Chapter 2

Coulomb’s Law and

Electric Field Intensity
Department of Electrical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Prince of Songkla University
Contents
2.1 The Experimental Law of Coulomb
2.2 Electric Field Intensity

2.3 Field due to a Continuous Volume Charge Distribution

2.4 Field of a Line Charge
2.5 Field of a Sheet of Charge
2.6 Streamlines and Sketches of Field

www.roinlwnwohrvdo-y
own
fun wood Nd g
-
Nw o
- n

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 2

2.1 The Experimental Law of Coulomb
bugging in .hr : Uhs doo 2 Is :p
,
,

Coulomb stated that the force between two very small objects separated
www.nmnr
in a vacuum or free space by a distance which is large compared to their
-

size is proportional to the charge on each and inversely proportional to

the square of the distance between them.

Q1Q2
F =k 2
R
where Q1 and Q2 are the positive or negative quantities of charge, R is
the separation, and k is proportionality constant.
1
k=
4pe o

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 3

 -

2.1 The Experimental Law of Coulomb

AM WIN Maung go , Wishing
eo is the permittivity of free space.
1
e o = 8.854 ´10 -12
= ´10-9 F/m
36p
Q1Q2
Coulomb’s law is now: F=
r r r r 4pe oR 2
R12 = r2 - r1 F2
Q2 The vector form of Coulomb’s law
r
R12 r Q1Q2 r Q1 Q2
A

A 12

r r F2 = a12 =
- o -

a12 4pe oR12

2
2
r2 49 Eo
Iris I
Q1 r r r r
r R12 R12 r2 - r1
r a12 = r = = r r
r1 R12 R12 r2 - r1
Origin
Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 4
 E ( 2. s ) Point charges
of 50 no each are located at All O O
)
, , ,
B I 1,0
,
-
O ) ,
Cto , 1,0 ) and D lo
, -1,0 ) in free space .
Find the
total force on the charge
at A .

t
SI F = FBA t Fort t Foa ma Isa = IA -

Ig
=
2 Ax

:÷÷÷÷"i÷i
" "

::÷÷
:
"

nra:*=÷÷i÷xh
✓
=

=
2.5

tax
221am
x
10-6×9

.
.
a
circa
22
a- RAB = Ex

riraiai÷i⇐÷y
- #

Foa =
150×159122 .
na Ica -
-
Ia .

tic
2x
any
= -

.
.

Ix
2zz
'
-

22,5%-15
-

dy

FDA -
-

FF-j.ae#*nnrion=iea-IoMhu*xjI*1RyaI
'
oixtnay
a

2.5×156×9 HoiaMAZf÷,=aL#
( (z )
=
'
a '

2es
a'
215÷ any
= t
x

- *

.
: F a Foa t Fca t
FOA

I
fa5;tu)ax
=

-
*
 ÷
"

:÷÷±÷.Ci
±
2

::÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷⇒::÷÷÷÷
3619

iolax
Ir
zoiytzaz )
-

F wah
=

looixtssay
- -

- #
2.1 The Experimental Law of Coulomb
The force expressed by Coulomb’s law is a mutual force.
r r Q1Q2 r Q1Q2 r
F1 = - F2 = r 2 a21 = - r 2 a12
4pe oR12 4pe oR12
Coulomb’s law is linear.

The force on a charge in the presence of several other charges is the sum
of the forces on that charge due to each of the other charges acting
alone.

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 6

2.2 Electric Field Intensity I naw
lrwothhdndiunn )

Moving a charge slowly around one charge fixed in position (Q1).

