MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Physics
8.02

Fall, 2002

II. Coulombs Law Worked Examples

Example 1: Charge conservation
Example 2: Electric force in hydrogen atom
Example 3: Compare electrical and gravitational force
Example 4: Superposition principle for electric forces
Example 5: Electric field of a proton
Example 6: Charged particle moving through charged plates
Example 7: Millikan oil drop
Example 8: Charge moving perpendicular to an Electric field
Example 9: Electric field of a dipole ion Cartesian coordinates
Example 10: Electric dipole field in polar coordinates
Example 11: Electric field due to a uniformly charged wire
Example 12: Electric field due to a uniformly charged disk
Example 13: Electric field of two parallel discs

Example 1. Charge conservation

In an isolated system, the total charges stay constant, i.e. in a closed system,
charge can neither be created nor destroyed. It is transferred from one body to another.
One can readily show that charge is conserved in the following processes

Na + + Cl
NaCl
(+ e ) + ( e ) = 0

(1.1)

(i)

Chemical reaction:

(ii)

Radioactive decay: A neutron will decay into a positively charged

proton, a negatively charged electron and a neutral charged electron-antineutrino,
n p + e +
(1.2)
0 = (+ e ) + ( e ) + 0
234Th + 4He
U
Z: 92 =
90 + 2
238

(iii)

Annihilation: electron-positron annihilation

e+ + e +

(iv)
(v)

(1.3)

(1.4)

Pair production: electron-positron production

e+ + e

(1.5)

where a -ray is a high energy charge-neutral particle of light.

Example 2: The electrical force between a proton and an electron in a hydrogen atom.
Question: In the classical model of the hydrogen atom, the electron revolves around the
proton with a radius of r = 0.53 1010 m . What is the magnitude of the electric force
between the proton and the electron? The charge of the electron and proton have
magnitude e = 1.6 1019 C .
Answer: The magnitude of the force is given by
Fe =

1 e2
4 0 r 2

(2.1)

Principle for Calculating Numerical Results from Symbolic Expressions: When

calculating numerical quantities, first determine a symbolic expression for the desired
quantity and then substitute the numerical values into the symbolic expression. When you
2

have finished the calculation, make sure your answer agrees with the proper amount of
significant digits. You should report your answer with the same number of significant
digits as the given quantity that has the least number of significant digits.
Now we can substitute our numerical values and find that the magnitude of the force
between the proton and the electron in the hydrogen atom is
Fe =

(9.0 109 N m 2 / C2 )(1.6 1019 C) 2

= 8.2 108 N
(5.3 1011 m) 2

(2.2)

Example 3: Comparing the electrical and gravitational force between electron and
proton.
Question: What is ratio of the magnitudes of the electrical and gravitational force
between electron and proton if we assume that the electron and proton are separated by a
distance equal to the classical electron orbit in the hydrogen atom, r = 0.53 1010 m ?
The mass of the electron is me = 9.11031 kg and the mass of the proton is
m p = 1.7 1027 kg . Does this ratio depend on the distance between the proton and the

electron? In light of your calculation, explain why electrical forces do not influence the
motion of planets.
Answer: The ratio of the magnitudes of the electrical and gravitational force is given by

1 e2
1 2
e

2
4 0 r 4 0
(9.0 109 N m 2 / C2 )(1.6 1019 C) 2

=
=
= 2.2 1039
=
2
2
11
27
31
m p me Gm p me (6.67 10 N m / kg )(1.7 10 kg)(9.1 10 kg)
G 2
r

(3.1)
which is independent of the distance between the proton and the electron.
The electric force is 39 orders of magnitude stronger than the gravitational force between
the electron and the proton. Then why are the large scale motions of planets determined
by the gravitational force and not the electrical force. The answer is that the magnitudes
of the charge of the electron and proton are equal. The best experiments show that the
difference between these magnitudes is a number on the order of 10 24 . Since objects like
planets have about the same number of protons as electrons, they are essentially
electrically neutral. Therefore the force between planets is entirely determined by gravity.

Example 4: Superposition Principle for Electric forces

Question: In Figure 4.1 shown below, three charges are interacting. Find the force on the
charge q3 assuming that q1 = 6.0 106 C , q2 = q1 = 6.0 106 C , q3 = +3.0 106 C and

a = 2.0 102 m .
Answer: Using the superposition principle, we have
F3 = F13 + F23 =

q2 q3
1 q1q3
2 r13 + 2 r23
4 0 r13
r23

(4.1)

Figure 4.1 Illustration of the superposition principle.

