1. Physics 2113 Lecture 05 Electric Fields I Physics 2113
Jonathan Dowling
Physics Lecture 05
Electric Fields I
Charles-Augustin
de Coulomb
( )

2. What Are We Going to Learn? A Road Map
Electric charge - Electric force on other electric charges - Electric field, and electric potential
Moving electric charges : current
Electronic circuit components: batteries, resistors, capacitors
Electric currents - Magnetic field - Magnetic force on moving charges
Time-varying magnetic field & Electric Field
More circuit components: inductors.
Electromagnetic waves - light waves
Geometrical Optics (light rays).
Physical optics (light waves)

3. Coulomb’s Law k = For Charges in a Vacuum Often, we write k as:
Charles-Augustin
de Coulomb
( )
For Charges in a
Vacuum
k =
Often, we write k as:

4. Sir Michael Faraday’s Electric Lines of Force
Electric Force Field
Faraday (1791–1867)

5. E-Field is E-Force Divided by E-Charge
Definition of Electric Field:
+q1
–q2 P1 P2
E-Force on Charge
–q2 P1 P2
E-Field at Point
Units: F = [N] = [Newton] ; E = [N/C] = [Newton/Coulomb]

6. Electric Fields Electric Field of a Point Charge –q E +1C R
Electric field E at some point in space is defined as the force experienced by an imaginary point charge of +1 C, divided by 1 C.
Note that E is a VECTOR.
Since E is the force per unit charge, it is measured in units of N/C.
We measure the electric field using very small positive “test charges”, and dividing the measured force by the magnitude of the charge. –q R E
+1C
Electric Field of a Point Charge

7. Compare to Gravitational to Electric Fields
Gravitational Force: (Units: Newtons = N)
Electric
Force: (Units: Newtons = N)
Gravitational Field:
(Units: N/kg)
Electric Field:
(Units: N/C)
Given the Field,
Find the Force:
Given the Field,
Find the Force:
Find the Force:
(Vector Form)
Find the Force:
(Vector Form)

8. Gravitational Field Lines
Compare to Electric Field to Gravitational Field
Gravitational Field Lines
Electric Field Lines +q m
Note: Field Exists in Empty Space Whether Test Mass m is There or Not!
Note: Field Exists in Empty Space Whether Test Charge +q is There or Not!

9. Electric Field Lines
Field lines: useful way to visualize electric field E
Field lines start at a positive charge, end at negative charge
E at any point in space is tangential to field line
Field lines are closer where E is stronger
Example: a negative point charge — note spherical symmetry

10. Direction of Electric Field Lines
E-Field Vectors Point Away from Positive Charge — Field Source!
E-Field Vectors Point Towards Negative Charge — Field Sink!

11. +qs
+qR + _
ICPP

12. Superposition of F and E
Question: How do we figure out the force or field due to several point charges?
Answer: consider one charge at a time, calculate the field (a vector!) produced by each charge, and then add all the vectors! (“superposition”)
Useful to look out for SYMMETRY to simplify calculations!
If you never learned to add vectors in 2110 you’ll be in serious trouble in 21132! See online review

13. ICPP -2q +q -q +2q Total electric field y +q is the test charge x
4 charges are placed at the corners of a square as shown.
What is the direction of the electric field at the center of the square?
(a) Field is ZERO!
(b) Along +y
(c) Along +x -q
+2q y x
+q is the test charge

14. ICPP: Which Way is Enet?