The force on it by Coulomb’s law:
yardarm
r Q1Qt r
Ft = a1t a →
linnsrinlnndrura
4pe oR12t R -

- I -
f .
,

r
Force per unit charge: Ft Q1 r =

Cx x' iast Cy
'

y I any
= a1t
- -

Qt 4pe oR12t '

Q2
t ( 2 -

2 )

r
A vector field called the electric field intensity ( E)
r
r Ft Q1 r Q QR
\E = = a V m
'
=

Qt 4pe oR1t 2 1t
- .
-

4198 .
I RT
A single point charge Q1 in vacuum
Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 7
 Point Charge

E =

:# FIT .

f = tax tyaytzaz
} '
z X' Ax t
y any
'
t 2182

going :m

a punishing sure ,

R -

- f -
f .

iast
'
x'
=

Cx -

Cy -

y I any

) anz
'
t ( 2 -

III =
( x -
x
'
I
'
t
Cy y
-
'
)
'
t ( 2
-

2112
2.2 Electric Field Intensity
For Q1 locates at the center of a spherical coordinate system,
r Q1 r Q1 Field of single
E= ar or Er =
4pe or 2 4pe or 2 point charge
Writing the expression for Q at the origin of a cartesian coordinates,
r r r r r
R = r = xax + ya y + zaz
r r r r r
aR = ar = ( xax + ya y + zaz ) x2 + y2 + z 2
r Q æ x r
E= ç ax
(
4pe o x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ) ç x +y +z
è
2 2 2

y r z r ö
+ ay + az ÷
x2 + y 2 + z 2 x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ÷ø
Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 8
 2.2 Electric Field Intensity
r r r r
A charge Q locates at the source point r ¢ = x¢ax + y¢a y + z ¢a z (not origin)
r r r r
and finding the field at a general field point r = xax + ya y + zaz .
r r r r
Q r - r¢
E (r ) = r r 2 r r
r 4pe o r - r ¢ r - r¢
E r r
P ( x, y , z ) Q ( r - r¢)
= r r 3
r r r 4pe o r - r ¢
R = r - r¢
r r r
Q éë( x - x¢ ) ax + ( y - y¢ ) a y + ( z - z ¢ ) a z ùû
Q r = r r r 32
( x¢, y¢, z¢ )
r 4pe o éë( x - x¢ ) ax + ( y - y¢ ) a y + ( z - z ¢ ) a z ùû
r
r¢

Origin
Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 9
2.2 Electric Field Intensity

Two charges:
r r Q1 r Q2 r
E (r ) = r r 2 a1 + r r 2 a2
4pe o r - r1 4pe o r - r2

The vector addition of the total electric field intensity at P due to Q1

and Q2 is made possible by the linearity of Coulomb’s law.

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 10

2.2 Electric Field Intensity
The field due to n point charges:
r r Q1 r Q2 r Qn r
E (r ) = r r 2 a1 + r r 2 a2 + ... + r r 2 an
4pe o r - r1 4pe o r - r2 4pe o r - rn

r r n
Qm r
E (r ) = å r r 2 am
m =1 4pe o r - rm

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 11

 F -
-
ax
toiytaz
In = F -
I .

I ,
=
£2
Itil - I

R2 '
- F - 82
the = 2 an
x
t da
I I " "

.ir/'Eni:IaIi:as+anf
r " "

iii.
i.
. -

% 11%1 = 3

3¥
- 9
E am I
Egg jar ,
-
-
. = = 27

am '

x*s¥÷*
.

Ei Adz
( dye )
= =

27g

2¥ ( 2ana÷ )
E. dirt
3¥ ftp.az
= =

( 2ay2dyta )
Es =
=
2 dirt 2dg t Az
27g
.

Ea oh
2¥ ( Iay¥aI) any
=

Eff
=
t
fray
.

.
: E 2
6.829 are t 6.829 any t 32.829 Iz
-
#
2.3 Field due to a Continuous Volume
Charge Distribution
ANNUM HIU
Volume charge density: rv C/m3

DQ = rv Dv
DQ
rv = lim
Dv ®0 Dv

Total charge within a finite volume, Q = ò rv dv

Vol

Triple
integration

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 14

EI .
Find total
charge contained in a 2 cm
length of the electron beam ,

' ' 0%2 '

SI pr =
-
5×15 x e- elm

Q fu pv du
-
-

" of
fifi lpdpdoldz
" %
= .

snot x
e-

D. o L O O

!!
"
82
suite Ipdpdz
"
=

hall -

k
!!
" '

f -
io 're
pldpdz

÷I¥e¥dp
]:
"
" "
"
minute i Idp
!
'
=
' = -

mine :÷÷÷s :
"
=
.

