PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

MODULE 02: ELECTRIC FIELDS

(Dr. Rubaiyet I. Haque)

LECTURE 03
OUTLINE:
▪ Charge density
▪ Electric field due to line of charge
▪ Electric field due to a charged disk

BACKGROUND:
- The equation for the electric field set up by a particle does not apply for a continuous charge
distribution.
- To find the electric field of an extended object at a point,
o First the electric field set up by a charge element 𝑑𝑞 is considered in the object, where the
element is small enough to be applied the equation for a particle.
o Then, using a integration, components of the electric fields from all the charge elements
are added.
- Since, individual electric fields have different magnitudes and point in different directions,
o Initially symmetry is checked, if it allows to cancel out any of the components of the fields,
to simplify the integration.

CHARGE DENSITY
Charge density refers to the amount of electric charge (𝑄) per unit dimension, like, length (𝑙) or per
unit area (𝐴) or per unit volume (𝑉), depending on the nature of the charge distribution. There are
three types of charge density, namely, linear charge density, surface charge density and volume
charge density.

Linear charge density: Linear charge density is defined as a charge per unit length of the object.
Linear charge density is defined for objects like thin wires, charged rods or thin cylinders. In this
configuration, the charge is distributed linearly.
- Denoted by Greek letter 𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑑𝑎 (𝜆).
- Unit is 𝐶/𝑚.
𝑞
- Mathematically, 𝜆 = , where, 𝑞 is the total charge and 𝑙 is the total length over which this
𝑙
charge is distributed uniformly.
- If the charge density varies over the length of the object,
o Then linear charge density is defined using calculus.
o In this case, we would consider infinitesimal length element 𝑑𝑙 containing infinitesimal
𝑑𝑞
amount of charge 𝑑𝑞 and linear charge density, thus, 𝜆 = .
𝑑𝑙

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

Surface charge density: Surface charge density refers to the amount of electric charge per unit area
on a charged surface.
- A surface charge density can be determined for objects like flat plates or the surfaces of cylinder
and sphere, hemisphere etc.
- Denoted by the Greek letter 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑚𝑎 (𝜎).
- Unit of surface charge density is 𝐶/𝑚2
𝑞
- If the charge 𝑞 is distributed uniformly over a surface of area 𝐴. Then we can write, 𝜎 = .
𝐴
- If the distribution of charge varies over the area of the surface under consideration, we would
consider infinitesimal area element 𝑑𝐴 containing infinitesimal amount of charge 𝑑𝑞 and surface
𝑑𝑞
charge density in this case would be, 𝜎 = .
𝑑𝐴

Volume charge density: Volume charge density represents the amount of electric charge per unit
volume.
- Denoted by the Greek letter 𝑟ℎ𝑜 (𝜌).
- Unit of the volume charge density is 𝐶/𝑚3 .
𝑞
- If the charge 𝑞 is distributed uniformly over the volume 𝑉 then, 𝜌 = .
𝑉
- If the distribution of charge varies over the volume of the charged object under consideration, we
would consider infinitesimal volume element 𝑑𝑉 containing infinitesimal amount of charge 𝑑𝑞
and volume charge density in this case would be, 𝜌 = 𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑉.

LINE CHARGE
A line charge refers to a distribution of electric charge along an infinitely long line or a line segment.
- It is a one-dimensional charge distribution, meaning that the charge is confined to a line rather
than being spread out in three-dimensional space like a point charge or a volumetric charge
distribution.

THE ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO A LINE OF CHARGE

Consideration:
- The wire is made of plastic or dielectric materials.
- The wire is uniformly charged.
- Initially, determine the electric field set by a charge element at a point.
- Then, calculate the electric field due to whole line charge.

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

The electrical field due to a long straight uniformly charged wire

Let us consider a long straight plastic wire having line charge
density 𝜆 coulombs per meter as showed in figure, where 𝑑𝑞
be the element of charge, and 𝑑𝑥 refers to the small length of
that charge element.
Here 𝑃 is an arbitrary point, located at distance 𝑎
perpendicular to the wire, and at a distance 𝑟 from the center
point charge element 𝑑𝑞. The charge element leans at angle
𝜃 with the perpendicular 𝑂𝑃.
Therefore, the linear charge density, 𝑑𝑞 = 𝜆 𝑑𝑥.