Since the unit vectors r13 and r23 do not point in the same directions, in order to
mathematically compute the vector sum, we must express each unit vectors in terms of
their Cartesian components and add the forces according to the principles of vector
addition.
Recall that r13 is located at charge q3 and points from q1 to q3 . From Figure 4.1,
we see that

2
r13 = cos i + sin j =
(i + j)
2

(4.2)

The unit vector r23 = i points from q2 to q3 . Therefore, the total force is
F3 =

q2 q3
1 q1q3
1 q1q3
2 (q1 )q3
(i + j) +
i

2 r13 + 2 r23 =
2
4 0 r13
r23
a2
4 0 ( 2a ) 2

(4.3)

Now we add components and find that

F3 =

1 q1q3
4 0 a 2

2
2
j
1 i +

(4.4)

The magnitude of the total force is given by

12

2 2 2 2

1 +

4
4

(9.0 109 N m 2 C2 )(6.0 106 C)(3.0 106 C)

= (.74)
= 3.0N
(2.0 102 m) 2

1 q1q3
F3 =
4 0 a 2

(4.5)

The angle that the force makes with the positive x -axis is
F3, y

2/4
1
= tan
= 151.3
1 + 2 / 4
F3, x

= tan 1

(4.6)

(Note there are two solutions to this equation. The second solution = 28.7 is incorrect
because in indicates that the force has negative i and j components.)

Example 5: Electric field of a proton

Question: A proton has charge e = 1.6 1019 C . What is the magnitude of the electric
field a distance r = 0.510-10 m from the center of the proton? We shall ignore any
internal structure of the proton and assume that all the charge is concentrated at the center
of the proton. Then the magnitude of the electric field is given by
E=

q (9.0 109 N m 2 / C2 )(1.6 1019 C)

=
= 5.76 1011 N / C
4 0 r 2
(0.5 1010 m) 2
1

(5.1)

Example 6: Charged Particle moving through charged plates

Consider a charge + q moving between two parallel plates of opposite charges, as shown
in Figure 6.1 below.

Figure 6.1 Charge moving in a constant electric field

Question 1: What is the acceleration on a charged particle in a uniform electric field
E = Ex i produced by two parallel plates of opposite charges?
Answer: From Newtons second law, the charged particle will experience a force
Fe = qE = ma

(6.1)

Since the electric field points in the +x-direction, the acceleration is

a=

Fe qE qEx
i
=
=
m m
m

(6.2)

Question 2: Suppose the charge + q is released from rest. What is the velocity of the
charge after it has traveled a distance d in the +x-direction?
Answer: The problem is a one-dimensional kinematics problem with constant
acceleration. Suppose the particle is at rest ( v0 = 0 ) when it is first released from the
positive plate. The terminal speed v of the particle as it strikes the negative plate is
v = 2ad = 2dqEx m

(6.3)

Question 3: What is the kinetic energy of the charge after it has traveled a distance d in
the +x-direction?
Answer: The kinetic energy is given by
K=

1 2 1
mv = m(2ad ) = qEx d
2
2

(6.4)

Example 7: Millikan oil drop

An oil drop of radius r = 1.64 106 m and mass density oil = 8.51 102 kg m3 is
allowed to fall from rest a distance d 0 = 8.0 102 m and then enters into a region of
constant external field E applied in the downward direction. The oil drop has an
unknown electric charge q (due to irradiation by bursts of X-rays). The magnitude of the
electric field is adjusted until the gravitational force F = mg = mg j on the oil drop is
g

exactly balanced by the electric force, Fe = qE . During this balancing the oil drop has
moved downwards an additional distance d1 = 1.2 101 m . This balancing occurs when
the E = E j = (1.92105 N C) j . Note that the y-component of the electric field is
y

negative.

Question 1: What is the mass of the oil drop?

Answer: The mass density oil times the volume of the oil drop will yield the total mass
M of the oil drop,
4

M = oilV = oil r 3
3

(7.1)

where the oil drop is assumed to be a sphere of radius r with volume V = 4 r 3 / 3 .

