of the charges. (6 marks)
VTU, old MQP-II(Fields &Waves), VTU(Fields &Waves), July 04,
VTU(Field Theory, Aug. 2000, B.U.(A.S) EE/EL, Sept 98, Jan 90
 COULOMB'S LAW|
120 ELECTAIC
Solution : them be
the four point charges be equal to q. Let placed
Let cach of (Fig.1) Let a point
the four corners A, B,
C& Dof a squn re of side
a
charges in
chharge
equilibrium.
Qbe
Othe center of the square in order to hold the four 1t is prelaneA
to evaluate Q.
can find
distribution is symmetric, if we the
Since the chnrge
equilibrium at A, it applies to
other corners as well. condition
D0,a) +9 c(a, a)

A
(0, 0)
Ba, 0)

coordinates of B, C, & D at the 3 corners

Let A be located at the origin, The figure. Let tt:
center of the square are as shown in the
the square, and that of O at the
be F , Fc: Fn, & Po respectivel
forces acting at Adue to the charges at B, C, D &O

acts on A from B. the unit vector wul

(i) Evaluation of Fn : For the force that
directed from B to A (i.e., in a direction opposite to that of @,).
2
......(I/

-a,).
4 TE 0d

(ii) Evaluation of r, :
In similarity to the previous case we write,
2

-á,).
 COULONMB'S LAW &
ELECTRIC FIELD IINTENSITY 121

(ii) Evaluation of
For asquare of side
length a, the diagonal length is J2 a:
Let a,c be the unit vector acting from Cto A.

2
q
..... (3)
4no(W2a
(0- a) â, +(0 - a)a, a-â, - a,)
Now,
J(o- a +(0 - a
0I,
..... (4)
Eg(3) can be written as,
2

F =
4ne62a] V2
2

0r,
-å, - åy
2/2 ..... (5)

(iv) Evaluation of
Fp

Since O is the mid point on the diagonal, length A0 is The

same unit vector ar applies to this case also, since it acts along the diagonal.

Po = 2

J2
Using Eq(4), the above equation becomes,

Qq -å, - ay
F, = 2

2
 122 COULOMB'S LAW &tLcuIHIC FIELD
INTENSITY
Or, Fo =

4T Eo a
|2(-d, -4,). ..(6)
For achieving equilibrium,

+ Pct Ep + Fo = 0.
Using Eqs(1), (2), (5) & (6), we have for equilibrium,
2 2

4 TE 04
2 -(-å,) +
4 nE 0d
-á,)+ 4 TE,a 2
2/2 |a(-4,-á,)]-0,
(a, +a,)-a+2(a, +å, le -0,
Or, 2 |(a, +á,)a + 2/2
4 TE a

-alá, +a,) r 2
:0.
Or,

-ala, +a,) #0, + =0,

Since, 4 TTE ,a
2
242

+V2Q = 0.
or,

1 1
-6--a[0.707 +0.26].
Q-
Q = 0.957 g.

The charge to be placed at O for equilibrium =-0,957 g.

the charge
To find the force exerted on any one of the charges, let us consider
the charges are
A. The individual forces exerted are given in Egs(1) to (4). Since charges
equilibrium, the resultant force on g at A will be zero, which is the same for other
at B, C and D also.
Example 19 : distributions
are
Find the eloctric field E at origin, if the following charge
present in fro0 space:
(U) Polnt chargo 12 nC at P(2, 0, 6).
0) Unltorm lino charge of linoar chargo donsity 3 nC at x 2, y = 3. (10marks)
( )Unitorn surfnco chargo of donsity 0.2 nC/m² at x 2. VTUJan 07
 COULOMB'S LAW & ELECIIRIC
FIELD INTENSITY 123

Solution:
Asce (i)., Point charge 12 nC at
P(2, 0, 6) :

(0, 0, 0)
P(2, 0, 6)

Q=12x 10° C
The field E at the origin due to the charge at P is.
=

4n6 . (1)

Now, r= J(o -2 +(0 - o +(0 - 6 = 40 =6.325.

(0- 2) å, +(0 -o), +(o -6) a,
6.325

Or, a, = -0.316 å, - 0.949 å,.

From data, Q = 12 x 10.
12 x 10-9
.. Eq(1) becomes, E, = -(-0.316à, - 0.949 á, ),
4T x 8. 884 x 10 2 x 40

- 2.7(-0.316 å, - 0.949 a, ),
V/m.
E, = -0.852 å, - 2.559 &,

Case (ii), p, = 3 nC at x = 2, y= 3:

+
+
(0, 0, 0) +
(2, 3)

density PL is,
due to the line charge with linear charge
The field E, at the origin

E PL_iL . 2)
 124 COULOMB'S LAVW & ELECTRIC FIELD
INTENSITY
Now, r= J(o - 2)' + (0- 3)' = 13 = 3.61,

å, =
(0- 2)á, +(0 - 3) â,
3.61

Or, a, = -0.555 &, - 0. 832 @, .