The magnitude of the electric field set by the charge element 𝑑𝑞 at the point 𝑃 can be written as,
1 𝑑𝑞 1 𝜆 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝐸 = = … … … (1)
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2
Since, 𝑟 here is the hypotenuse of the right triangle displayed in Figure. we can write,
𝑟 = √(𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 )
Therefore, equation (1) become,
1 𝜆𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝐸 = … … … (2)
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎 + 𝑥 2 )
2

Now, if the wire is infinitely long and be symmetrically placed on both left and right of the
perpendicular 𝑂𝑃.
- For any charge element 𝑑𝑞 = 𝜆 𝑑𝑥 to the right of 𝑂, there must be an equivalent charge element
to the left side due to symmetry.
o Thus, the vertical/ perpendicular components of the electric field from the charge elements
will be cancelled.
- Therefore, only the horizontal / parallel component along the direction 𝑂𝑃 of the electric field
from the charge elements will contribute to the resultant electric field at point 𝑃.

The parallel electric field component, that contributes to the net, for each charge element is,
1 𝜆𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝐸 cos 𝜃 = cos 𝜃 … … … (3)
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 )
From the Figure we get,
𝑎 𝑎
cos 𝜃 = = … … … (4)
𝑟 (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 )1⁄2

Therefore, equation (3) can be written as,

1 𝜆𝑑𝑥 𝑎 1 𝑎𝜆
𝑑𝐸 cos 𝜃 = . = . 𝑑𝑥
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 ) (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 )1⁄2 4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 )3⁄2

Now, the net field at point 𝑃 can be obtained by integrating from 𝑥 = −∞ to 𝑥 = ∞. We find,
∞
𝑎𝜆 𝑑𝑥
𝐸 = ∫ 𝑑𝐸 cos 𝜃 = ∫ 3⁄
−∞
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 ) 2

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

Since, 𝑥 = 𝑎 tan 𝜃 and 𝑑𝑥 = (𝑎 sec 2 𝜃)𝑑𝜃. Therefore,

𝜋⁄ 𝜋⁄
2 𝑎𝜆 (𝑎 sec 2 𝜃)𝑑𝜃 2 𝑎𝜆 (𝑎 sec 2 𝜃)𝑑𝜃 3
(𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 ) ⁄2
𝐸=∫ 3 =∫
−𝜋⁄2 4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎 2 + 𝑎2 tan2 𝜃) ⁄2 −𝜋⁄2 4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑎3 sec 3 𝜃) = (𝑎2 + 𝑎2 tan2 𝜃) ⁄2
3

𝜋⁄ 3
2 𝜆𝑎2 sec 2 𝜃 = {𝑎2 (1 + tan2 𝜃)} ⁄2
𝐸=∫ 𝑑𝜃 3
−𝜋⁄2 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑎3 sec 3 𝜃 = 𝑎3 (sec 2 𝜃) ⁄2
𝜋⁄ = a3 sec 3 𝜃
2 𝜆
𝐸=∫ cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
−𝜋⁄2 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑎
𝜆 𝜋⁄
𝐸= [sin 𝜃]−𝜋2⁄
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑎 2
𝜆 2𝜆 𝜆
𝐸= {(1) − (−1)} = =
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑎 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑎 2𝜋𝜖0 𝑎
From this equation at is evident that in the case of a long straight wire, the electric field is inversely
proportional to the first power of the distance from the wire.

Electric field at a point on the axis of a charged circular turn of wire

Figure (a) below shows a thin ring of plastic wire having radius 𝑅 with a uniform distribution of
positive charge along its circumference. As the ring is made of plastic, thus the charge is fixed in
place.
Let us consider, element of charge 𝑑𝑞, and 𝑑𝑠 be the arc length of that charge element. In addition, 𝑃
refers to an arbitrary point on the central axis (the axis through the center of the ring and perpendicular
to the plane of the ring), at distance 𝑧 from the center point.