Now we can substitute our numerical values into our symbolic expression for the mass,
4

4
M = oil r 3 = (8.51 102 kg m3 )
3

-6
3
-14
(1.6410 m) = 1.5710 kg

(7.2)

Question 2: What is the charge on the oil drop in units of electronic charge
e = 1.6 1019 C ?
Answer: The oil drop will be in static equilibrium when the gravitational force exactly
balances the electrical force,
Fg + Fe = 0

(7.3)

0 = mg + qE
= -mgj + qE y j

(7.4)

Using our force laws, we have

The gravitational force points downward, so therefore the force on the oil must be
upward. Since the electrical field points downward, the charge on the oil drop must be
negative.
Notice that we have chosen the unit vector j to point upward. We can solve this equation
for the charge on the oil drop:
q=

mg (1.5710-14 kg)(9.80 m / s 2 )
=
= 8.0310-19 C
5
Ey
-1.9210 N C

(7.5)

Since the electron has charge e = 1 . 6 10 19 C , the charge of the oil drop in units of e is
N=

q 8.0210-19 C
=
=5
e 1.610-19 C

(7.6)

You may at first be surprised that this number is an integer, but the Millikan Oil Drop
experiment was the first direct experimental evidence that charge is quantized. Thus from
the given data we can assert that there are five electrons on the oil drop!

Example 8: Charge Moving Perpendicular to an Electric Field

Let us now consider what happens when an electron is injected horizontally into a
uniform field produced by two oppositely charged plates that points downward.

Figure 8.1 Charge moving perpendicular to an Electric field

The particle has an initial velocity v 0 = v0 i perpendicular to the electric field E = E y j
where E y < 0 . The motion of the electron is analogous to the motion of a mass that is
thrown horizontally in a constant gravitational field. The mass follows a parabolic

trajectory downward. Since the electron is negatively charged, the constant force on the
electron is upward and the electron will be deflected upwards on a parabolic path.

Question 1: What is the force on the electron?

Answer: Since the electron has a negative charge, q = e , the force on the electron is
F e = q E = eE = eE y j

(8.1)

Since E y < 0 , the force on the electron is upward.

Question 2: What is the acceleration of the electron?

Answer: The acceleration of the electron is
a=

eE
qE qE y
=
j = y j
m
m
m

(8.2)

The acceleration of the electron is also upward.

Question 3: The plates have length L1 in the x -direction. At what time t1 will the
electron to leave the plate?
Answer: The time of passage for the electron is given by t1 = L1 v0 .
Question 4: Suppose the electron enters the electric field at time t = 0 . What is the
velocity of the electron at time t1 when it leaves the plates?
Answer: The electron has an initial horizontal velocity, v 0 = v0 i . Since the acceleration
of the electron is in the + y -direction, only the y -component of the velocity changes.
The velocity at a later time t1 is given by
eE y
v = vx i + v y j = v0 i + a y t1 j = v0 i +
m

t1 j

(8.3)

Question 5: What is the vertical displacement of the electron after time t1 when it leaves
the plates?
Answer: From the figure, we see that the electron travels a horizontal distance L1 in the
time t1 = L1 v0 and then emerges from the plates with a vertical displacement

1
1 eE L
y1 = a y t12 = y 1
2
2 m v0

(8.4)

Question 6: What angle 1 does the electron make 1 with the horizontal, when the
electron leaves the plates at time t1 ?
Answer: When the electron leaves the plates at time t1 , the electron makes an angle 1
with the horizontal given by the ratio of the components of its velocity,
tan =

vy
vx

(eE y / m)( L1 / v0 )
v0

eE y L1
mv0 2

(8.5)

Question 7: The electron hits the screen located a distance L2 from the end of the plates
at a time t2 . What is the total vertical displacement of the electron from time t = 0 until it
hits the screen at time t2 ?
Answer: After the electron leaves the plate, there is no longer any force on the electron
so it travels in a straight path. The deflection y2 is
y2 = L2 tan 1 =

eE y L1 L2
mv0 2

(8.6)

and the total deflection becomes

2
eE y L1 1
1 eE y L1 eE y L1 L2

y = y1 + y2 =
L1 + L2
2
2
2
mv0
mv0 2
2 mv0

(8.7)

10

Example 9: (challenging) Electric field of a dipole ion Cartesian Coordinates

Show that the electric field of the dipole in the limit where r >> a is
3p
sin cos
4 0 r 3
p
3cos 2 1)
Ey =
3 (
4 0 r
Ex =

(9.1)
(9.2)

where sin = x r and cos = y r .

