SLAC Lab Physics Handout

Electricity & Magnetism

ELECTRICITY Electric Field Due to a Continuous Charge Distribution:

The unit of charge is the Coulomb, C. There are four different types of distributions:
Induced Charge: in an object, positive and negative charges Name Symbol SI Unit
have been separated due to presence of nearby charge.
Charge q C
Coulomb’s Law: C
Linear Charge Density λ m
1 |q1 ||q2 |
F = 4πo r2 = k |q1r||q
2
2|
C
Surface Charge Density σ m2
2
9 m C
where k = 8.99 × 10 N · C2 Volume Charge Density ρ m3
For 3+ charges the net force on one charge is calculated by Force on a Point Charge in an External Electric Field:
the Principle of Superposition. The method is as follows:
F~ = q E.
~
Principle of Superposition states that the net force is the sum
of the individual forces, F~ has the same direction as E~ if q is positive and the opposite
direction if q is negative (Remember these are vectors!).
F~net = F~1 + F~2 + ... + F~n , for n charges.
Dipole in an Electric Field: ~τ torque on the dipole
1) Determine direction of force by signs of charges. 2) Then
evaluate force disregarding direction (only consider magni- ~ |~τ | = pEsin(θ)
~τ = p~ ⊗ E,
tudes). 3) Finally include direction in final Vector answer.
~
→ ~τ = 0 when p~ k E.
The Elementary Charge: electric charge is quantized, con-
served and is a constant of nature, e ≈ 1 .602 × 10 −19 C . The dipole’s associated potential energy is given by,
Field due to a Point Charge: U = −~ ~ = pEcos(θ).
p·E
~ = k q2 .
E ~
→ U = 0 when p~ ⊥ E.
r
Again, the Principle of Superposition allows us to calculate Gauss’ Law:
the net electric field at a point for 2+ charges: qenc
H
~ · dA
~
Φ= o , where Φ = E
~ net = E
E ~1 + E
~ 2 + ... + E
~ n , for n charges.
~ · dA
~= qenc ~ for given applications.
H
=⇒ E o and calculate E
Field Due to an Electric Dipole:
Application of Gauss’ Law: We apply Gauss’ Law when an
~ =
E 1 p
where p = qd.
2πo z 3 , excess (net) charge, placed on an isolated conductor , is lo-
cated entirely on the outer surface of the conductor. (Many of
these derivations involve the use of symmetry arguments.)
~ Near the Surface of a Charged Conductor
1. E
~ =
E σ
o

Within the conductor, E = 0.

~ Due to an Infinte Line of Charge
2. E
~ =
E λ
2πo r

~ Due to an Infinite Non-conducting Sheet

3. E
~ =
E σ
2o

1
 ~ Outside a Charged Spherical Shell of Radius R
4. E Pontential Energy and Energy Density of Capacitor:
~ = k rq2 q2
E U= 2C = 12 CV 2
For r < R, E = 0. u = 12 o E 2
~ Inside a Uniform Sphere of Charge of Radius R
5. E Dielectrics: If the space inside a capacitor is filled with a
~ = k( q3 )r dielectric material, replace o with κo (κ = dielectric con-
E R stant).
Electric Potential Energy:
Current: The unit of current is the Ampere, A.
∆U = Uf − Ui = −W dq
i= dt
where W is work done by the electrostatic force.
Current Density:
Electric Potential Difference and Electric Potential:
J~ · dA
~
R
i=
∆V = Vf − Vi = −W
q = ∆U
q
Drift Speed of Charge Carriers:
U
or simply, V = q J~ = (ne)v~d
Equipotential Surface: all points in the surface have the where vd is the drift speed for n charge carriers.
same electric potential.
Resistance: The unit of resistance is the Ohm, Ω.
~
Finding V from E: V
R= i
Rf
~ · d~s
∆V = − E Resistivity (ρ) and Conductivity (σ):
i
1 E
ρ= σ = J
Potential Difference Due to Point Charges:
~ = ρJ~
E
V = k rq2
For a collection of n point charges, For a conducting wire of length L and cross-sectional area A,
L
n
P R = ρA
V = Vi .
i=1 Power:
Potential Difference Due to a Continuous Charge Dist.: P = iV (rate of electrical energy transfer)
V = k dq
R
r
Power in a Resistor:
V2
Electric Potential Energy of a System of Point Charges: P = i2 R = R (resistive dissipation)
U =W = k q1rq2 EMF:
Capacitance (two conducting plates): E = dW
dq = iR
q = CV Circuit Rules:
Capacitance of parallel-plate capacitor: Loop Rule: the algebraic sum of the changes in potential en-
C= o A countered in a complete traversal of any loop of a circuit must
d be zero.
Capacitance of an isolated-sphere:
Junction Rule: by conservation of charge, the sum of the cur-
C = 4πo R rents entering any junction must be equal to the sum of the
currents leaving that junction.
Capacitors in Parallel and in Series:
n
P Power in a Battery: the rate at which chemical energy
Ceq = Ci (n capacitors in parallel) changes is given by
i=1
n
Pemf = iE
1 1
P
Ceq = Ci (n capacitors in series)
i=1