If, 𝜆 is the linear charge density in coulombs per meter, we get, 𝑑𝑞 = 𝜆 𝑑𝑠.

(a) (b)
Fig: A ring of uniform positive charge. A differential element of charge occupies a arc length 𝑑𝑠.
This element sets up an electric field 𝑑𝐸 at the point 𝑃.

The charge element sets up differential electric field at 𝑃, at distance 𝑟 from the element, as shown in
Figure. The magnitude of the electric field at point 𝑃 due to the charge element 𝑑𝑞 can be written as,
1 𝑑𝑞 1 𝜆𝑑𝑠
𝑑𝐸 = 2
= … … … (1)
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2
Since, 𝑟 here is the hypotenuse of the right triangle displayed in Figure. we can write,
𝑟 = √(𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 )

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

Therefore, equation (1) become,

1 𝜆𝑑𝑠
𝑑𝐸 = … … … (2)
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 )
All the charge elements are located at the same distance from point 𝑃 due to symmetry and have same
electric field magnitude. Since, each charge element leans at angle 𝜃 to the central axis (the z axis),
𝑑𝐸⃗ has components both perpendicular and parallel to the axis.

Take into account the charge element on the opposite side of the ring,
- The field vector leans at angle 𝜃 in the opposite direction to the vector from the initial charge
element (Figure b).
o Thus, two perpendicular components cancel each other.
o This cancelation occurs for every charge element all around the ring, and its symmetric
partner on the opposite side of the ring.
- Therefore, only the horizontal/ parallel components of the field from each charge component
contribute to the magnitude of the net field. We can write,

The horizontal / parallel field component for each charge element is given by,
1 𝜆𝑑𝑠
𝑑𝐸 cos 𝜃 = cos 𝜃 … … … (2)
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅 + 𝑧 2 )
2

From the Figure we get,

𝑧 𝑧
cos 𝜃 = =
𝑟 √(𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 )
Therefore, equation (2) can be written as
1 𝜆𝑑𝑠 𝑧 1 𝑧𝜆
𝑑𝐸 cos 𝜃 = . = . 𝑑𝑠
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅 + 𝑧 ) √(𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 ) 4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 )3⁄2
2 2

Thus, the net field at point 𝑃 can be obtained by integrating from 𝑠 = 0 through the full
circumference, 𝑠 = 2𝜋𝑅. Therefore, we get,
2𝜋𝑅
𝑧𝜆 𝑧𝜆(2𝜋𝑅)
𝐸 = ∫ 𝑑𝐸 cos 𝜃 = 3 ∫ 𝑑𝑠 = 3⁄ … … … (3)
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 ) ⁄2 0
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 ) 2

𝑞𝑧
𝐸= 3⁄ [𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝜆 = 𝑞/(2𝜋𝑅)] … … … (4)
4𝜋𝜖0 (𝑅2 + 𝑧 2 ) 2

If the charge on the ring is negative, instead of positive, the magnitude of the field at 𝑃 is still given
by equation (4).
- However, the electric field vector then points toward the ring instead of away from it.
Now, if the point 𝑃 is located on the central axis that is so far away that 𝑧 ≫ 𝑅. Then equation (4)
becomes,
1 𝑞
𝐸= … … … (5)
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑧 2
From a large distance, the ring “looks like” a point charge. The thus the equation also looks similar
to the equation of electric field due to the point charge.

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

PROBLEM 22-22: (a) A charge −300𝑒 is uniformly distributed along a circular arc of radius
4.00 𝑐𝑚, which subtends an angle of 40°. What is the linear charge density along the arc? (b) A
charge −300𝑒 is uniformly distributed over one face of a circular disk of radius 2.00 𝑐𝑚. What is
the surface charge density over that face? (c) A charge −300𝑒 is uniformly distributed over the
surface of a sphere of radius 2.00 𝑐𝑚. What is the surface charge density over that surface? (d) A
charge −300𝑒 is uniformly spread through the volume of a sphere of radius 2.00 𝑐𝑚. What is the
volume charge density in that sphere?