Figure 9.1 Electric field at point P

Solution: Lets compute the electric field strength at a distance r >> a due to the dipole.
The x -component of the electric field strength at the point P with Cartesian coordinates
( x, y, 0) is given by

Ex =

q cos + cos
q
x
x

r 2 4 0 x 2 + ( y a ) 2 3/ 2 x 2 + ( y + a) 2 3/ 2
4 0 r+ 2

(9.3)

where
r 2 = r 2 + a 2 2ra cos = x 2 + ( y a ) 2

(9.4)

Similarly, the y -component reads

Ey =

q sin + sin
q
ya
y+a

r 2 4 0 x 2 + ( y a) 2 3/ 2 x 2 + ( y + a) 2 3/ 2
4 0 r+ 2

(9.5)

11

We shall make a polynomial expansion for the electric field using the binomial theorem.
We will then collect terms that are proportional to 1 r 3 and ignore terms that are
proportional to 1 r 5 , where r = +( x 2 + y 2 )1 2 .
We begin with
3/ 2

a 2 2ay
= [ x + y + a 2ay ]
= r 1 +
[ x + ( y a) ]

r2

2
a 2ay
,
In the limit where r >> a , we can use the binomial theorem with s
r2
2

2 3/ 2

(1 + s ) 3/ 2 = 1

3/ 2

3
15
s + s 2 ...
2
8

(9.6)

(9.7)

and the above equations for the components of the electric field becomes
Ex =

q 6 xya
+ ...
4 0 r 5

(9.8)

and
q 2a 6 y 2 a
Ey =
+ 5 + ...

4 0 r 3
r

(9.9)

where we have neglected the O(a 3 ) terms. The electric field then is
E = Ex i + E y j =

q 2a 6 ya
p

3 j + 5 ( x i + y j) =
3

4 0 r
r
4 0 r

3 yx 3 y 2

2 i + ( 2 1) j (9.10)
r
r

where we have made used of the definition of the magnitude of the electric dipole
moment p = 2aq .
The expression for E can also be written in terms of the polar coordinates. With
sin = x r and cos = y r (as seen from Figure 9.1), we have
3p
sin cos
4 0 r 3

(9.11)

p
3cos 2 1)
3 (
4 0 r

(9.12)

Ex =
and
Ey =

12

Figure 9.2 Field lines for (a) a finite dipole, and (2) a point dipole
Example 10: (challenging) Electric dipole field in polar coordinates
Show that the expression for the electric field of a dipole, E , can also be written in terms
of the polar coordinates as
E(r , ) = Er r + E

(10.1)

where
Er =
and
E =

2 p cos
4 0 r 3

(10.2)

p sin
4 0 r 3

(10.3)

Solution: We begin with our expression for the electric dipole in Cartesian coordinates,
3p
sin cos
4 0 r 3
p
3cos 2 1)
Ey =
3 (
4 0 r
Ex =

(10.4)
(10.5)

Then

E( r , ) =

3sin cos i + ( 3cos 2 1) j

4 0 r 3

(10.6)

Using a little algebra,

13

E( r , ) =

2 cos sin i + cos j + sin cos i + ( cos 2 1) j

4 0 r
3

(10.7)

Further use of the trigonometric identity ( cos 2 1) = sin 2 yields

E( r , ) =

2 cos sin i + cos j + sin cos i sin j

4 0 r 3

(10.8)

The unit vectors in polar coordinates have Cartesian decomposition becomes

r = sin i + cos j and = cos i sin j

(10.9)

Thus the electric field in polar coordinates is given by

E( r , ) =

2 cos r + sin

4 0 r
3

(10.10)

and the magnitude of E is given by

E = ( Er 2 + E2 )1/ 2 =

1/ 2
p
3cos2 + 1)
3 (
40 r

(10.11)

Example 11: Electric field due to a Uniformly Charged Wire

Lets now calculate the electric field of the uniformly charged wire of length L is
uniformly charged with total charge Q . The uniform linear charge density is = Q L .
The electric field everywhere in space can be found by considering a small charge
element dq located on the wire. The electric field at a point P is given by Coulombs
Law,
dE =

1 dq
r
4 0 r 2

(11.1)

In this expression r is the distance from the charge element dq to the point P where we
are determining the electric field. The unit vector r points from dq to P .
By the superposition principle, the total electric field is the vector sum of all these
infinitesimal contributions. (See Figure 11.1):

14

Figure 11.1 Electric field due to dq at a point off the axis of the wire
This sum is just the vector integral
E=

dq
r
4 0 wire r 2

(11.2)

Recall that a vector integral is actually three separate integrals, one for each direction in
space that will give the component of the electric field in that direction. Each separate
component integral is an integral over the length of the wire.

