Electric Field
Electric Field
Space around a charge in which its force can be experienced
is called electric field.
Generally electric field extends up to infinity.
Electric Field Intensity
Electric field intensity at a point is defined as the force
experienced by unit positive charge placed at that point.
Force at q० due to q is given by
1 qq0
F
4π ० r2
Now force on unit charge at P due to q at A is given by
F 1 q
E
q० 4π ० r2
Unit of electric field intensity is NC-1 (newton per coulomb)
Superposition Principle of Electric Field
Electric field at a point due to group of charges is equal to
the vector sum of electric field produced by each other’s at the
same point. i.e.
E
⃗ ⃗⃗⃗1 E
E ⃗⃗⃗⃗2 E ⃗⃗⃗⃗3
n
1 q
∑ 2i r̂i
4π ० ri
i 1
Chapter-2: Page 1
Electric lines of force
The path along which a unit +ve cahrge move in the lectric
field is called electric line of force.
Properties of Electric Lines of Force
1. Tangent at any point of electric line of force give the direction
of electric field.
2. Lines of force originates from +ve charge and terminates at –
ve charge.
3. These lines are always perpendicular to the surface of cahrged
body.
4. These lines do not pass through conductor.
5. These lines never intersect. If they intersect, at the point of
intersection two tangents can be drawn indicating that
electric field has two direction. This is not possible.
6. Strength of field is measured in terms of number of lines.
Space where lines are closer, field is stronger and where lines
are farther field is weak.
7. These lines contracts longitudinally.
8. These lines exerts pressure on each other.
Examples of Field Lines
1. Due to isolated positive charge, electric field lines are diverging
and in case of isolated –ve charge these are converging.
Chapter-2: Page 2
2. Due to system of two opposite charge these contract
longitudinally.
3. Due to system of two similar charge these exert side way
pressure.
Electric Dipole
A system consisting of equal and opposite charge separaed
by certain distance is called electric dipole.
Electric Dipole Moment
It is defined as the product of either charge and length of
dipole.
It’s direction is taken from -ve to +ve.
p q 2l
Electric Field due to Dipole
A) On the Axial Line
Line joining centers of +ve and –ve charge of dipole is named
as axial line.
Consider an electric dipole of length 2l consisting of charges –
q and +q.
Chapter-2: Page 3
Let P be the point at a distance r from center where field
has to be known.
A O B P
Now electric field at P due to +q charge
1 q
E1
4π ० r l 2
Direction of E1 is from A to B.
Electric field at P due to –ve charge
1 q
E2
4π ० r l 2
Direction of E2 is from B to A.
Since E1 and E2 are collinear and have opposite direction and
⃗ 2|
|E ⃗E1
Resultant electric field is given by:
E2 E1
1 q q
[ ]
4π ० r l 2 r l 2
q r l 2 r l 2
* +
4π ० r l 2 r l 2
q 2pr
[ ]
4π ० 2 2 2
(r l )
This is valid only when r≥l. i.e. point is outside.
In the case when dipole is short (l«r)
1 2p
E
4π ० r3
Chapter-2: Page 4
On the axial line electric field has same direction as that of
dipole moment.
In vector form
1 2p⃗
⃗E
4π ० r3
B) On the Equatorial Line of dipole
The line bisecting the dipole normally is called equatorial line.
Consider an electric dipole consisting of charge –q and +q,
separated by a distance 2l. Let P be the point on the
equatorial line, at a distance r form center of dipole, where
electric field has to be known.
Electric field at P due to +q charge
1 q
E1
4π ० r2 l2
Electric field at P due to –q charge
1 q
E2
4π ० r2 l2
E1 and E2 has same magnitude but different direction. Their
resultant is given as
E 2E1 cos ( )
2
E 2E1 cos
Chapter-2: Page 5
1 q
E 2 cos
4π ० r2 l2
1 q l
E 2
4π ० r2 l2
√r2 l 2
1 p
E
4π ० r2 l
2 3⁄
2
In the case when dipole is short (l«r)
1 p
E
4π ० r3
Since E1 and E2 have same magnitude, resultant will bisect the
angle between them.
Using basic geometry resltant electric field will be anti-
parallel to dipole moment.
In vector form:
1 p⃗
⃗E
4π ० r3
C) Electric Field due to dipole at any point
Due to short dipole only
Consider a short dipole of dipole moment p. Let P be any
point at a distance r from center of dipole, where field has to
be known.
Chapter-2: Page 6
Resolving p into two components
1. pcos( ) along OP
2. psin( ) perpendicular to OP
Now point P lies on the axial line of pcos( )
Electric field at P due to pcos( ) is given by
1 2pcos
E1
4π ० r3
Now P is on the equatorial line of psin( ).
Electric field at P due to psin( ) is given by
1 psin
E2
4π ० r3
E1 has direction along OP (same as that of magnetic dipole,
pcos( )), E2 is perpendicular to OP (opposite to psin( ))
E1 and E2 are perpendicular to each other, so their
resultant is given as
E √E21 E22
2 2
1 2pcos 1 psin
E √( ) ( )
4π ० r3 4π ० r3
1 p
E √4cos2 sin2
4π ० r3
1 p
E √3cos2 1
4π ० r 3
Suppose resultant field makes an angle with OP then
E1 1
tan tan
E2 2
Chapter-2: Page 7
Torque on dipole in uniform Electric Field
Consider an electric dipole of length 2l placed in uniform
electric field intensityE making an angle with its direction.
Force on charge +q will be
F1
⃗⃗⃗ qE
⃗ (along the field)
Force on charge –q will be
F1
⃗⃗⃗ qE
⃗ (opposite to the field)
Thus dipole is acted upon by equal and opposite force and
hence it will acted upon by torque.
Torque produced is given by
either force distance between them
qE BC
BC
qE AB
AB
qE sin 2l
q 2lEsin
pEsin
In vector form
p⃗ ⃗E
Some special cases
1. When 0, 0, dipole is in stable equilibrium.
2. When 180 0, dipole is unstable equilibrium.
3. When 90 0 pE, in this case torque is maximum.
Chapter-2: Page 8
Potential Energy of dipole in Electric Field
A dipole placed in electric field is acted upon by torque.
When rotated against this torque work has to be done. This work
done is stored as potential energy.
Consider a dipole be placed in electric field making an angle
with it. Let dipole be rotated through angle d . The amount of
work done against torque is given by
dW d
dW pEsin d
Total work done in rotatin dipole from 1 to 2 is
W ∫ pEsin d
1
W pE cos 2
1
W pE cos 1 cos 2
Chapter-2: Page 9