Z
2.3 Field due to a Continuous Volume
Charge Distribution
…Electron-beam current…!

Assume electrons are moving at a constant velocity of 10 percent of the

velocity of light. Then, the 2-cm-long packet will have moved 2 cm in
2/3 ns, and the current is about equal to

DQ - (p 40 )10
-12

= » -118 µ A
Dt ( 2 3)10 -9

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 17

2.3 Field due to a Continuous Volume
Charge Distribution
r
The incremental contribution to the electric field intensity at r
r
produced by an incremental charge Q at r ¢ is
r r r r r r
DQ r -r ¢ rv Dv r - r¢
DE ( r ) = r r 2 rr - rr ¢ = r r 2 rr - rr ¢
4pe o r - r ¢ 4pe o r - r ¢
r r r
r r rv ( r ) dv r - r ¢
¢ ¢
E (r ) = ò r r 2 rr - rr ¢
vol
4pe o r - r ¢

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 18

 2.4 Field of a Line Charge
r r r r r
The contribution dE = dEr ar + dEz az to
the electric field intensity produced by an
element of charge dQ = r L dz ¢ located a
distance z ¢ from the origin. The linear
charge density is uniform and extends
along the entire z axis.

Determine electric field at a point

P(0,y,0) on the y axis.

Note: The axial symmetry leads to the

fields which are not functions of z.

Line charge density: r L C/m

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 19

2.4 Field of a Line Charge
On the y axis, no variation of the field with f and z.
Incremental field at P due to incremental charge dQ = r L dz ¢is
r r
r r L dz ¢ ( r - r ¢ )
dE = r r 3
4pe o r - r ¢
r r r
where r = ya y = r ar
r r
¢
r = z az ¢
r r r r
and r - r = r ar - z a z
¢ ¢
r r
r r L dz ( r ar - z a z )
¢ ¢
\ dE =
( )
3 2
4pe o r + z ¢
2 2

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 20

2.4 Field of a Line Charge
r The line

Only Er is presents. Then, Ep =

Pinar
IN
219 Eo
;

r L r dz ¢
dEr =
( )
32
4pe o r + z ¢ 2 2

¥
r L r dz ¢
Er = ò 4pe
(r )
32
-¥ o
2
+ z¢ 2

Integrating by integral tables or charge of variable, z ¢ = r cot q

¥
rL æ 1 z¢ ö
Er = rç 2 ÷
4pe o çè r 2 ÷
r + z ¢ ø-¥
2

rL
Er =
2pe or
Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 21
2.4 Field of a Line Charge
r r r r r
r rv dv¢ ( r - r ¢ ) r = r ar + zaz
E=ò r r 3 r r
vol
4pe o r - r ¢ ¢ ¢
r = z az
r r r r r
rv dv¢ = r L dz¢ R = r - r = r ar + ( z - z ) a z
¢ ¢

R = r + ( z - z¢)
2 2

r r
r r a r + ( z - z ¢ ) z
a
aR =
r +(z - z )
2
2
¢

r r
r ¥
r L dz ¢ éë r ar + ( z - z ¢ ) az ùû
E= ò 2 32
-¥ 4pe o é r + ( z - z ¢ ) ù
2
ë û

