Lecture 1 agenda:

Electric Charge.
Just a reminder of some things you learned back in grade school.

Coulomb’s Law (electrical force between charged particles).

You must be able to calculate the electrical forces between one or more charged particles.

The electric field.

You must be able to calculate the force on a charged particle in an electric field.

Electric field due to point charges.

You must be able to calculate electric field of one or more point charges.

Motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field.

You must be able to solve for the trajectory of a charged particle in a uniform electric field.
 Coulomb’s Law:
it’s just part of a bigger picture

Coulomb's Law quantifies the interaction between charged

particles.
r12
1 q1q 2
F = , + -
12 4πε 0 r12
2

Q1 Q2
Charged particles exert forces on each other over great
distances.
How does a charged particle "know" another one is “there?”

We use the concept of an electric field to explain this

interaction. Here's the idea…
 The Electric Field

F12
 A charged particle propagates (sends
+
out) a "field" into all space. F13

 Other charged particles F31

+
sense the field, and “know” like -
that the first one is there. charges F21 unlike
repel charges
attract

A charged particle modifies the

properties of the space around it.
The idea of an electric field is good for a number of reasons:

 It makes us feel good, like we’ve

F12
actually explained something.
OK, that was a flippant remark. There are serious reasons +
why the idea is “good.”
F13
 We can develop a theory based on this
idea. From this theory may spring F31
+
unimagined inventions. -
If the theory explains past observations and leads to new F21 unlike
predictions, the idea was “good.” charges
like attract
charges
 The electric field is real! repel
Trust me. Or go stand outside in an electric storm and then
try to tell me the electric field is not real.

Some physicists will tell you the electric field is real. Others disagree. It seems to depend on what you define “real” to mean.
We define the electric field by the force it exerts on a test
charge q0:

 F0 The subscript “0” reminds you the force is on the
E= “test charge.” I won’t require the subscripts when

q0 you use this equation for boardwork or on exams.

If the test charge is "too big" it perturbs the electric field, so

the “correct” definition is

 F0
E = lim You won’t be required to use
this version of the equation.
q0 0 q
0

Any time you know the electric field, you can  use this equation to calculate the force
on a charged particle in that electric field: F = qE
This version of the electric field equation is on your equation
sheet. Use it for problems involving electric fields and forces:


F = qE

This is your second starting equation. The equation tells you the direction of the
electric field is the direction of the force exerted on a POSITIVE test charge. The
absence of absolute value signs around q means you MUST include the sign of q in
your work.
 
  F0  N
The units of electric field are E  =   =
  q 0  C
newtons/coulomb.

In chapter 23, you will learn that the units of electric field can
also be expressed as volts/meter:
N V
E  = =
C m

The electric field can exist independent of whether there is a

charged particle around to “feel” it.
Remember: the electric field direction is the +
direction a + charge would feel a force.

A + charge would be repelled by another + charge.

Therefore the direction of the electric field is away from

positive (and towards negative).
 Gravitational Fields

The idea of a field is not new to you. You experienced fields

(gravitational) in Physics 1135.
 m1m 2
FG =G 2 , attractive
r12


 FG Units of g are
g(r) = actually N/kg!
m


g(r) is the local gravitational field. On earth, it is about 9.8
N/kg, directed towards the center of the earth.
If the last equation
looks like this, you
A particle with mass modifies the properties of the space around it. have missing fonts.
Lecture 1 agenda:
Electric Charge.
Just a reminder of some things you learned back in grade school.

Coulomb’s Law (electrical force between charged particles).

You must be able to calculate the electrical forces between one or more charged particles.

The electric field.

You must be able to calculate the force on a charged particle in an electric field.

Electric field due to point charges.

You must be able to calculate electric field of one or more point charges.

Motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field.

You must be able to solve for the trajectory of a charged particle in a uniform electric field.
 The Electric Field
Due to a Point Charge

Coulomb's law says

q1q 2
F =k 2 ,
12 r12

... which tells us the electric field due to a point charge q is

 q q
E q =k 2 , away from + …or just… E=k 2
r r

This is your third starting equation.

 q
E=k
r2
A physics 2135 equation is like a toaster!

You wouldn’t shove

yogurt down your
toaster, would you?

You can’t expect to just shove numbers into an equation and

out pops the correct answer.

