Coulombs Law

ELECTROSTATICS
The branch of physics dealing with charges at rest
Under electrostatic condition, the electric field inside the metallic conductor remains zero.
Application in instruments like microphones, cathode ray tube, capacitors, van de Graaff
generator, photocopier, electrostatic shielder etc.

CHARGE
Benzamin franklin and Milikan
Fundamental property exhibited due to deficiency or sufficiency of electrons
Two types of charges : Positive and negative charge
Unlike charge attract one another and like charges repel
Exhibit properties like Quantization, superposition, invariance, conservation, induction etc
Negatively charged bodies : electron sufficient & slightly mass sufficient also

QUANTISATION
Q = , ne t wher n is interger
e = - 1.6 x 10
-19
C
Exception : Quark particle
Not continuous transfer but in discrete packet

OBJECTIVE 1
How many electrons are there in 1C of charge?
i) 1 ii) 6.25 x 10
18
iii) 1.6 x 10
-19
iv) None

Solution: (ii)

18
19
10 25 . 6
10 6 . 1
1

e
q
n





OBJECTIVE 2
Minimum charge that a body can retain is
i) 1.6 x 10
-19
C ii) 3.2 x 10
-19
iii) 2.4 x 10
-19
C iv) None
Solution: (i)
The minimum charge that a body can retain is one electronic charge

SUBJECTIVE 3
What would be the interaction force between two copper spheres, each of mass 1gm, separated by
the distance 1m, if the total electronic charge in them differs from the total charge of the nuclei by
one percent?
Solution:
Atomic weight of 54 . 63
5 . 63
29
C
No. of atoms in 1gm
23
10 023 . 6
54 . 63
1

No. of electrons 29 10 023 . 6
54 . 63
1
23

Charge C
19
10 6 . 1
100
1
29 023 . 6
54 . 63
1


(Since 1% of electrons has been transferred)
= 4.39 x 10
2
C

2
2 1
0
4
1
r
q q
F

( )
( )
N
15
2
2
2 9
10 74 . 1
1
10 39 . 4 10 9



Electric force between two charged particle
Inversely proportional to the square of separation between the two particles and directed
along the line joining charges
Proportional to the product of the magnitudes of charges q
1
& q
2
on the two particles
Attractive if charges are of opposite sign and repulsive if having same sign
Mathematically,
2
2 1
0
4
1
r
q q
F

2 2 12
0
/ 10 85 . 8 Nm C

2
2
9
0
10 9
4
1
C
Nm

Where
0
is known as permittivity of free space.

Victorial form

Force on 2 due to
^
2
2 1
0
21
.
4
1
1 r
r
q q
F

r
r
q q
.
4
1
3
2 1
0

r should be in direction of Colombian force.

Force on 2 due to

r
r
q q
F
3
2 1
0
21
4
1
1

( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]
.
4
1
2 / 3
2 2
^ ^ ^
2 1
0
i f i f i f
i f i f i f
z z y y x x
k z z j y y i x x q q
+ +
1
]
1

+ +

OBJECTIVE 4
Calculate the ratio of electrostatic to gravitational interaction between two electrons
Solution:

2
2
2
2
0
4
1
r
Gm
Fg
r
e
Fe

2
0
2
2 2
0
2 2
4 4 Gm
e
Gm r
r e
Fg
Fe

( )
( )
42
2
31 11
2
19 9
10
10 1 . 9 10 67 . 6
10 6 . 1 10 9

Electrostatic force is much stronger compared to gravitational force.

OBJECTIVE 5
A point charge q is situated at a distance d from one end of a thin non conducting rod of length
L having a charge Q (uniformly distributed along its length) as shown in figure. Find the
magnitude of electric force between the two.

Solution:
Consider an element of rod, of length d x, at a distance x from the point charge q as shown in
figure. Treating the element as a point charge, the force between q and charge element will be as:

Charge on elementary strip dx
L
Q

Coulombian force acting on strip

2
0
4
1
x
q dx
L
Q

Therefore,

+

L d
d
x
dx
L
q Q
F
2
0
4
1

L d
x L
q Q
+
1
]
1

1
4
1
0

1
]
1

+

L d d L
q Q 1 1
4
1
0

( ) L d d
q Q
+

0
4


SUBJECTIVE 6
A thin wire ring of radius R has an electric charge q. What will be the charge of the force
stretching the wire if a point charge q
0
is placed at the rings centre?
Solution:
When the wire is given charge q, it comes in tension, called hoop tension. When another charge
q
0
is placed at the centre of the ring, the tension in the wire increases to keep this segment into
equilibrium again.