2
Resistors in Parallel and in Series: Field of a Magnetic Dipole:
n
1
=
P 1 ~
B(z) = µo µ
~
Req Ri (n resistors in series) 2π z 3
i=1
Magnetic Flux:
n
P
Req = Ri (n resistors in parallel) ΦB =
R
~ · dA
B ~
i=1

RC Circuits: where the time constant τ = RC ~ ⊥ A and B

ΦB = BA, when B ~ is uniform

Charging a Capacitor Faraday’s Law of Induction:

q = CE (1 − e − τt
) E = −N dΦB
dt

V = E (1 − e− τ )
t
Lenz’s Law: an induced current has a direction such that the
magnetic field due to the current opposes the change in the
E t
i = (R )e− τ magnetic flux that induces the current.
Discharging a Capacitor EMF and the Induced Electric Field:
− τt E = E ~ · d~s
H
q = qo e
qo t
)e− τ ~ · d~s = − dΦB
H
i = (− RC E dt
Inductance: The unit of Inductance is the Henry, H.
N ΦB
L=
MAGNETISM L = lµo n2 A (soleniod)
i

Magnetic Force: The unit of magnetic field is the Tesla, T .

Self-Induction:
F~B = q~v ⊗ B
~
EL = −L dt
di
A Charged Paticle circulating in a Magnetic Field:
L
mv 2 Series RL Circuits: where τ =
|q|vB = r
R
E t
ω 1 |q|B i= R (1 − e− τ ) (rise of current)
f= 2π = T = 2πm
t
Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire: of length L i = io e− τ (decay of current)

F~B = iL
~ ⊗ B,
~ |F~B | = iLBsin(θ) Magnetic Energy and Magnetic Energy Density:

Torque on a Current-Carrying Coil: the magnetic dipole UB = 21 Li2

moment µ = N iA for N turns in a coil of area A uB = B2
2µo
~ |~τ | = µBsin(θ)
~ ⊗ B,
~τ = µ Transformers:
Orientation Energy of a Magnetic Dipole: Vs
= Ns
(transformation of voltage)
Vp Np
U (θ) = −~ ~ = −µBcos(θ)
µ·B Is Np
Ip = Ns (transformation of current)
Biot-Savart Law:
~ =
dB µo id~
s⊗r̂
4π r 2
Maxwell’s Equations:
Ampere’s Law:
~ · d~s = µo ienc
H
B
Magnetic Field of a Long Straight Wire:
µo i
B= 2πR
Magnetic Field of a Circular Arc: an arc of angle φ
µo iφ
B= 4πR
Fields of a Solenoid and a Toroid:
B~ = µo in (solenoid)
~ =
B µo iN 1
(toroid)
2π r

3
 Series Parallel Series Parallel
Resistors Capacitors
n n n n
1 1 1 1
P P P P
Req = Rj Req = Rj Ceq = Cj Ceq = Cj
j=1 j=1 j=1 j=1
same current same voltage Same charge Same voltage
voltage changes current changes voltage changes charge changes

Physics-Electricity and Magneticism Formulas Sources:

Walker, Jearl, David Halliday, and Robert Resnick. Fundamentals of physics. 9th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. Print.
phy214uhart.wikispaces.com/ELECTRIC+FIELDS. Web.
bowendragon1.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=273. Web.

Prepared by Nate Steinle, Summer 2014

STUDENT LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER (SLAC)
Texas State University