To experience the optimum user satisfaction from your physics

2135 toaster equations you need to understand what they
mean and think about what you are doing with them.
If we define r̂ as a unit vector from the source point to the field
point…
source point
r̂ +

field point

…then the equation for the electric field of a point charge

becomes:
You may start with either equation
 q for the electric field (this one or the
E=k 2 rˆ one on the previous slide). But
r don’t use this one unless you
Consult a professional before using. Do not use more REALLY know what you are
than 4 times a day without seeing your physicist.
May cause headaches, dizziness, and upset stomach.
Drink a full glass of water with each use.
doing! (So for now don’t use it!)
 The Electric Field
Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution
(worked examples)

finite line of charge

ring of charge
disc of charge
infinite sheet of charge
infinite line of charge
semicircle of charge
Instead of talking about electric fields of charge distributions,
let’s work some examples. We’ll start with a “line” of charge.

Example: A rod* of length L has a uniformly distributed total

positive charge Q. Calculate the electric field at a point P
located a distance d below the rod, along an axis through the
left end of the rod and perpendicular to the rod.

Example: A rod* of length L has a uniformly distributed total

negative charge -Q. Calculate the electric field at a point P
located a distance d below the rod, along an axis through the
center of and perpendicular to the rod.

I will work one of the above examples at the board in lecture.

You should try the other for yourself.
*Assume the rod has negligible thickness.
Example: A rod of length L has a uniformly distributed total
negative charge -Q. Calculate the electric field at a point P
located a distance d below the rod, along an axis through the
center of and perpendicular to the rod.

-Q L
q
Starting equation: E = k 2
r
d
“Legal” version of starting
P equation:
dq
dE = k 2
r
This is “better” because it tells you how
to work the problem! It also helps you
avoid common vector mistakes.
You should begin electric field of charge distribution problems
with this
dq This is a “legal” version of a
dE = k 2 starting equation, so it is “official.”
r
because the equation “tells” you how to work the problem.

The equation says:

(1) pick a dq of charge somewhere in the distribution
(2) draw in your diagram the dE due to that dq
(3) draw the components of dE
(4) for each component, check for simplifications due to
symmetry, then integrate over the charge distribution.
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y
dq
-Q L Starting equation: dE = k
r2
x
dq dE
d Pick a dq (best to not put
it at either end or in the
middle).
P
Draw the dE due to the dq.

Before I draw the components, I need to define axes!

Now draw the components.

Do you see why symmetry tells me that Ex = 0?

Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y
Ex = 0, so calculate Ey
-Q L
x
x
dq dE
d First, label an angle  in
the vector diagram.

P dEy = +dE sin  yes, the + sign conveys
important information

To find sin , we need the x-coordinate of dq. If dq is at an

arbitrary position along the x-axis, what is a good name for its
coordinate? That’s right, we’ll call it x.

The diagram is getting rather “busy,” but we are almost done

with it.
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y

-Q L
x
x
dq  dE
d

P

To find sin , look at the green triangle. The sides have length
x and d, and hypotenuse r, where
r = x2  d2

From the green triangle, we see that sin  = d / r.

Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y

-Q L
x
x
dq  dE
d

P

Now we start to put things together:

dq dq d d dq dq
dE y  dE sin    k 2 sin    k 2   k 3   kd
r r r r x  d 
2 2 3/2

To find Ey we simply integrate from one end of the rod to the

other (from –L/2 to L/2).
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y

-Q L
x
x
dq  dE
d

P

L2 d dq
Ey   k
L 2
x 2
d 
2 3/2

But wait! We are integrating over the rod, which lies along the
x-axis. Doesn’t there need to be a dx somewhere?
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y

-Q
x
x
dq

I removed un-needed “stuff” from the figure.

dq is a tiny bit of charge on the uniformly charged rod.

If the charge is uniformly distributed, then the amount of

charge per length of rod is

(charge) Q
(linear charge density) = or 
(length) L
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y

-Q
x
x
dq

Q We use the symbol  for linear charge density. You

 probably thought (based on Physics 1135) that  is
L
the symbol for wavelength. It is. But not today!

 charge 
 charge on segment of rod  = × length of segment of rod 
 length 

What would be a good name for an infinitesimal length of rod

that lies along the x-axis? How about dx?
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y
dx
-Q
x
x
dq
We can take  outside the integral
because the charge is uniformly
Thus, dq =  dx and distributed, so  must be constant.

L2 dq L2  dx L2 dx
Ey   kd  kd  kd  
L 2
x 2
d 
2 3/2 L 2
x 2
d 
2 3/2 L 2
x 2
d 
2 3/2

Q L2 dx The physics of the problem is all

E y  kd 
L L 2
x 2
d 
2 3/2 done. The rest is “just” math.
Calculate the electric field at a point P.
y
dx
-Q
x
x
dq

Q L2 dx
E y  kd 
L L 2
x 2
d 
2 3/2

A note on the “just” math part. We expect you to remember derivatives

and integrals of simple power and trig functions, as well as exponentials.
The rest you can look up; on exams we will provide tables of integrals.
We would provide you with the above integral. It is not one that I could
do in 5 minutes, so I would not expect you to do it.
Example: A ring of radius a has a uniform charge per unit
length and a total positive charge Q. Calculate the electric field
at a point P along the axis of the ring at a distance x 0 from its
center.

