Columb's law of Electrostatistics

Accordingto Columb's law the electrostaticforceofattraction or repulsion

between 2 pointcharges is known to bedirectly proportionalto the product

of two charges andinversely proportional to the squareofthe distance between

theircentres

FE
9g
Q a

FE Fe 0102
Eg 01 atEora

where Eo permitivity offreespace

12
Eo 8.85 10 m 3kg s A

Note Signs are not considered in the formula

Some Importantvalues

charge on proton 1 6 10 c
19
charge on election l G x 10 C

e or 16 10 c Fundamental Elementary
q
charge charge

massof proton 1.67 10 276g

massof electron 9.11 1031kg
 U 1.66 10 27kg
G 2
6.67 10 m36g s
Eo 8.85 10 12 m 36g sup4

Question
proton election

q
ppg
fo
with
c oxo 4
E 411 Ya a 8.851012 1.671027 9.11 1031

1039
2 268
If
Fa c c c Fe
Note sincefor is really smallas compared to Fe effectsof Gravitational

Force are generally ignoredunlessotherwise stated

Question2

Hydrogen's atommodel isknown is shown velocityCu

below Empress linear

of the electron interms of r

ooo
e

Solution

me EE
 IET
Derive an eupression fortheangulovelocity w of theelection

meow
iii
LEI

Question3
Likecharges
2 metal spheres of mass 5 5 10
ng each like charges on both the

spheres havebeen induced and we arranged asfollows

O
Z T o z

o
distance
Calculate the between the centresof the charges

or or 0.212 0.232 210.276.2 30

I
0.1035

r
 Calculate the charge 0

I
0.2m
0.2m
T
Kirt T
Tsin 75
Fe
0.1035M T costs Fg

my ng
6 9.81
Tsin 75 5.5 10

T 5.56 x 10 5N
Ios 75 FE
5
cost 75
É
5.56 10
g
Oi 02

02 1.715 10 17
4.14 x 10 9C
9
0 4.2 10 C
Electric Fieldstrength Gravitationalfieldstrength

E
g
forceper unit positivecharge Force
per unitmass
NC Nic or
or Ning Ning
r r
soweechoge
O
E
GI
I
ate I g

FE For X M M2
Qf 22

For G
Mi

Electric Field Strength

It is denoted by the symbol E
It is a vector quantity
It is expressed in units Nic
Defined as force per unit positive charge
At a distance r away from a source charge d theelectricfieldstrength

E is given bythe expression

E I
hitEo I
Thisformula onlyprovides the magnitude of the electricfield strength

doing calculations the sign of the source charge is nottaken

therefore

into account

Howtofigureout direction

The direction of thefield strength can be determined asfollows

For a positive charge it must be awayfromthe source charge
For a negative charge it must be towards the source charge

Testcharge unit t charge

O P

P
O

How to calculate ElectricFieldstrengthat a givenpoint

Euample

20cm
9me
Calculate Electric Field Strength at P

ta
 6
E 9 10 2 02 100N c
91T 8.85 10 12 zox 42 awayfrom the
source charge

Note If source charge was 9mL insteadof 9Mc

Calculation would have been thesame just

thedirection would have been towardsthe source chose

Enample

m 8am sac

solution

O calculate the Electric field strength at P

Solution
Electric field strength at Pdue to 9mL

6
E 9 10 2 2 107 NIC
GTC8 85 10 12 6 10 42 awayfrom 9Mc

ElectricFieldStrength at P due to SMC

E 5 10 0 7.0 100N IC
2
91T 8 85 10 12 8 10 y
towards SMC
 Resultant Electric Field

net Ep 2.2 107 7 0 106

2.95 107NIC

Since both values of E are in the samedirection Eresultant is found

byaddingthe twovalues

Example
L particle
Proton

B 16mm e
Le

Calculate Electric Field Strength at P

9
ElectricField strength Pdue to a potiche e t 6 10

E 2C 1.6 10 19 80 102 Nic

a
4 18.85 1012 ax o g Awayfrom particle
x

Electric field strength at P due to proton

19
E l 6 10 5 62 NIC
UTC8.85 10 12 16 10 42

awayfromProton
 net ElectricFieldStrength
net Ep 1.80 102 L 5.62

net Ep 174NIC

Graphof Electric FieldStrength e against distance u

E L
45Eov2

E
I

Both fields EandEB in the same direction therefore

points
both graphs have same sign
 At a pointP between two charges EApointsrightwards EBpoints
leftwards
Since the 2fields we in opposite directions the graph has
Opposite sign