Consider an elementary strip subtending angle d at its centre.

The string is in equilibrium in X-direction. For equilibrium in y-direction,

2
sin 2
d
T Fe (i)
Charge on elementary strip

d
q

2


2
0
0
2 4
1
R
q d q
F




.(ii)
Substituing (ii) in (i)

2
0
0
.
2 4
1
2
2
R
d q q d
T

2
0
2
0
8 R
q q
T







SUBJECTIVE 7
The identical beads each having a mass m and charge q, when placed in hemi spherical bowl of
radius R with frictionless, non-conducting walls, the beads move, and at equilibrium they are at a
distance R apart. Determine the charge on each bead.

Solution:
The bead is under electrostatic equilibrium and force acting are its weight, electrostatic force and
Normal Reaction.

For equilibrium
N sin 60
0
= mg ..(i)

2
2
0
0
4
1
60 cos
R
q
N

..(ii)
Dividing (i) by (ii),

2
2
0 0
4
60 tan
q
R mg





3
4
2
0 2
R mg
q



2 / 1
2
0 2
3
4

,
_

R mg
q



SUPERPOSITION
The interaction between any two charges completely unaffected by the presence of other charges
Net resultant force on any charge equals vectorial sum o coulombian force contributed by
individual particle in surroundings
Net force on q
1
= 4 3 2

+ + F F F

All vectorial technique to be applied for calculation of net force.
For three dimensional distribution of charges, the coulombs law in vectorial form should be
used.

OBJECTIVE 8
Three charges q are placed at the vertices of equilateral triangle of side a. Find the electrostatic
force on the charge Q kept at the centroid of triangle.
Solution :

2
0
4
1
r
q Q
F

Since three equal forces are acting at a point making angle of 120
0
, net resultant force is zero.
Concept : The net force acting on the charge kept at centre of regular polygon is zero due to
charges kept at the vertices provided they are of same magnitude & sign.




OBJECTIVE 9
Five point charges, each of value +q coulomb, are placed on five vertices of a regular hexagon of
side Lm. The magnitude of the force on the point charge of q coulomb placed at the centre of
hexagon will be:
i) Zero ii)
2
0
2
4 / L a iii)
2
0
2
4 / 2 L q iv) None of these
Solution :
If there would have been charge at the left vertices also, net force at the centre will be zero.

The coulombian force due to five charge should balance the coulombian force exerted by the
charge dept at left vertices. Force due to all charges should be along OA.

2
2
0
.
4
1
L
q
F

OBJECTIVE 10
There equal charges, each equal to q, are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side a
find the force on the left most corner of charge q.
Solution:











2
2
0
.
4
1
a
q
F

The net resultant force
= F
1

F FF F F 3 60 cos 2
0 2 2
+ +

2
0
2
4
, 3
a
q

OBJECTIVE 11
A charge Q is placed at each of the opposite corner of a square. A charge q is placed at each at
each of the two other two corners. If the resultant force on Q is zero, then:
a) q Q 2 b) q Q 2 c) q Q 2 2 d) q Q 2 2
Solution:


2
0
4
1
a
Qq
F

2
2
0
2 4
1
a
Q
F

Net resultant = F F 2 +
0 2
2 4
1
2
2
0

1
]
1

+ q Q
Q
a

q Q
Q
2
2
2

q Q 2 2

OBJECTIVE 12



A cube of edge a carries a point charge q at each corner. Show that the magnitude of the
resultant force on any one of the charge is

2
0
2
261 . 0
a
q
F

Solution:
Refer to coulombs law in vector form

3 4
.
0
2

r
r q
F

3
^
0
2
41
4 a
i a q
F

,
_

^
2
0
2
4
i
a
q

;
4
;
4
^
2
0
2
21
^
2
0
2
21
,
_

,
_

k
a
q
F j
a
q
F



( )

,
_

,
_

^ ^
2
0
2
3
^ ^
0
2
31
2 2 4
2
4
j i
a
q
a
j a i a
q
F

,
_

,
_

^ ^
2
0
2
71
2
0
^ ^
2
51
2 2 4
;
2 2 4
k i
a
q
F
a
k i q
F



( )
2
0
^ ^ ^
2
^ ^ ^
3
0
2
31
3 3 4
.
3 4
a
k j i q
k a j a i a
a
q
F

1
]
1

1
]
1

According to superposition principle,


+ + + +
81 61 51 41 21
F F F F F F




1
]
1

+ +

,
_

+ +
2
1
3 3
1
1
4
^ ^ ^
2
0
2
k j i
a
q

2
0
2
2
0
2
261 . 0
2 3
3 3 2 6 3
. 3
4 a
q
a
q
F


1
]
1

+ +

SUBJECTIVE 13
Two point charges A and B have charges C C 2 &
2
1
respectively and position vectors