To be worked at the
blackboard in lecture.
P x
x0

Homework hint: you must provide this derivation in your solution to any
problems about rings of charge (e.g. 21.53 or 21.55, if assigned).
Example: A ring of radius a has a uniform charge per unit
length and a total positive charge Q. Calculate the electric field
at a point P along the axis of the ring at a distance x 0 from its
center.

An edge-on view of the ring would look like this:

y

The z-axis would be coming out of the screen at you.

I will use the perspective view of the ring in my solution.

Example: A ring of radius a has a uniform charge per unit
length and a total positive charge Q. Calculate the electric field
at a point P along the axis of the ring at a distance x 0 from its
center.
y
dq Let’s add a y-axis to the
figure.
a r

 P Starting equation:
x
x0  dq
dE
dE=k 2
r

Pick a dq of charge. Let’s put it on the y-axis for now.

Show the dE due to that positive dq.

We’ll need r and  later.

 y
dq
Show the x- and y-
r
components of dE. There
a
dE′ may also be a z-component,
 P x which we’ll leave out
x0 
r
because it is difficult to draw
dE and visualize.
dq′

Consider the dq’ on the ring where it is intersected by the

negative y-axis.
dq’ gives rise to dE’ at P. Show the components of dq’.

All points on the ring are the same distance r from point P.
Also, x0 and  are the same for all points on the ring.

The y-components cancel pairwise! Same for the

z-components (not shown). Ey = Ez = 0.
 y
dq Back to our OSE…

a r dq
dE=k 2
 P x r
x0 
dE x = +dE cos 
dE

x0
From the diagram: r= x a
2
0
2
cos  
r
For a given x0, r is a constant
for all points on the ring.
Only works because all Ex are in same direction.

 dq  x 0 x0 x0 kx 0 Q
E x   dE x    k 2   k 3 ring d q  k r 3 Q  x 2  a 2 3/2
ring ring 
r  r r 0 
  dq  x 0 x0 x0 kx 0 Q
E x   dE x    k 2   k 3 ring d q  k r 3 Q  x 2  a 2 3/2
ring ring 
r  r r 0 
Some of you are wondering why all the absolute value signs.

You don’t really need them in this example, because Q is

positive.

When I draw the dEx and dEy in the diagram, the sign of Q
determines the directions of the components.
Because I used the sign of Q to determine the directions of the
components in my diagram, I don’t want to accidentally use the
sign again later and get the wrong direction in my final answer;
hence the absolute value signs, for safety.
If x0 is negative, then Ex points along the –x direction, as it should, so I don’t want
to put absolute value signs around the x0 in the answer.
 y
Back to our example…

a kx 0 Q
Ex 
x0
P
E
x x 2
0 a 
2 3/2

Ey  Ez  0

Also “legal” answers:

 kx 0 Q kx 0 Q
E ˆi E , away from the center
 0 a
x 2

2 3/2
 0 a
x 2

2 3/2

These equations are only valid for P along the x-axis!

What would be different if
Awesome Youtube Derivation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80mM3kSTZcE Q were negative? If P were
(he leaves out a factor of a in several steps, but finds it in the end). on the negative x-axis?
Example: A disc of radius R has a uniform charge per unit area
. Calculate the electric field at a point P along the central axis
of the disc at a distance x0 from its center.

P x
R x0
Example: A disc of radius R has a uniform charge per unit area
. Calculate the electric field at a point P along the central axis
of the disc at a distance x0 from its center.

The disc is made of

concentric rings.
r
P x
Imagine taking a ring
R x0 and cutting it so you can
lay it out along a line.

The length is 2r, the

2r thickness is dr, so the
dr
area of a ring at a radius
The ring has infinitesimal thickness, so you can imagine it as
a rectangular strip. r is 2rdr.

Caution! In the previous example, the radius of the ring was R. Here the radius of the disc is
R, and the rings it is made of have (variable) radius r.
Example: A disc of radius R has a uniform charge per unit area
. Calculate the electric field at a point P along the central axis
of the disc at a distance x0 from its center.

dq
Let’s assume  is positive
so dq is positive. The charge on each
ring is dq = (2rdr).
r
 charge on ring  = charge per area × area 
P x
R x0
dEring

We previously derived an equation for

the electric field of this ring. We’ll call kx 0 dq ring
dE ring 
it dEring here, because the ring is an
infinitesimal part of the entire disc.
x 2
0 r 2 3/2

Example: A disc of radius R has a uniform charge per unit area
. Calculate the electric field at a point P along the central axis
of the disc at a distance x0 from its center.