Coordinate System:
In order to find explicit functions for the components of the electric field, we need
to introduce a coordinate system. We choose Cartesian coordinates with the origin in the
center of the wire. Define the x -axis to lie along the wire. We shall choose the y -axis so
that the point P lies somewhere in the x-y plane defined by z = 0. The coordinates for the
point P are ( x, y ) . The unit vectors (i , j) at the point P are shown in Figure 11.2.

15

Figure 11.2 Coordinate system for wire

The charge element dq is located at a distance x from the origin. The charge dq
is the product of the charge density, , with the infinitesimal length dx :
dq = dx

(11.3)

The distance r from the charge element dq to the field point P is

r = (( x x )2 + y 2 )1/ 2

(11.4)

Finally the unit vector r from the source to the field point P can be decomposed as
r = cos i + sin j

(11.5)

where is the angle that the unit vector r makes with the positive x -axis.
The contribution from dq to the electric field at the point P is given by
dE =

1 dq
1
dx
r =
(cos i + sin j)
2
4 0 r
4 0 ( x x) 2 + y 2

(11.6)

Then the total electric field at the point P is

E=

1
4 0

L/2

dx

( x x) 2 + y 2
L/2

(cos i + sin j)

(11.7)

We can now see explicitly the vector nature of our integral expression for the electric
field. There are two separate integrals, one for the one for the x -direction and one for the
y -direction,

16

 dx

L/2

1
E=
cos i +
2
2

4 0 L / 2 ( x x) + y
4 0

dx

L/2

( x x) 2 + y 2
L/ 2

sin j

(11.8)

From Figure 11.4, we have the trigonometric relations

x x'
(( x x)2 + y 2 )1 / 2

cos =

sin =

(11.9)

(( x x) + y 2 )1 / 2
2

The integrals then become

E=

L/2

( x x)dx

4 0 L / 2 (( x x) + y )
We need the integration formulas,
L/2

L/ 2

( x x)dx
(( x x) + y )
2

2 3/ 2

2 3/ 2

i + 1
4 0

L/2

( x x) + y )
2

L/ 2

ydx

L/2

(( x x) 2 + y 2 )3/ 2
L/ 2

( x L / 2) + y
2

(11.10)

( x + L / 2) 2 + y 2
(11.11)

and
L/2

L/2

ydx
(( x x) + y )
2

2 3/ 2

1
( x x)
=
y ( x x) 2 + y 2

L/2

=
L/ 2

1 ( x L / 2)
( x + L / 2)

y ( x L / 2) 2 + y 2
( x + L / 2) 2 + y 2

Then the results of our integration is

E( x, y ) = Ex ( x, y ) i + E y ( x, y ) j

(11.13)

where the x -component of the electric field is

E x ( x, y ) =

4 0

1
1
((x L / 2) 2 + y 2 )1/ 2 (( x + L / 2) 2 + y 2 )1/ 2

(11.14)

and the y -component of the electric field is

E y ( x, y ) =

xL/2
x+ L/2

2
2 1/ 2
2
2 1/ 2
4 0 y ((x L / 2) + y )
(( x + L / 2) + y )

(11.15)

If we place our field point along the y -axis, with x = 0 , the x -component of the
electric field vanishes,

17

(11.12)

E x ( x, y ) =

=0

2
2 1/ 2
2
2 1/ 2
4 0 ((L / 2) + y )
(( L / 2) + y )

(11.16)

One way to see this is to add contributions from two charge elements that are mirror
reflections of each other about the y -axis. Since they point in opposite directions, they
add to zero (Figure 11.3).

