1 Electric Charges

and Fields
„„ Field lines are always directed from higher potential to „„ Electric Field Lines
lower potential.
„„ Neutral point is a point where resultant electric field is zero.
„„ When a charged particle enters with velocity at right angle
to the uniform field the trajectory is parabola.
„„ A surface having same electric potential at every point is an
equipotential surface.
Electric lines of electrostatic field have following properties
„„ Work done in moving a charge along an equipotential
„„ Imaginary lines
surface is always zero.
„„ Never intersect each other
„„ Relative permitivity of the material is also known as specific
inductive capacitance. „„ Electrostatic field lines never forms closed loops

„„ Two charged spheres having radii r1 and r2 charge densities „„ Field lines ends or starts normally at the surface of a
σ1 and σ2 respectively then ratio of electric field is given by conductor.
„„ If there is no electric field there will be no field lines.
E1 σ1 r22  Q 
= = 2 = σ
E 2 σ 2 r1  4πr 2  „„ Number of electric field lines per unit area normal to the
area at a point represents magnitude of intensity, crowded
„„ In air if intensity of electric field exceeds the value 3 × 106 lines represent strong field while distant lines weak field.
N/C, air ionizes.
„„ Tangent to the line of force at a point in an electric field
„„ Force characteristic of field is intensity and work gives the direction of intensity of electric field.
characteristic of field is potential.
„„
Graphs
kq
„„ Point charge E =
r2

„„ For metals, in electrostatics K = ∞ and induced charge is

opposite to the inducing charge.
„„ Coulomb’s law is valid at a distance greater than 10-15 m (1 „„ Charged conducting sphere
fermi).
„„ Decreasing order of fundamental forces is
FNuclear > Felectromagnetic > Fweak > FGravitational
„„ At the center of the line joining two equal & similar charge
V ≠ ‘0’, E = 0
„„ Charges can be created only in equal and unlike pairs. kq
ffE C = ; r > R for point out side the sphere
r2
„„ Coulomb’s law of electric force obey Newton’s third law of
kq σ
motion. ffE=
B = ; r = R for point at the surface of the sphere
R 2 ∈0
„„ Electric potential is a property of an electric field whether a
f A = 0 ; r < R for point inside the sphere
fE
charged particle is placed in that field or not.
„„ Uniformly charged non conducting sphere: R
Field will be maximum at x = ±
2
At centre of ring x = 0 so E0 = 0

Potential due to Electric Charge Distributions

kq
„„ Point charge V =
kq r
ffE C
= ; r>R
r2
kq
ffE B
= = ; r R
R2
kqr
ffE A
= ; r<R
R3
„„ Charge conducting sphere
„„ Linear charge distribution of length ‘l’

 α+β
λ sin   kq
 2  2kλ sin  α + β  „„ (c)=
VA ;r<R
= EP =   R
2π ∈0 r r  2 
 2kλ „„ Uniformly charged non conducting sphere
For infinite line of charge: E P = rˆ
r
„„ Infinite charged conducting plate

 σ kq kq
E = nˆ „„ (a) VC = ;r>R (b) VB = ;r =
R
∈0 r R

„„ Infinite sheet of charge (or charged non conducting kq 3R 2 − r 2 

= „„ (c) VA ;r<R
plate) 2R 3
„„ Segment of ring

 σ kQ
E= nˆ V0 = kλα = when Q = λαR
2 ∈0 R

„„ Charge circular ring at an axial point: „„ Electric Potential at a Distant Point Along The Axis of a
Charged Ring

kQx q kq
EP = =V = 1

(R 2
+x )
2 3/ 2 4πε0 ( a + x )
2 2 2 r
 Formulas (ii) The charges located outside the closed surface.

Coulomb’s Law, Electric Field Due to Point „„ Electric field intensity at a point near a charged conductor
σ
Charges E=
∈0
„„ q = ne σ2
„„ Electrostatics pressure on a charged conductor P =
kq q 2 ∈0
„„ F = 12 2 k = depends upon the medium separating the 1
r charges. „„ Energy density in electric field: u E= ∈0 E 2
  2
1 „„=φ E.A = EA cos θ
In S.I, k= = 9 × 109 Nm 2 C−2 ( air / vacuum )
4πεo Qin
„„ φclosed =
In c.g.s,K = 1 (air /vacuum) ε0
Fo ε
„„ = K; = ε r (relative electrical permitivity)
Fm εo Electric Potential, Potential Energy, Self Energy,
„„ F = F1 + F2 + F3 ......Fn
Relation Between E & V

„„ F = F12 + F22 + 2F1F2 cos θ 1 Q2

„„ K.E = qV Q=
„„ F = QE 2 εo A
W q
KQ 1 „„ VB − VA =AB V=
„„ E= K= = 9 × 109 Nm 2 C−2 (SI) (air / vacuum) q 4πεo r
r2 4πεo
K = 1 (c.g.s) (air/vacuum) 
Relation between E & V
Electric Field Due to Uniform Bodies, Field Lines,   ∂V
E = −grad V = −∇V, E = − ;
Motion of Charge ∂r
 ∂V ˆ ∂V ˆ ∂V ˆ 
„„ At any point on the axis of a uniformly charged ring E=− i−− j− − k, V = ∫ −E.dr
 ∂x ∂y ∂z
qd
E = 3 q1q 2
4πεo (d 2 + r 2 ) 2 E= U=
4πε o r
λ
„„ E = due to infinity long uniform charged wire
2πεo r Dipole
σ
„„ E = 
εo „„ P= Q × 2a
Gauss Law & Its Application, Conductors Electric field Potential

Electric Flux 2kp kp

„„ at axial
  r3 r2
φ = ∫ E.ds
kp
  „„ at equitorial 0
„„ For uniform electric field; =
φ E.A
= EA cos θ where θ r3

( )
= angle between & area vector A . Flux is contributed „„ at general position
kp
1 + 3cos 2 θ
kp cos θ
r3 r2
only due to the component of electric field which is
perpendicular to the plane. α
  
„„ If E is not uniform throughout the area A, then φ = ∫ E.dA
θ
Gauss’s Law
  ∑q
„„ ∫ E.ds = ∈ (Applicable only to closed surface)
tan
= ∝
1
tan θ
0
2
  q en
=φ ∫=
E.dA „„ τ = PE sinθ
ε0
„„ Work done in rotating a dipole from θ1 to θ2 angle in
(i) Shape and size of the closed surface external electric field = –pE (cos θ1 – cos θ2)
„„ Potential energy = PE(cosθ2 – cosθ1)