Graph of E vs r for a conductor

E Nc E d
ya
no chargeon theinside therefore

E o

Presence of charge on the surface

E exists on theoutside
rim
Electric Potential
V

Amount of workdone in frominfinity to

moving a unit positivecharge any
point withintheelectricfield

E
Fe L 0 02
r2
 sign of the charge is to beconsidered

ElectricPotential
It is denoted by the symbol v It is measured in units of JIC or Jo
quantity It is defined as the amount of work
It is a scalar done in

the
moving a unit positive charge from infinity any point within
to

electric field

At a distance r
away
from a source charge On Electric potentialV can

be worked out using the equation

V sign is considered in the formula

ago
The abovestatement indicates that thevalue ofelectricpotential be positiveor

negative A positive resultimplies that workisdone against theelectricfield in

moving a unit positivecharge testcharge frominfinity to certain point
a

A negative resultindicatesthat work isdone bythefield in moving a unit

positive charge testcharge frominfinity to acertain point

Similarities and Differences between Gravitational Potential O andElectricPotentialCu

Similarities

involve the conceptofworkdone

 Both have a value of zeroatinfinity

Differences

One involves moving a unit mass while theother involves moving a unitpositive
charge

O onlyof attractive nature where as ucanbe both attractive orrepulsive

is

In case of 0 work is always done by the field whereas in case of V

work can either be done bythefield or againstthe field

testcharge unit charge

How to calculate Electric PotentialCV at a Point

Enample
4cm

GMC
Calculate Electric Potential at PCup
Solution

Vp O
UTEor
6
VP 6 10
2
GITC8 85 1012 axto

Vp a 4 x 106 JI C

Note Positivevalue shows that work is done againstthe

field
 Enample
4cm

GMC
Calculate Electric Potential at PCup
Solution

Vp O
4TEor
6
VP 6 10
2
GIT 8.85 1012 4 10

VP 9.4 106 JIC

Note Negative value shows that work is done bythe field

Enample
12cm 3cm

t 8M C SMC

calculate the electric Potential at PCup

Solution

ElectricPotentialat Electricpotential at t ElectricPotential

P PduetoA at Pdueto B

Up 8 10
6
t 5 10 6

91718.85 10 121212 10 g UT 885 10 2 3 10

2
 Vp 8.99 105 JIC

Note Negative value shows that work isdone bythefield

Enample

12cm 3cm

A x B

8MC P Smc

Calculate the electricalpotential at PCUp

Solution

ElectricPotential ElectricPotentialatP t ElectricPotentialatp

g p due to A dueto B

Up 8 10 6 5 10 6
GTC8.8510 12 exo y 4518.85 10 12 3 10
2

Up 2.1 106 JIC

Note positive value showsthat work is done againstthefield

12cm 3cm

A x B

8MC P SMC

Calculate the electricalpotential at PCUp

Solution

ElectricPotential ElectricPotentialatP t ElectricPotentialatp

g p due to A to B
 6
Up 8 10 6
C 5 10
2
GTC8.05 10 12 12 10 2 4518.85 10 12 3 10

Up 2.1 106 JIC

by thefield
Note Positivevalue showsthatworkis done

Question
IMC GMC
p g
3cm 4cm 2cm

Calculate the ElectricPotential between Pando Auro

Solution
6
7 10 6 10 6 30 1005 c
Vp t
9176885 1012 x g 4518.85 1012 ox y
Va 7 10 6 6 10 6 3 6 1005 c
4168.851012 7 10 2 9T 885 1012 2x y
Vpa Vp Vi
Vo up
3 6 106 3 0 106

AVpo to 6 106JIC

Note Value of DVtells the amountwork done to move a unitpositive

charge test charge from I point totheotheri e fromPto d

 Calculate how much work isdone in moving a protonfromP too

Solution
IC to 6 100J toe gigon
1 6 10 19C a or Duno
Eggett
proton
9 oxo ay
wookdone o 6 106 Cl oxo 9
9 Gx to J
Question
4cm 3cm 4cm

Xp
o
tame OMG

calculate the amount of workdone inmoving an d particlefrompointP topoint

Solution

since Up Vo
DURO O networkdone inmoving x potide

workdone q pupa so fromPtoO

Up 8 10 0 8 10 6

4178Luxo y GIEo 7 10 Y

VO 8 10 G 8 10 6

GE Fx o y GTE 4 10 2
 Graphs of ElectricPotential v against distanceCr Foo

Like charges

rate
us

Unlike charges
Electric Potential is negative notbecauseits a

vectorQuantity Here the negativevalueimplies

thatthe sourcecharge isnegative

Mathematical Relationship between Electricfieldstrength e andtheElectricPotentially

