General Physics 2: Electric Field; Electric Field
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600 Intensity of a Point Charge; and Electric Fields Lines
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Module 2 Electrostatics
Outline:
1. Electric Field
2. Electric Field Intensity of a Point Charge
3. Electric Field Lines
Learning Objectives:
After completing the module, the students will be able to:
• describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a force
• draw electric field patterns due to systems with isolated point charges
• use in calculations the relationship between the electric field and the electric force on a test
charge
I. ELECTRIC FIELD
A field is a way of conceptualizing and mapping the force that surrounds any object at a
distance without apparent physical connection.
The region where a charged particle exerts a force is called electric field.
Electric field intensity or Electric field strength ( E )
-the force per unit positive test charge at that point.
𝐹
𝐸=
𝑞𝑜
where: F = electrostatic force (Coulomb’s force)
𝑞𝑜 = positive charge
Unit of field intensity: MKS: Newton / Coulomb (N/C) CGS: dyne /statcoulomb or esu, (dyne / statC)
1 N/C= 1/3x104 dyne/statC
Sample Problem 1: When a 5 microCoulomb test charge is laced at a point, it experiences a force of 2x10-
4
N at the X-direction. What is the electric field (E) at that point?
“What are the given in the problem?” 𝒒𝒐 = 5 µC µC is microcoulomb or × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑪
F = 2x10-4 N
“What is the unknown?” E (electric field)
Formula: 𝐹
𝐸=
𝑞𝑜
Solution
𝐹
𝐸=
𝑞𝑜
Solve for the electric field 2 𝑥 10−4 𝑁
=
5 𝑥 10−6 𝐶
𝐸 = 40 𝑁/𝐶
Sample Problem 2: If a microCoulomb test charge experiences a 10 N/C electric field. What is the
electrostatic force on this charge?
“What do we know from the problem?” 𝒒𝒐 = 1 µC µC is microcoulomb or × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑪
E = 10 N/C
“What is the unknown?” F (electrostatic force)
General Physics 2: Electric Field; Electric Field
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600 Intensity of a Point Charge; and Electric Fields Lines
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Module 2 Electrostatics
𝐹
𝐸=
Formula: 𝑞𝑜
𝐹 = 𝐸𝑞𝑜
Solution
𝐹 = 𝐸𝑞𝑜
N
Solve for the electrostatic force 𝐹 = ( 10 ) (1 𝑥 10−6 𝐶 )
C
𝐹 = 1.0 𝑥 10−5 𝑁
II. Electric Field Intensity of a Point Charge (Q)
In principle, the electric field is seen to depend only on the charge (Q) and distance( r), it is
completely independent of the test charge (q). A test charge is any charged body so small that the
force exerted on does not significantly alter the distribution of charges that create the field. The
mathematical representation is:
𝑘𝑄
𝐸⃗ =
𝑟2
𝑁𝑚2
where: 𝑘 = 8.99 × 109 2
𝐶
𝑄 = 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠
𝑟 = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠
Sample Problem 1:Two charges are 60 cm apart in air. One charge Q1 is 1.67x10 -7 C; the other Q is -1.67x10-7 C.
What is electric field intensity midway between the charges?