From data, PL = 3x 10-9 C/m
3 x 10-9
Eq(2) becomes, E, = -12 -(-0.555 &, - 0.832 a, ),
2T x 8.854 x 10 × 3.61

=
15(-0.555 â, - 0.832 â, ),
Or,
E, = -8.3 &, - 12.48 å, V/m.
Case (iii), p. = 0.2 n C/m at x = 2:

(0, 0, 0)

*= 2

The fieljd É at the origin due to the surface

charge with surface charge density p, is,

2 &0 (3)

Now. r= 2, & a, = (0 - 2) åx
2
or, a, = -à,.
Krom data,
P, = 0.2 x 10 C/m2

Eq3) becomes, 0.2 x 100

2x8,854 x 10 (-å,)
Or,
E4 = -11. 29 &,, V/m.
CoULOMB'S LAW &
ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY 125

The resultant electric field E at

the origin due to all the 3
charge configurations l
E-E,+ E,+ Eg =(-0.852 a, - 2.559 å,)
+(-8.3 a, - 12.48 å,)+(-11.29 å,),
E = -20.442 a,, -
12.48 a, - 2.559 á, V/m.
Example 20:
A line charge of total
charge 1uC is placed
Eind electric field intensity between A (0, 0, 1) and B (0, 0, 2) m.
at P (0, 1, 1) m.
Solution : VTUJuly 2006

Fig. 1

+
B (0,0,2)
+!
+
+ ,
1mt
+
-

A(0,0,1)itlm ’ (0,1,1)

Pig. 2
126 COULOMB'S LAW & ELECTRIC FIELD
INTENSITY
We have the expression for electric field E at a point Pdue to a uniformly
straight wire as, charged
E= PL -|(cos 0, + cos®, )å, + (sin 9, - sin 8, ) å, (1
4 E,R
where, PL is the charge density i.e., chargelunit length, and ,, and R are as sho
in Fig. 1.
Now, for the point P,(0, 1, 1) m along with other data, the arrangement will be s
shown in Fig. 2.
Here, p, = 10-6 C/m by data. Also, since ABP is an isosceles right angled triangle,
0, = 45° & 0, = 90° and R= AP= 1 m.
Eq(1) becomes,
l o- 6
E =
4T × 8.854 x 10
-12
X1
[(cos:
45 + cos
90)a, + (sin 45 - sin 90)a,,
Or, E =
9000| (0.0707) &, +(0.707 - 1)4, |,
É - (6363â, - 0.293 â,) V/m.
Example 21 :
Find the electric field at a point A(2, 15, 3) m due to a unifo rm line charge or
linear charge density, P, = 25 nC given that, a perpendicular drawn from A meets the
line charge at the point B(-3, 0, 4)m.
VTU Jan 05, Aug. 2K, B.U. ECITC, Sept 9
Solution :

9
25 × 10 C/m

B(-3, 0, 4) A(2, 15, 3)

 COULOMB'S LAW & ELECTRIC
FIELD INTENSITY 127

The electric field at Ais given by, E= I_â..

We can write,
r =2-(-3)]å, +(15- 0) å, +
(3-4) å,,
=5 @, +15 â, - ,:
r =lrl= 5 +15 +(-1) = N251 = 15.84.

a, =
r 5a, +15 â, - å,
15.84
From data, PL = 25 × 10 C/m

25 x 10 5å, +15â, - d,
E
2T x 8.854 x 10-12 x 15.84 15.84 +15 å, - a,]
0r,
E = 8.96 a, +26.87 à, - 1.791â, V/m.
Magnitude of the field is, IEl = 28.38 V/m.

Example 22 :
A uniform line charge of infinite length with p, = 40
nC/m, lies along
Z-axis. Find E at (-2, 2, 8) in air.
(05 marks)
VTUDec 10
Solution:
Let P be the point with coordinates (-2, 2, 8). As per data, the line charge lies
along z-axis. The arrangement can be represented as shown in the figure. Let O be the
pOint where anernendicular drawn from P meets the line charge. Since 0 is on the line
Charge, and the line charge lies on z-axis, both the x and y coordinates have value zero for
. But since OP is the normal, the z-coordinate value for O will be same as that for P. ie.

T'he coordinates of O are (0, 0, 8).

Let OP= R. We know that the clectric fiold E at the point P due to the straight

utorm line charge of infinite length is given by, . . (1)

2:R
where, pL is the line chargelunit length, and aF is the unit vector along OP.
128 COULOMB'S LAW & ELECTRIC
FIELO INTENSI
+oo

O(0, 0, 8) P(-2, 2, 8)

From the figure we have,

R= -2-o) +(2 -o' +(8 - 8,

(2)
or, R= /8.
Also, R=(-2-0) á, +(2 -0) a, +(8 - 8) à, = -2&, +2 a,:
R -2 å, +2 a, ".....
3)

R V8
....
(4)
As per data, PL = 40 x 10
Clm.
Using Eqs(2), (3) & (4), Eq(1) becomes,
40 × 10
2n x 8,854 x 10 12
(-2å, +2å,
x V8

B-90-24, +2á,).
%- 1Ho i, á,) Vhm.