Recall Relationship of Gravitationalfieldstrength and gravitational potential o

g
0 G
My g GI
gradient of 0 vs r willgive youg

1
0 GM r
2 GMO 2
DGMr
dg Gf g
c

Relation Gradient of V us r willgive negative E

d
Electric Potential Electricfieldstrength

V O E O
GITEor GIEor2

v
age
CD v2 E
II E ago afp
The negative gradientof V us r willgive us E
v

y negativegradientgives E
Above
working for a graph ofpotentialagainst distance the
illustrates that

negative gradient of the graph at any point providesthe value for the
Electric field Strength at thatpoint
t
ENmi p IVm IN C

Question 6000
rest
4000
q 2000

0 A 12 26
Ucan
20cm B

Note Um are units of ElectricFieldStrength

velocity aselectronreaches B
Calculate the

Note Area underelectricfield strength usdistance givesElectricPotential voltage

or potentialdifference

Solution

Voltage WorkDone
Charge

Voltage AKE
charge

Voltage smev2
e

Area under graph

Evsr
 2
AV Areaundergraph 12 10 8000 2000 8 10 2 6000 2000
I

DV 920 V
920 42me v2
e

V 9204.6 10 197 É
y
U 1.8 x 107mis

At which point willtheelectron experience mostacceleration

Solution

E
Eq

F Eq
ma Eq
If massand charge are constant

ax E

The point willexperience largest the most

acceleration where it has

electric field strength

At point A Lo 8000 the value of E is the value of E is

the largest It can therefore beenpected that value of acceleration
a at thispoint wouldbe largest also
 Electric Potential Energy Gravitational PotentialEnergy

Symbol U Symbol a

units J units 0 m

U V q u d n

Iq E
u u
q amy

ScalaQuantity ScalarQuantity
Du changein
energy
Bu changein
energy

Du Uf Ui a f ai
Du DV 9 Du LDO m

B Uf Vi q DU Of Oi m

Distance ofClosest Approach

L particle Gold nudeus
197
Au
79
2 0 105mis

where
d distance of
d
Closest approach

The diagram above shows an x particle traveling towards a stationary

gold nucleus asdistance betweenthemreduces loss in kineticenergy

transformed into gain in electric potential u At
one point when energy transformed the a particle momentai
getscompletely
comes to state of rest Thedistance between centreof particles at this
denoted distanceof closestapproach
point is
bythe term

Question
u v

Deuterium Deuterium d 2v
nucleus nucleus

TH y

Diameter of deuterium nucleus 1 axiom

Calculate the
minimum velocity v required sothat these
isotopes arejust able to touch eachother
Solution
Gainin ElectricPotentialEnergy loss in kinetic
energy
Od Z x 2

UTEod Imu
19 2
l 6 10 24 v2
917885 1012 taxonly
19 2 V2
t 6 10 2 1 66 10 27

917885 1012 19 1014

V 1.9 106Mls
In this example we considered twoidenticalparticles thatwere moving
If thevelocity of projection isincreasedfromthis minvalue nuclearfusionwilloccur
 Question

Stationary nudesat

of
potential

to losing 500
Nucleus

specific charge 3 0 107Cing

Note Specific charge is theratio of charge andmass
Determine whether the projection ofthe particle is highenough to caus
fusion
GaoninElectricPotential Energy Loss in kineticEnergy

V q 2
mu
g
v2 Lv specificcharge
gu
v2 2 500 3 ox 107
V 1 73 105mis
A This is the minimum velocity required such that the moving nucleus has

ample kineticenergy so that it can reach the stationary nucleusandhave

distance ofclosest approach sum of their radius
Fusion will take place if the provided velocity is greater than this value

Here provided velocity is lessthen required velocity sofusion can

takeplace
Graphs ofElectric Potential Energy
u vs distance r

U V q
e charge
g chargethat is moving
u da nu a

ago
f
n to t q
O O
J
Asdistance or between themdecreases

loss in KE occurs andthiscausesgain

in EPE
For like choges graph is inthe
firstquadrent
rim

No O gg
UIJ

rim
VIJ fr go
Asdistance r between themdecreases
rim thiscauses a
gainin KE occurs and

loss in Electric Potential Energy

for unlikecharges thegraph is in

thefourthQuadrant