PROBLEM 22-23: Figure shows two parallel nonconducting

rings with their central axes along a common line. Ring 1 has
uniform charge 𝑞1 and radius 𝑅; ring 2 has uniform charge 𝑞2
and the same radius 𝑅. The rings are separated by distance 𝑑 =
3.00𝑅. The net electric field at point 𝑃 on the common line, at
distance 𝑅 from ring 1, is zero. What is the ratio 𝑞1 /𝑞2 ?

PROBLEM 22-24: A thin nonconducting rod with a uniform

distribution of positive charge 𝑄 is bent into a complete circle
of radius R (Fig.). The central perpendicular axis through the
ring is a z axis, with the origin at the center of the ring. What is
the magnitude of the electric field due to the rod at (a) 𝑧 = 0
and (b) 𝑧 = ∞? (c) In terms of 𝑅, at what positive value of 𝑧 is
that magnitude maximum? (d) If 𝑅 = 2.00 𝑐𝑚 and 𝑄 =
4.00 𝜇𝐶, what is the maximum magnitude?

PROBLEM 22-27: In Figure two curved plastic rods, one of charge

+𝑞 and the other of charge −𝑞, form a circle of radius 𝑅 = 8.50 𝑐𝑚
in an xy plane. The x axis passes through both of the connecting
points, and the charge is distributed uniformly on both rods. If 𝑞 =
15.0 𝑝𝐶, what are the (a) magnitude and (b) direction (relative to the
positive direction of the x axis) of the electric field 𝐸⃗ produced at 𝑃,
the center of the circle?

PROBLEM 22-28: Charge is uniformly distributed around a ring of radius 𝑅 = 2.40 𝑐𝑚, and the
resulting electric field magnitude 𝐸 is measured along the ring’s central axis (perpendicular to the
plane of the ring). At what distance from the ring’s center is 𝐸 maximum?

SURFACE CHARGE
A surface charge refers to a distribution of electric charge over the surface of an object.
- These concepts are crucial in solving problems related to electric fields and potentials near
charged surfaces.

THE ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO A CHARGED DISK

Let us consider a circular plastic disk, with a radius 𝑅 having a uniform surface charge density 𝜎
(charge per unit area) on its top surface. The disk sets up a pattern of electric field lines around it.
- 𝑃 is an arbitrary point on the central axis, at distance 𝑧 from the center of the disk (see figure).

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

Now, consider a ring superimposed on the disk, as shown in Figure, at an arbitrary radius 𝑟 ≤ 𝑅.
- The ring is so thin that the charges on it can be treated as a charge element 𝑑𝑞.

The small contribution 𝑑𝐸 to the electric field at the point 𝑃, due to the ring’s charge element 𝑑𝑞 and
radius 𝑟, can be given as,
1 𝑧 𝑑𝑞
𝑑𝐸 = … … … (1)
4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑧 2 + 𝑟 2 )3⁄2
As the Figure shows, the ring’s field points in the positive direction of the 𝑧 axis.

Since the thickness of the ring, that is denoted by 𝑑𝑟, is very small. The surface area of the ring 𝑑𝐴
is equal to the product of its circumference 2𝜋𝑟 and thickness 𝑑𝑟.
𝑑𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟 𝑑𝑟

𝑑𝑞
Now, the surface charge density 𝜎 can be expressed as, 𝜎 =
𝑑𝐴

𝑑𝑞 = 𝜎 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜎(2𝜋𝑟 𝑑𝑟) … … … (2)

After substituting this into Eq. (1) and simplifying, we get,

1 𝑧 𝜎 (2𝜋𝑟)𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝐸 = … … … (3)
4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑧 2 + 𝑟 2 )3⁄2