Figure 11.3 Vanishing of the x -component along the y-axis

The electric field is then

E(0, y ) =

1
4 0

1
j
( L / 2) 2 + y 2 y

(11.17)

Electric field due to an infinite uniformly charged wire:

We can also use our result to calculate the electric field due to an infinite wire
with uniform charge density by taking the limit as the length, L , of the wire approaches
infinity. We need the fact that
lim

and
lim

L
y (L / 2) + y
2

2 1/ 2

(x L / 2) 2 + y

2
y

(11.18)

( x + L / 2) 2 + y 2

1/ 2

=0

(11.19)

This shows that the x-component of the electric field vanishes for the infinite wire and
the electric field of an infinite wire is

E( y ) =

j
2 0 y

(11.20)

18

This result shows us that the field falls off like y 1 and points either away or towards
the wire depending on the whether the charge density is positive or negative.

Figure 11.4 Electric field of an infinite wire (perpendicular to the plane of the page)

Example 12: Electric field due to a Uniformly Charged Disk

A disc of radius R is uniformly charged with total charge Q . The uniform surface
charge density is = Q /( R 2 ) . In order to find the electric field at a point P , along an
axis that passes through the center of the disc perpendicular to the plane of the disc, we
must consider a small charge element dq located on the disc. This element is the source
for an infinitesimal electric field at the point P that is given by Coulombs Law,
dE =

1 dq
r
4 0 r 2

(12.1)

In this expression r is the distance from the charge element dq to the point P where we
are determining the electric field. The unit vector r points from the charge element dq to
the point P . (See Figure 12.1).

Figure 12.1 Charge element for the field of a disc

19

By the superposition principle, the total electric field is the vector sum of all these
infinitesimal contributions. This sum is just the integral
E=

dq
r
4 0 disc r 2

(12.2)

This integral is an example of a vector integral over the surface of the disc. A vector
integral is actually three separate integrals, one for each direction in space that will give
the component of the electric field in that direction. Each separate component integral is
an integral over the surface of a disk. It will turn out that only the non-zero component of
the electric field will be the component in the direction parallel to the axis passing
through the plane of the disk.

Coordinate System:
To see this explicitly, we shall use polar coordinates. We choose polar coordinates
because the geometry of disc has the same symmetry properties as polar coordinates.
Define the z -axis to pass perpendicularly through the center of the disc. Let z be the
unit vector pointing along the positive z -axis. Place the plane of the disc at z = 0.
Choose an arbitrary point z on the axis for the field point P where we are trying to
determine the electric field. Choose coordinates ( , ) for the plane of the disc. Let
( , ) be the associated unit vectors. Note that = z .

Figure 12.2 Coordinate system for a disc

The charge element dq is located at a distance from the origin. The charge dq
is the product of the charge density, and the area dA = d d :
dq = dA = d d

(12.3)
20

The distance r from the charge element dq to the field point P is

r = (z 2 + 2 )1/ 2

(12.4)

Finally the unit vector r from the source to the field point P can be decomposed as
r = cos + sin z

(12.5)

where is the angle that the unit vector r makes with the plane of the loop. The
contribution from dq to the electric field at the point P is given by
dE =

1 dq
1 d d
r =
( cos + sin z )
2
4 0 r
4 0 z 2 + 2

(12.6)

Then the total electric field at the point P is

E=

4 0

R 2

0 0

d d
( cos + sin z ) .
z2 + 2

(12.7)

We can now see explicitly the vector nature of our integral expression for the electric
field. There are two separate integrals, one for the one for the direction and one for the
z direction,

E=

R 2

1
4 0

0 0

d
1
cos +
2
2
z +
4 0

R 2

0 0

d d
sin z
z2 + 2

(12.8)

From Figure 12.2, we have the trigonometric relations

cos =

( z + 2 )1/ 2
2

sin =

z
( z + 2 )1/ 2
2

(12.9)

The integrals then become

E=

1
4 0

R 2

0 0

2 d d
1
+
2
2 3/ 2
(z + )
4 0

R 2

z d d
z
2
+ 2 )3/ 2

(z
0 0

(12.10)

The integration over d is straightforward because the integrand is independent of ,

2

d = 2 . So our integral expression for the electric field becomes

0

21

1
2 d
1
zd
E=
+
z .
2
2 3/ 2

2 0 0 ( z + )
2 0 0 ( z 2 + 2 )3/ 2
R

(12.11)

The first integral vanishes. If we examine Figure 12.2, we see that the component of E in
the direction will add up to zero as we add up the contributions from each infinitesimal
piece. The reason for this is that each little vector contribution points away from the
center. Their sum adds to zero (Figure 12.3).