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 22

2.4 Field of a Line Charge
ì¥ r r ü
r rL ï r dz ¢ar ¥
( z - z ¢ ) dz ¢az ï
E= íò +ò 32 ý
4pe o ï -¥ é r 2 + z - z ¢ ù 3 2
( ) -¥ é r + ( z - z ¢ ) ù
2 2
2
ï
î ë û ë û þ
ì ¥ ü
rL ï r r dz ¢ r
¥
( z - z ¢ ) dz ¢ ï
= í ar ò + az ò ý
4pe o ï -¥ é r 2 + z - z ¢ ù 32 2 32
( ) -¥ é r + ( z - z ¢ ) ù
2 2
ï
î ë û ë û þ
ìé ù
¥
é ù
¥
ü
rL ïê r 1 - ( z - z¢) ú ê r 1 ú ï
= íê ra r + a ý
4pe o ï r r + ( z - z¢)
2
2 2 ú ê z
r + ( z - z¢) û ï
2 2 ú
î ë û -¥ ë -¥ þ

rL é r 2 r ù r rL r
= ê ar + a z ( 0 ) ú E= ar
4pe o ë r û 2pe or
Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 23
2.4 Field of a Line Charge
Electric field intensity due to a point charge.
r Q1 r
E= ar
4pe or 2

Electric field intensity due to a line charge.

r rL r
E= ar
2pe or

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 24

 2582 a' nibs
2.4 Field of a Line Charge
( z -

yt¥z J
'

Unionism gametangium

Consider
r an infinite line charge parallel to the z axis at x = 6, y = 8.
Find E at the general field point P(x,y,z). Raf f ( 6) Ext Cy 8) a'
-
's
x -
-

r
( x - 6 ) + ( y - 8)
2 2
R=
11
r rL r
E= aR
2pe o ( x - 6 ) + ( y - 8 )
2 2

r r r
r R ( x - 6 ) ax + ( y - 8 ) a y
aR = r =
R ( ) ( )
2 2
x - 6 + y - 8
r r
r r L ( x - 6 ) ax + ( y - 8 ) a y
E=
2pe o ( x - 6 )2 + ( y - 8 )2

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 25

 2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
An infinite sheet of charge in the yz plane, a general point P on the x axis,
and the differential-width
r line charge used
r as the elements in determining
r
the field at P by dE = r s dy¢aR 2pe oR.( )
r s dy¢
dEx = cos q
2pe o x + y¢ 2 2

rs xdy¢
=
2pe o x 2 + y¢2
¥ ¥
rs xdy¢ rs -1 y ¢ ù
Ex = ò =
2pe o -¥ x + y¢ 2pe o
2 2
tan ú
x û -¥
rs
=
Surface charge density: ρs C/m2 2e o

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 26

2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
If the point P were chosen on the negative x axis, then

rs
Ex = -
2e o
r
A unit vector aN normal to the sheet or directed outward, then

r rs r
E= aN
dm
' 2e o
T

E In
-2¥ normal unit vector
-

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 27

2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
If a second infinite sheet of charge, having a negative charge density –ρs,
is located in the plane x = a, we may find the total field by adding the
contribution of each sheet.
r rs r r rs r r r r
x > a, E+ = ax E- = - ax E = E+ + E - = 0
2e o 2e o
r r r r r r r r r
x < 0, E+ = s ax E- = - s a x E = E+ + E - = 0
2e o 2e o
r rs r r rs r
0 < x < a, E+ = ax E- = ax
2e o 2e o
r r r rs r
E = E+ + E- = ax
eo

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 28

 :÷÷÷÷÷
:*
Et = ET ,
t In t Isnt Ese

÷÷÷÷÷
.
5×-18

Eu=_a5a
±÷÷¥÷÷÷±
x L -
ah )
2

3619
IRI I

(-5×218)-+182 )

Eu = -45 da
-

any
xio
2-
Esp

-3619
) -4.3×18
AS
a
=
-

0.3×10-8-1 -

18

Ese -10.3×15912 I ) (0.3×1819) ay

any
-

= =

2×119 -

569

ET £2 IET I
Ey 90 96,18 VIM
→
33.93 =
- -

a
-
 2.25 ) Find E at the if the following charge distributions
origin
are present in free point charge
12 no at Plz 0,6 ) :
space
: .
-

uniform line charge density snclm at X

-

-2 -
s : uniform
y
-
-
.