Q1 = +1.67 x 10 -7 C
“What do we know from the problem?” Q2 = -1.67 x 10 -7 C
r = 60cm convert it to meters so 0.60m
“What is the unknown?” ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 (net of electric field intensity)
𝑘𝑄
𝐸⃗ =
Formula: 𝑟2
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2
Solution
𝑘𝑄1
𝐸⃗ =
𝑟2
𝑁𝑚2
Solve for the electric field intensity 1 (8.99 × 109
−7
2 )(+1.67 × 10 𝐶)
𝐸⃗1 = 𝐶
(0.30𝑚)2
𝐸⃗1 = 1.67 𝑥 104 𝑁/𝐶 away from +Q1 or to the right
𝑘𝑄2
𝐸⃗2 = 2
𝑟
𝑁𝑚2
(8.99 × 109 2 )(−1.67 × 10−7 𝐶)
⃗2 = 𝐶
Solve for the electric field intensity 2 𝐸
(0.30𝑚)2
𝐸⃗2 = −1.67 𝑥 104 𝑁/𝐶
or
𝐸⃗2 = 1.67 𝑥 104 𝑁/𝐶 towards –Q2 or to the right
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = (+𝐸1 )𝑡𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 + (+𝐸2 )𝑡𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Solve for the net of the two electric field
intensity 𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = (1.67 𝑥 104 𝑁/𝐶) + (1.67 𝑥 104 𝑁/𝐶)
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 3.34 𝑥 104 𝑁/𝐶 towards –Q2 or to the right
General Physics 2: Electric Field; Electric Field
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600 Intensity of a Point Charge; and Electric Fields Lines
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Module 2 Electrostatics
Sample Problem 2: For the same previous problem, what is the electric field intensity 10 cm from the positive
charged body and 70 cm from the negative charged body?
“What do we know from the problem?” Q1 = +1.67 x 10 -7 C
Q2 = -1.67 x 10 -7 C
r1 = 10 cm convert it to meters so 0.10m
r2 = 70 cm convert it to meters so 0.70m
“What is the unknown?” ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 (net of electric field intensity)
𝑘𝑄
𝐸⃗ =
Formula: 𝑟2
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2
Solution Assuming the position of the charges is (+Q1 ---------- -Q2)
𝑘𝑄1
𝐸⃗ = 2
𝑟
𝑁𝑚2
(8.99 × 109 )(+1.67 × 10−7 𝐶)
Solve for the electric field intensity 1 𝐸⃗1 = 𝐶2
(0.10𝑚)2
𝐸⃗1 = 150133 𝑁/𝐶 away from +Q1 or to the left
or
𝐸⃗1 = 1.50 𝑥 105 𝑁/𝐶 away from +Q1 or to the left
𝑘𝑄2
𝐸⃗2 = 2
𝑟
𝑁𝑚2
(8.99 × 109 2 )(−1.67 × 10−7 𝐶)
𝐸⃗2 = 𝐶
Solve for the electric field intensity 2 (0.70𝑚)2
𝐸⃗2 = −3063.94 𝑁/𝐶
or
⃗𝐸2 = 3.06 𝑥 103 𝑁/𝐶 towards –Q2 or to the right
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = (−𝐸1 )𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 + (+𝐸2 )𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Solve for the net of the two electric field
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = (−150133 𝑁/𝐶) + (306394 𝑁/𝐶)
intensity
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 156261 𝑁/𝐶 towards –Q2 or to the right
or
𝑁
𝐸⃗𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 1.56 𝑥 105 𝐶 towards –Q2 or to the right
III. Electric Field Lines
Electric field lines are a series of lines drawn from a point charge representing the magnitude of
force exerted by that charge. Electric field has both magnitude and direction, thus it is a vector.
Note that electric field is defined for a positive test charge q, so that the field lines point away
from the positive charge and toward a negative charge.
Properties of Electric Field Lines
1. Field lines must begin on positive charges and terminate on negative charges or at infinity in
the hypothetical case of isolated charges.
General Physics 2: Electric Field; Electric Field
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600 Intensity of a Point Charge; and Electric Fields Lines
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Module 2 Electrostatics
2. The number of field lines leaving a positive charge or entering a negative charge is
proportional to the magnitude of the charge
3. The strength of the field is proportional to the closeness of the field lines- more precisely; it is
proportional to the number of lines per unit area perpendicular to the lines.
4. The direction of the electric field is tangent to the field line at any point in space.
5. Field lines never cross. This means that the field is unique at any point. The field line represents
the direction of the field; so if the crossed, the field would have two directions at that location
(an impossibility if the field is unique.
References:
• ALVAREZ, J. (2019) General Physics 2. p2-7 Oxford Publishing (Malaysia)
• LUBRICA, J. V. (2016) Course Manual in General Physics 2. Benguet State University.
• YOUNG, H. & FREEDMAN, R. (2012) University Physics 13th ed. Pearson Education, Inc. (USA)