Total field at the point 𝑃 can be found by integrating equation (3) from the center of the disk at 𝑟 = 0
out to the rim at 𝑟 = 𝑅 to sum all the 𝑑𝐸 contributions (by sweeping arbitrary ring over the entire
disk surface). Thus, integration need to be performed with respect to a variable radius 𝑟 of the ring.
𝑅
1 𝑧 𝜎 (2𝜋𝑟)𝑑𝑟 𝜎𝑧 𝑅 (2𝑟)𝑑𝑟
𝐸 = ∫ 𝑑𝐸 = ∫ 3⁄ = 4𝜀 ∫ 3
0 4𝜋𝜀0 (𝑧 2 + 𝑟 2 ) 2 0 0 (𝑧 2 + 𝑟 2 ) ⁄2

𝜎𝑧 𝑅 2 3
𝐸= ∫ (𝑧 + 𝑟 2 )− ⁄2 (2𝑟)𝑑𝑟 … … … (4)
4𝜀0 0
3
Now, consider this integral in the form ∫ 𝑋 𝑚 𝑑𝑋, where 𝑋 = (𝑧 2 + 𝑟 2 ), 𝑚 = − and 𝑑𝑋 = (2𝑟)𝑑𝑟.
2
We know,
𝑋 𝑚+1
∫ 𝑋 𝑚 𝑑𝑋 = … … … (5)
𝑚+1

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

Therefore, the solution of the equation (4) gives,

𝑅
(𝑧 2 2 )−1⁄2 𝑅
𝜎𝑧 +𝑟 𝜎𝑧 1
𝐸= [ ] =− [ ] … … … (6)
4𝜀0 1 2𝜀0 √(𝑧 2 + 𝑟 2 )
− 0
2 0

Taking the limits in the equation (6) and rearranging, we find

𝜎𝑧 1 1 𝜎 𝑧
𝐸=− ( − )= (1 − ) … … … (7)
2𝜀0 √(𝑧 2 + 𝑅2 ) 𝑧 2𝜀0 √(𝑧 2 + 𝑅2 )
This is the magnitude of the electric field produced by a flat, circular, charged disk at points on its
central axis.

If 𝑅 → ∞ while keeping 𝑧 finite, the second term in the parentheses in equation (7) approaches zero,
and this equation reduces to
𝜎
𝐸= … … … (8)
2𝜀0
This is the electric field produced by an infinite sheet of uniform charge located on one side of a
nonconductor such as plastic.

We also get equation (8), by letting 𝑧 → 0 in equation (7) while keeping 𝑅 finite. This shows that at
points very close to the disk, the electric field set up by the disk is the same as if the disk were infinite
in extent.

PROBLEM 22-34: A disk of radius 2.5 cm has a surface charge density of 5.3 𝑚𝐶/𝑚2 on its
upper face. What is the magnitude of the electric field produced by the disk at a point on its central
axis at distance 𝑧 = 12 𝑐𝑚 from the disk?

PROBLEM 22-36: A circular plastic disk with radius 𝑅 = 2.00 𝑐𝑚 has a uniformly distributed
charge 𝑄 = +(2.00 × 106 )𝑒 on one face. A circular ring of width 30 𝜇𝑚 is centered on that face,
with the center of that width at radius 𝑟 = 0.50 𝑐𝑚. In coulombs, what charge is contained within
the width of the ring?

PROBLEM 22-37: Suppose you design an apparatus in

which a uniformly charged disk of radius R is to produce an
electric field. The field magnitude is most important along
the central perpendicular axis of the disk, at a point 𝑃 at
distance 2.00𝑅 from the disk (Figure (a)). Cost analysis
suggests that you switch to a ring of the same outer radius R
but with inner radius 𝑅/2.00 (Figure (b)). Assume that the
ring will have the same surface charge density as the
original disk. If you switch to the ring, by what percentage
will you decrease the electric field magnitude at 𝑃?

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PHY-108 Module 02: Electric fields

PROBLEM 22- 38: Figure a shows a circular disk that is uniformly charged. The central 𝑧 axis is
perpendicular to the disk face, with the origin at the disk. Figure b gives the magnitude of the
electric field along that axis in terms of the maximum magnitude 𝐸𝑚 at the disk surface. The 𝑧 axis
scale is set by 𝑧𝑠 = 8.0 𝑐𝑚. What is the radius of the disk?