Figure 12.3 Vector sum of the direction

Another way to see this is to add contributions from two pieces directly opposite each
other in the loop. Since they point in opposite directions, they add to zero. The third way
to understand this is to decompose the unit vector in terms of the Cartesian unit vectors
i and j ,

= cos i + sin j

(12.12)

Then the integral

2

d =

d cos i +

d sin j

(12.13)

So the integral in the direction is actually two integrals for the i and j directions.
Each of these integrals separately vanishes. For example the x -component integral
becomes
2

d cos i

= sin

2
0

i = 0i

(12.14)

A similar result holds for the y -component.

22

Thus only the z -component of the electric field is non-zero and our final result for the
electric field along the axially axis is
1
zd
z

2 0 0 ( z 2 + 2 )3/ 2
R

E=

(12.15)

We need the integration formula,

d
1
0 ( z 2 + 2 )3/ 2 = ( z 2 + 2 )1/ 2
R

=R

=
=0

1
1
2
z ( z + R 2 )1/ 2

(12.16)

Then the results of our integration is

E=

2 0

z
1 ( z 2 + R 2 )1/ 2 z .

(12.17)

Electric field very close to the surface of a disk:

We can also use our result to approximate the electric field when the field point is very
close to the surface of the disk, z << R . We shall make a power series expansion using
the binomial theorem for the term
z
z
=
2
2 1/ 2
(z + R )
R

z 1 z2
1
z 1 z2 3 z4
=

1
...

z 2 1/ 2 R 2 R 2 8 R 4
R 2 R2

(1 + 2 )
R

(12.18)

Then the electric field is near the surface of the plane is

2 0

z 1 z 2
z
1 1
2
R
2
R

(12.19)

We can ignore terms proportional to z 3 / R 3 , then

2 0

z 1 z 2
z
z
1 1
1 z
2
2 0 R
R 2 R

(12.20)

Finally if we ignore terms proportional to z / R , we have

z
2 0

(12.21)

23

This shows that very near the disk, the magnitude of the electric field along the axial
symmetry axis of the disk is approximately constant /(2 0 ) .

Electric field due to an infinite uniformly charged plane:

We can also use our result to calculate the electric field due to an infinite plane with
uniform charge density by taking the limit as the radius, R , of the disk approaches
infinity. Then the second term vanishes and the electric field along the z-axis of an
infinite plane is

E=

z
2 0

(12.22)

This result shows us that the field is constant everywhere in space, (independent of the
distance from the plane) (Figure 12.4).

Figure 12.4 Electric field due to an infinite uniformly charged plane.

Example 13: Electric field of two parallel discs:
Consider two parallel discs, each one of radius R , that are separated by a distance
a . Each disc is uniformly charged with equal but opposite surface charge densities,
= , where = Q /( R 2 ) . In order to find the total electric field everywhere in space
we will add together the electric fields of the two oppositely charged discs (the
superposition principle).
E total = E+ + E-

(13.1)

Lets assume that the separation between the discs is much smaller than the radius of the
discs, d << R . Lets choose coordinates such that the plane of the discs is perpendicular
to the z-axis, the positive disc is located at z = d 2 , and the negative disc is located
at z = d 2 .

24

Figure 13.1 Positive and negative discs

Then the electric field of the positive disc and negative discs are approximately uniform.
The field of the positive disc points away from the positive disc and the field of the
negative disc points towards the negative disc. The magnitudes of both fields are equal,
because the discs carry equal but opposite surface charge densities,
E+ = E

2 0

(13.2)

Therefore when we add these fields together, we see that the field outside the parallel
discs is approximately zero, and the fields between the discs is twice the magnitude of the
field of either disc.

Figure 13.2 Approximate electric fields of oppositely charged parallel discs

The electric field of the positive disc is given by

25


+ 2 z , z > d / 2

0
E+ =
z , z < d / 2
2 0

(13.3)

The electric field of the negative disc is given by

2 z , z > d / 2

0
E- =
+ z , z < d / 2
2 0
When we add these two fields together we get
0 z ,
z > d /2

E total = z , d / 2 > z > d / 2
0
0 z ,
z < d / 2

(13.4)

(13.5)

So the electric field between the plates is twice the magnitude of the field of a single plate

E total =

z , d / 2 > z > d / 2 .
0

Figure 13.3 Approximate field between discs

26