Let’s assume  is positive

dq so dq is positive. kx 0 dq ring
dE ring 
r x 2
0 r 
2 3/2

P x
R x0
dEring kx 0  (2rdr )

x 2
0 r 
2 3/2

kx 0  2rdr R 2r dr
E disc   dE    kx 0 
x  x 
ring
2 3/2 0 2 3/2
disc disc
2
0 r 2
0 r
 Let’s assume  is positive
dq so dq is positive.

r
P x
R x0
dEring

R 2r dr
E disc  kx 0  
You know how to integrate
this. The integrand is just
0
x 2
0 r 
2 3/2 (stuff)-3/2 d(stuff)

R
 x2  r  2 1/2   
E disc  kx 0   0
  2k  x 0  x0 
 1/ 2   x 0  x 2  R 2 1/2 
 0  0 
Kind of nasty looking, isn’t it.
 

P x
As usual, there are
R x0
Edisc
several ways to write
the answer.

 
 x0 x0 
E x  2k  Ey  Ez  0
 x 0  x 2  R 2 1/2 
 0 

  
x x
E  2k  0  0  ˆi
 x 0  x 2  R 2 1/2 
 0 

Or you could give the magnitude and direction.

Example: Calculate the electric field at a distance x0 from an
infinite plane sheet with a uniform charge density .

An infinite sheet is “the same as” disc of infinite radius.

  
x x
E sheet  lim  2k  0  0 
R    x 0  x 2  R 2 1/2  
  0 

1
Take the limit and use k  to get
4 0

 This is the magnitude of E. The direction is

E sheet  . away from a positively-charged sheet, or
2 0 towards a negatively-charged sheet.
Example: Calculate the electric field at a distance x0 from an
infinite plane sheet with a uniform charge density .


E sheet  .
2 0

Interesting...does not depend on distance from the sheet. Does

that make sense?

This is your fourth Official Starting Equation, and the only one
from all of today’s lecture!

I’ve been Really Nice and put this on your starting equation sheet. You don’t have to
derive it for your homework!
Example: calculate the electric field at the electron’s distance
away from the proton in a hydrogen atom (5.3x10-11 m).

+e -e EP kq k(+e) 9 109 1.6 1019 

+ - EP   
r2 5.3 10 
11 2
2
D
D
N
E P  5.110 11

C
This is the magnitude of Ep; the
direction is given in the diagram.

For comparison, air begins to break down and conduct

electricity at about 30 kV/cm, or 3x106 V/m.
 A Dipole

A combination of two electric charges with equal magnitude

and opposite sign, separated by a fixed distance, is called a
dipole.
+q + - -q

The charge on this dipole is q (not zero, not +q, not –q, not
2q). The distance between the charges is d. Dipoles are
“everywhere” in nature.

This is an electric dipole. Later in the course we’ll study magnetic dipoles.
 The Electric Field of a Dipole

Example: calculate the electric field at point P, which lies on the

perpendicular bisector a distance L from a dipole of charge q.

I am going to skip this

example in the “live”
P
lecture this semester.
You have a homework
problem similar to this
calculation.
L
The video lecture
segment “electric field
of point charges”
shows the calculation.
Students in the “live” +q + - -q
lecture are welcome to
watch the lecture
videos.
d
Example: calculate the electric field at point P, which lies on the
perpendicular bisector a distance L from a dipole of charge q.
y 
E+ E = E  E

 E y = 0 (symmetry)
P 

E x = 2E  ,x (symmetry)
E-
r L r
E x = +2E  cos 

 
+q + - -q
x

d
Example: calculate the electric field at point P, which lies on the
perpendicular bisector a distance L from a dipole of charge q.
y E x = +2E  cos 
E+


P 
d/2 d
E x = +2E  = +E 
r r
E-
r L r
k q d kqd
Ex =+ 2 = 3
r r r

 d/2 d/2   qd ˆ
+q + - -q E = i
x 4 0 r 3

d
“Charge on dipole” is positive by
convention, so no absolute value
signs needed around q.
 P
E qd
E
4o r 3

L
Caution! The above
equation for E applies
only to points along
the perpendicular
+q + - -q
bisector of the dipole.
d
It is not a starting
equation.

(r is not a system parameter, but

let’s not worry about that right now)