Electric Force
There is an attraction (between
opposite point charges)
Q1
+ - Q2
Electric Force
(A)Attraction (between opposite point charges)
F2 Q2
F1
Q1 r
Electric Force: Attraction or Repulsion
(A)Attraction (opposite charges)
F2 Q2
F1
Q1 r
or,
(A)Repulsion (like charges) F2
F1 Q2
r
Q1
F2 Q2
F1
Q1 r
The electric force is directed along
the line joining the two point
charges, Q1 & Q2
Coulomb’s Law (1):
Electric force is proportional to
product of magnitudes of the two
charges – F a Q1.Q2
F2
F1 Q2
Q1
r
F2
F1 Q2
r
Q1
Coulomb’s Law (2):
Electric force is inversely proportional to the
square of distance between the charges. That is,
F a 1/r2
F2
F1 Q2
Q1
r
F2
F1 Q2
r
Q1
Coulomb’s Law – The electric Force, F
Q2
1. F Q1.Q2
2. F 1/r2 r
Q1
Putting together,
𝑄1 . 𝑄2
𝐹 ∝ 2
𝑟
Coulomb’s law
Removing the proportionality sign,
𝑄1 .𝑄2
𝐹= 𝑘𝑒 2
𝑟
where, the Coulomb’s constant, ke has a numerical
value of 8.9875 x 109 Nm2/C2 . In the equation, Q1
and Q2 represent the magnitudes of the two charges
1 and 2 respectively, and r is distance of their
separation.
The Electric Force
Electric forces obey the Newton’s third law:
action and reaction are equal and opposite
Hence, magnitudes of the two forces F1 & F2
are equal but opposite in direction.
That is,
𝐹1 = −𝐹2
The Electric Force - Vector
When using Coulomb’s law, it is important
to remember that electric force is a vector
quantity!
So therefore, the vectorial rules apply when
adding two or more forces (between point
charges).
Note
(a) Repulsion (b) Attraction
The notation F12 denotes the force exerted by
particle 1 on particle 2; likewise, F21 is the force
exerted by particle 2 on particle 1.
By the Newton’s third law, forces F12 and F21 are
taken as equal regardless of whether q1 and q2 have
the same magnitude.
Quiz
An object A has a charge of +1.5 C, and object B
has a charge of +3.0 C.
Which statement is true?
(a) 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = - 2 𝐹𝐵𝐴
(b) 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = - 𝐹𝐵𝐴
(c) 2 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = - 𝐹𝐵𝐴
(d) 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝐹𝐵𝐴
Quiz
An object A has a charge of +1.5 C, and object B
has a charge of +3.0 C.
Which statement is true?
(a) 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = - 2 𝐹𝐵𝐴 r
(b) 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = - 𝐹𝐵𝐴 a
(c) 2 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = - 𝐹𝐵𝐴 r
(d) 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝐹𝐵𝐴 r
Example
The electron (- e) and proton (+ e)
of a hydrogen atom are separated
-11
by a distance of 5.3 x 10 m. Find
the magnitude of the electric force,
Fe.
Solution
The electron and proton are separated by a
distance of 5.3 x 10-11 m. The magnitude of the
electric force, Fe can be obtained from
Coulomb’s law:
𝑄1 .𝑄2
𝐹= 𝑘𝑒 2
𝑟
Given that: Q1 = Q2 = e = 1.6 x 10-19 C, and
r = 5.3 x 10-11 m, ke = 8.9875 x 109 Nm2/C2
Making the substitutions,
𝑄1 .𝑄2 𝑒2
𝐹= 𝑘𝑒 2 = 𝑘𝑒 2
𝑟 𝑟
𝑒2 𝑒 2
𝐹= 𝑘𝑒 2 = 8.99x109 N/m2 C2 . 2
𝑟 𝑟
2
1.6 𝑥 10−19 𝐶
𝐹 = 8.99x109 N.m2/C2 .
5.3 𝑥 10−11 𝑚 2
Working through,
F = 8.2 x 10-8 N.
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Superposition of Electric Forces
q1 q2
q4 q3
Procedure to calculate the Resultant force
1. Draw a diagram of the charges.
2. Identify the charge of interest, say Q
3. For each charge, q apply Coulomb’s law to find the
electric force on the charge of interest, Q.
4. The vector direction of the electric force is along the
line of the two charges, away from Q if the charges are
the same sign, towards Q if the charges are opposite.
5. Find the angle each vector makes with the x-axis.
6. Sum all the x- and y-components of the identified
forces separately,.
7. Use the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometry to
find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
A distribution of 4 Point Charges
q1 q2
+ -
-
q4 +q 3
Find the net electric force acting on charge q2
q1 q2
q4 q3
q1 q2
q4 q3
A
q1
q2
q4 q3
A
q1
q2
B
q4 q3
A
q1
q2
B
q4 c q3
Example: Consider three point charges at the corners of a
triangle shown in the figure below, where q1= 6.0x10-9 C,
q2=-2.0x10-9 C, and q3=5.0x10-9 C. Find the resultant force
on q3.
4.00 m
Apply the Superposition Principle
The electric forces, F13 & F23 can be computed separately,
one at a time, then added as vectors.
Solution:
Apply Coulomb’s
law. Find the
magnitude of
force exerted by
q1 on q3, which is
𝐹13 .
Solution:
Similarly the
magnitude of
force exerted by
q2 on q3, which is
𝐹23 .
Solution:
That is,
and
Resolving the two forces into x- and y-components,
we get,
and
Summing the x-components together,
and the y-components,
The magnitude of the resultant electric force on the
charge q3 is obtained by,
and the direction it acts is,