,
.

surface
'
nclm at
charge density 0.2 x 2
-
-
.
.

1h12 RT
I Et Ea Et Es ( o 2) Ext I O
to Danz

-22×-6%360
Dany
- -

t t
- -
-

nn
- .

IRI Riz 2dx Ganz

-

E air
-

= 12×10 × ,
= atgb = Tao

-4.9×11
a
-

569
Tri =
=

To

:#
j

*
Ea

3×15/9
12×10/92
=
-'
n m

249×151
I
9
Ea
f-2ajx.fi#)Vlm
= 108

-
*

EL =
×
Ike nor Tur 28×-3 dry
- -

Itil is
jpl
=

w 18
Ira .
Eax Tay -

ia× )
-

F- '
59 ×

(
L
rig
-

Es Tx

HA
=
( dx ) = -
3.619

0.2×15/9
-

*
.

18
j

i. ET =
t
Ps T 's Find Et =
?

XLO It O Hm
;
.
-

EI
x a
= Esi t Es ,
x
=
-
- o

'D
Et at x > a - o vlm
E-i-B.c-axlt-B.ca 2 2

ET =
o Hm
2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
z
r r
r r L dx¢ ( - zaz - x¢ax )
dE = r r 3
r (0,0,2) 4pe o - zaz - x ax ¢
r¢
dQ r r r
r
r dEx r L dx ( - zaz - x ax )
¢ ¢
r =
( )
32
5 C/m y 4pe o z + x¢
2 2
R
(0,0,0) r
dEx = 0 ( Axial symmetry )
r
r dE r - z r L dx¢ r
dEz dEz = a
( )
32 z
x 4pe o z + x
2 2
(0,0,-2)
dQ r zrL
¥
dx¢ r
-5 C/m Ez = - ò z 2 + x¢2 a
4pe o -¥ ( )
32 z

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 30

2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
Only one positive line charge,
¥
r z r L æ 1 x¢ ö r 2
Ez = - ç 2 2 2 ÷
az
4pe o è z z + x¢ ø -¥
rL r
=- az
2pe o z
The total electric field intensity at the presence of the negative line
charge under the positive line charge.
r r r
Ez = -2 ´ L az
2pe o z

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 31

2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
z dx¢
r
dA

0.3 nC/m2

(0,0,0) (0,0.2,0)
(0,-0.2,0) r q y
R x¢

x
r
R = x¢2 + y 2

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 32

2.5 Fields of a Sheet of Charge
The electric field intensity in the x axis is zero due to the axis symmetry.
r
dEx = 0
r r s dx¢ cos q r rs ydx¢ r
And, dE y = - ay = - a
2pe o x¢ + y
2 2 2pe o x¢ + y
2 2 y

¥
r rs ¥
ydx¢ r rs -1 x¢ r rs r
Then, Ey = - ò
2pe o -¥ x¢ + y
2
a =-
2 y
2pe o
tan
y -¥
ay = -
2e o
ay

The total electric field intensity at the presence of the negative sheet of
charge next to the positive one.
r rs r
E y = -2 ´ ay
2e o

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 33

2.6 Streamlines and Sketches of Field
Consider the field about
a line charge
r rL r
E= ar
2pe or

- Streamlines
- Flux lines
- Direction lines

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 34

2.6 Streamlines and Sketches of Field
Two-dimensional field
From the geometry appearance,
r
E y dy
r =
Ex dx

The equation of a streamline

r isr obtained by solving
the differential equation E y Ex = dy dx .

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 35

2.6 Streamlines and Sketches of Field
Consider the field of the uniform line charge with r L = 2pe o
r 1 r
E = ar
r
In cartesian coordinates,
r x r y r
E= a + 2
2 x
ay
x +y
2
x +y 2

r
dy E y y dy dx
= r = Û =
dx Ex x y x
ln y = ln x + C1 Û ln y = ln x + ln C
y = Cx
Each streamline is associated with a specific value of C.

Chapter 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity 36