1. Physics 2112 Unit 2: Electric Fields
Today’s Concepts:
A) The Electric Field
B) Continuous Charge Distributions

2. Fields
What if I remove q2? Is there anything at that point in space? 2 q2 q1 q1
F12
MATH: =
Add E = infront of F1/q1

3. Vector Field
If there are more than two charges present, the total force on any given charge is just the vector sum of the forces due to each of the other charges:
F2,1
F3,1
F4,1 F1 q1 q2 q3 q4
F2,1
F3,1
F4,1 F1 q1 q2 q3 q4
Add E = infront of F1/q1
+q1 -> -q1  direction reversed
MATH: =

4. Electric Field
“What exactly does the electric field that we calculate mean/represent? “
“What is the essence of an electric field? “
The electric field E at a point in space is simply the force per unit charge at that point.
Electric field due to a point charged particle
Superposition q2 E4 E2
Perhaps picture of glowing point charge
It is called a “field” because it is a continuous function defined at every point in space.
Field points toward negative and
Away from positive charges.
Field point in the direction of the
force on a positive charge. E E3 q4 q3

5. CheckPoint: Electric Fields1A B x +Q -Q
Two equal, but opposite charges are placed on the x axis. The positive charge is placed to the left of the origin and the negative charge is placed to the right, as shown in the figure above.
What is the direction of the electric field at point A? Up
Down
Left
Right
Zero

6. CheckPoint: Electric Fields2A B x +Q -Q
Two equal, but opposite charges are placed on the x axis. The positive charge is placed to the left of the origin and the negative charge is placed to the right, as shown in the figure above.
What is the direction of the electric field at point B? Up
Down
Left
Right
Zero

7. Example 2.1 (Field from three charges)+q P
Calculate E at point P. d -q +q 2 d 3

8. CheckPoint: Magnitude of Field (2 Charges)
In which of the two cases shown below is the magnitude of the electric field at the point labeled A the largest?
Case 1
Case 2
Equal +Q -Q A
Case 1
Case 2
Draw the fields

9. + _ _ +

10. CheckPoint Results: Motion of Test Charge
A positive test charge q is released from rest at distance r away from a charge of +Q and a distance 2r away from a charge of +2Q. How will the test charge move immediately after being released?
To the left
To the right
Stay still
Other
This is a one way to incorporate the “Briefly explain your reasoning” feedback into your lecture.

11. Example 2.2 (Zero Electric Field)q1 Q2 x
(0,0)
(0.4m,0)
A charge of q1 = +4uC is placed at the origin and another charge Q2 = +10uC is placed 0.4m away. At what point on the line connected the two charges is the electric field zero?
This should be moved forward…. but it is on another page in the book 

12. Continuous Charge Distributions
“I don't understand the whole dq thing and lambda.”
Summation becomes an integral (be careful with vector nature)
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?
Integrate over all charges (dq)
r is vector from dq to the point at which E is defined
Linear Example:
charges
l = Q/L dE
pt for E r
dq = l dx

13. Clicker Question: Charge Density
“I would like to know more about the charge density.”
Some Geometry
Linear (l = Q/L) Coulombs/meter
Surface (s = Q/A) Coulombs/meter2
Volume (r = Q/V) Coulombs/meter3
What has more net charge?.
A) A sphere w/ radius 2 meters and volume charge density r = 2 C/m3
B) A sphere w/ radius 2 meters and surface charge density s = 2 C/m2
C) Both A) and B) have the same net charge.

14. Example 2.3 (line of charge)
“Please go over infinite line charge.” y P
Let’s do one slightly different. r h
dq = l dx x
Charge is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from the origin to x = a. The charge density is l C/m. What is the x-component of the electric field at point P: (x,y) = (0,h)? x a

15. Clicker Question: Calculationy P
Charge is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from the origin to x = a. The charge density is l C/m. What is the x-component of the electric field at point P: (x,y) = (0,h)? r h
dq = l dx x x
We know: a
What is ? A) B) C) D) E)

16. Clicker Question: Calculation
Charge is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from the origin to x = a. The charge density is l C/m. What is the x-component of the electric field at point P: (x,y) = (0,h)? x a P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
We know:
What is ? A) B) C) D)

17. Clicker Question: Calculation
Charge is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from the origin to x = a. The charge density is l C/m. What is the x-component of the electric field at point P: (x,y) = (0,h)? x a P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
We know:
What is ? A) B) C)
neither of the above
sinq2 DEPENDS ON x!

18. Clicker Question: Calculation
Charge is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from the origin to x = a. The charge density is l C/m. What is the x-component of the electric field at point P: (x,y) = (a,h)? x a P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
We know:
What is x in terms of Q ? A) B) C) D)
x = h*tanQ2
x = h*cosQ2
x = h*sinQ2
x = h / cosQ2

19. Calculation
Charge is uniformly distributed along the x-axis from the origin to x = a. The charge density is l C/m. What is the x-component of the electric field at point P: (x,y) = (a,h)? x a P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
We know:
x = h*tanQ
dx = h*sec2Q dq
What is ?

20. Observation since Ex < 0 make since? Exercise for student:P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
since
Ex < 0
make since?
Exercise for student:
Change variables: write Q in terms of x
Result: do integral with trig sub

21. Back to the pre-lecturex a P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
“Please go over infinte line charge. How does R get outside the intergral?”
We had:
How would this integral change if the line of charge were infinite in both directions?
A) The limits would be Q1 to –Q1
D) sinQ would turn to tanQ
B) The limits would be to - 8 8
E) sinQ would turn to cosQ
C) The limits would be -p/2 to p/2

22. Back to the pre-lecturex a P r q1 q2
dq = l dx y
For an infinite line of charge, we had:
How would this integral change we wanted the y component instead of the x component?
A) The limits would be Q1 to –Q1
D) sinQ would turn to tanQ
B) The limits would be +/- infinity
E) sinQ would turn to cosQ
C) The limits would be -p/2 to p/2

23. k in terms of fundamental constants
Note

24. CheckPoint: Two Lines of Charge
Two infinite lines of charge are shown below.
Both lines have identical charge densities +λ C/m. Point A is equidistant from both lines and Point B is located a above the top line as shown.
How does EA, the magnitude of the electric field at point A, compare to EB, the magnitude of the electric field at point B?
EA < EB
EA = EB
EA > EB

25. Example 2.4 (E-field above a ring of charge)y
What is the electric field a distance h above the center of ring of uniform charge Q and radius a? x h a

26. Example 2.5 (E-field above a disk)y
What is the electric field a distance h above the center of disk of uniform charge Q and radius a? x h a

27. Points from negative to positive. (opposite the electric field.)
dipoles - + Cl Na q q q q d
Dipole moment = p = qd
Points from negative to positive.
(opposite the electric field.)

28. dU= -dW = tdQ = pE*sinQ*dQ
Torque on dipole q - +
= 2*(qE X d/2)
= p X E Q
dU= -dW = tdQ = pE*sinQ*dQ
DU= -pEcosQ
Define U = when Q = p/2
U= -p E

29. Example 2.6 (Salt Dipole) +
20o -
The two atoms in a salt (NaCl) molecule are separated by about 500pm. The molecule is placed in an electric field of strength 10N/C at an angle of 20o.
What is the torque on the molecule?
What is the potential energy of the molecule?