LECTURE THREE

ELECTROSTATICS

Objectives

At the end of this lecture, the learner should be able to:-

(a) Describe the motion of charged particles in an electric field.
(b) Calculate electric potential energy, electric field and potential
due to a spherical charge
(c) Determine the intensity of electric field near a plane sheet of
charge.
(d) Calculate electric field due to two parallel sheet of charges and
the potential of a charged conductor
(e) Describe the electric properties of charged conductors.

3.1: Motion of charged particles in an electric field

Suppose a particle of mass m and carrying a charge q is placed in a uniform electric field E.
The field will exert a force F on this charged particle given by

F = qE

If the particle is left free then it will perform accelerated motion under the force F. The
acceleration (= Force/mass) of the particle will be given by

F qE
a = = 3.1
m m

Since E is constant, the acceleration a is also a constant. Hence the motion of the particle is
uniformly accelerated.

Let the particle start from rest. Suppose its velocity becomes v and travelling a distance x in
the field, then

qE
v2 = 2ax = 2 x 3.2
m

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If the potential difference between the starting point and the point situated at x is V, then

E = V/x 3.3

Substituting equation (3.3) into (3.2), we get

qV
v2 = 2 3.4
m

Taking the square root, equation (3.4) gives

2qV
v = 3.5
m

From equation (3.5), we can be able to determine the velocity of the particle acquired in
going from one point to another having a potential difference V.

The kinetic energy acquired by the particle is

1
K = m v2 = qV. 3.6
2

Example.
An electron is liberated from a hot filament and attracted by an anode of potential 1200volts
which is positive with respect to the filament. What is the speed of the electron when it
strikes the anode.

Solution.
We know that, an electron has a charge q = 1.6  10-19 C and mass m = 9.1 10-31 Kg. We
are also given that, the potential difference V = 1200 volts.

From equation (3.6), the kinetic energy acquired by the electron is,

1
K = m v 2 = qV = 1.6  10-19 C  1200V,
2

where v is the speed gained by the electron from rest. Thus,

2qV 2  1.6 10 19 C  1200V

v = =
m 9.110 31 Kg
= 2.1  107m/s

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3.2: Electric Potential Energy.

+q1 +q2
A B
r

Fig.3.1

Let us consider two positive charges placed at A and B which are r meters apart (Fig.3.1.).
Definitely, the two charges will repel each other. Hence, work is done in taking away the
charges from each other or bringing them nearer each other. This work is stored in the form
of potential energy in the system of those charges. This is called ‘electric potential energy’ of
the system. It can also be defined in the following way: The electric potential energy of a
system of charges is the work done in bringing two charges from infinity to near each other
to form the system.

Suppose a system AB is formed by two charges of +q1 and +q2 coulomb, placed in vacuum
(or air) at a distance r meter from each other (see Fig. 3.1). To determine the electric
potential energy, of this system, suppose that the charge q2 is initially at infinity. Now, the
electric potential at B due to the charge q1 is,

1 q1
V = volt 3.7
4  0 r

According to the definition of electric potential, the work done (= charge times potential) in
bringing the charge q2 from infinity to the point B is,

1 q1 q 2
W = q2V = Joule 3.8
4  0 r

This work is the electric potential energy U of the system (q1 + q2). Hence,

1 q1 q 2
U = Joule 3.9
4  0 r

If the two charges are of the same sign, they repel each other. Then in bringing them closer,
work is done against the force of repulsion, so that the electric potential energy of the system
increases. Conversely, in separating them, work is obtained from the system and the electric
potential energy of the system decreases. If charges are of opposite sign, then they attract
each other. In this case the potential energy decreases in bringing them together and increases
in separating them.

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The electric potential energy is a scalar quantity. In the above formula, the values of q1 and
q2 must be put with proper signs. If there are more than two charges in a system, then the
electric potential is calculated from each pair and then all the energies so obtained are added
algebraically. For example if three charges q1, -q2 and q3 be placed at three corners of a

q3

r13 P
r23

r12
q1 -q2

Fig. 3.2

triangle (Fig.3.2), then the electric potential energy of the system will be given by

1  q1 q 2 q 2 q3 q1q3 
U =     Joule 3.10
4  0  r12 r23 r13 

3.3: Electric Field and Potential due to a Spherical Charge of Uniform Surface-Density

What is shown in Fig.3.3. is a spherical charge, which is positively charged and of radius R
meter. We want to calculate the electric field and potential outside and inside it.

We know that, the surface area of a sphere is 4  R 2 m 2 . If the total charge +q coulomb is
uniformly distributed on the surface of the sphere, then the surface density of the charge is,

 = charge/area = q/4  R 2 coulomb/ m 2 3.11

After finding the charge density, we need to determine the electric field and potential at
different points, due to this spherical charge:

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 + +
+ +
A E
+q
r
+ +

+ +

Fig.3.3.

(i) Electric field and potential outside the spherical surface.

The surface of the shell is spherical and the distribution is of the charge is uniform.
Therefore, at every point on the surface the potential will be the same. Then the lines of force
emerging from the surface will be at every point perpendicular to the surface, i.e. they will
appear to come from the center of the shell. See Fig 3.3 above.

Hence to determine the electric field, or the potential, at a point outside a spherical charge,
the whole of the charge q may be assume to be placed at the center of the shell. Thus, outside
the spherical shell, the intensity of the electric field at a point P situated at a distance r meter
from the centre of the sphere is,

1 q
E = N/C 3.11
4  0 r2

And the electric potential is,

1 q
V = volt 3.12
4  0 r

It is clear from the equation that, outside a sphere, both E and V decrease in moving away
from the charge.

(ii) On the surface of the spherical charge.

Next we want to calculate the electric field and the potential at the surface of the same
spherical shell. Here we say that, at the surface r = R, the radius of the shell. In this case,

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the equation of the electric field is the same as equation 3.11 but replacing r by R. The same
also holds for the calculation of the potential. Here it goes,

1 q
E = N/C 3.13
4  0 R2

And

1 q
V = volt 3.14
4  0 R

If we are given the charge density in which  = q/4  R 2 coulomb/ m 2

such that

q =  4  R 2 , which on substituting into (3.13) and (3.14) to get

1 q 
E = N/C = N/C 3.15
4  0 R2 o

Similarly

1 q 
V = volt = R volt 3.16
4  0 R o

(iii) Inside the spherical shell.

It can be proved that, the electric field inside a spherical shell is everywhere zero, that is

E = 0 3.16

Therefore, if we take any other charge from one point to another inside a charged spherical
shell, then we say that no work will be done. This means that, inside a spherical charge the
potential at all points is the same, and its value is equal to that on the surface, that is,


V = R volt 3.15
o

The variation of the electric field E and potential V of the spherical charge with the distance r
are shown in Fig.3.4. below

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 R

0 R r

0 R r

Fig 3.4

Inside the shell, the electric field is zero everywhere and the potential V is uniform. Outside
the shell, both E and V decrease with distance. The electric field decreases rapidly because E
is proportional to 1/r 2 . While potential V, decreases comparatively slowly because it is
proportional to 1/r.

The same argument also holds for a conducting charged sphere, whose charge lies entirely on
its outer surface.

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Activity

SUMMARY
The electric potential energy of a system of charges is the work done in
bringing two charges from infinity to near each other to form the system.

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