,
_

+ +
^ ^ ^
k j i and

,
_

^ ^ ^
k j i respectively. Find the force on the charge at A due to B.
Solution :
Force on A and to B

AB
F

BA
A B
q q
B A
.
.
4
1
3
0

3
9
2
2
1
10 9

1
]
1

BA
r r
B A


( )
3
^ ^ ^
9
3 2
2 2 2 10 9

,
_

k j i

,
_

^ ^ ^
9
2 2 2
3 24
10 9
k j i




STRING RELATED PROBLEMS
Draw the free body diagram of force
Write down the condition for equilibrium
Solve the equation after co-relating situation.

SUBJECTIVE 14
Two small charged spheres, each of charge q and each of mass m, are suspended form the same
point by silk threads of length 1
(a) Find the distance between the spheres x, if x < < < 1, for the equilibrium of charges.
(b) If the charge starts leaking form both the spheres at the constant rate
t d
Q d
, find the velocity of
approach of the spheres.
Solution:
The force acting on the charged spheres are shown in the equilibrium.

F T sin ..(i)
mg T cos ..(ii)
Dividing (i) by (ii),

mg
F
tan
If x < < < 1, then sin tan

mg x
q
l
x

2
2
0
4
1
2


mg
l q
x
0
2
3
2




Or
3 / 2
3 / 1
0
.
2
q
mg
l
x

,
_

ii)
2 / 3 0
.
2
x
l
mg
q


Differentiating both side with respect to t

dt
x d
x
l
mg
t d
Q d

1 2 / 3 0
.
2
3
.
2

V x
l
mg

2
3 2
0

3 3 2
/ 2
0

mg
at d l
V

SUBJECTIVE 15
If the two balls in the above mentioned problem contains different charges q
1
> q
2
. The deflection
in the cases are
2 1
and as shown in figure. The two balls are of same mass, then

i)
2 1
> ii)
1 2
< iii)
2 1
iv) Cannot be
predicated
Solution: (iii)
; tan
mg
F
since two balls are of same mass and electrostatic force is also same.

SUBJECTIVE 16
Three small balls, each of mass m are suspended separately from a common point by silk threads,
each of length 1. The balls are identically charged and hung at the corners of equilateral triangle
of side a (a < < < 1). What is the charge on each ball?
Solution:



The lengths of the threads are same, the mass of each ball is same, the balls are identically
charged, and the balls are suspended form the same point. Under the equilibrium, the balls will
make an equilateral triangle in a horizontal Plane.
Let ABC be the triangle formed by them.


3 2
3
2
a
P
P
a

The force on one of the balls at c are
(i) Coulombic repulsion by charges at A & B
F FF F F F 3 60 cos 2
0 2 2 1
+ +

2
0
2
4
3
a
q

ii) mg, acting down ward
iii) Tension in thread
F T sin (1)
mg T cos (2)
From (1) and (2)


2
0
2
4
3
tan
'
tan
a mg
q
mg
F

(3)
If tan is small, then sin tan




l
a
3
sin (4)
Substituting (4) in equal no. (3),

2
0
2
4
3
31 a mg
q a

3
4
3
0 2
mg a
q



3
4
3
0
a mg
q



SUBJECTIVE 17
A particle A having a charge of 5 x 10
-7
C is fixed in a vertical wall. A second particle B of mass
100g and having equal charge is suspended by a silk thread of length 30cm form the wall. The
point of suspension is 30cm above particle A. Find the angle of the thread with the vertical when
it stays in equilibrium?
Solution:


2
sin 2

l AB
So the electrostatic force between the charge will
Be
2
2
0
2
sin 2
4
1

,
_

l
q
F .(i)
Lamis theorem can be applied in order to solve this question

( ) ( ) ( ) 2 / 90 sin 180 sin 2 / 90 sin
0 0 0
+

+
mg F T




Or,
2 / cos sin
2
cos

mg F T


2
sin 2

mg F .(ii)
Equating (i) and (ii),

2
sin 16
2
sin 2
2
0
2

l
q
mg

2
0
2
3
32 2
sin
l mg
q

In the given problem,
q = 5 x 10
-7
C
m cm kg g m 3 . 0 30 1 ,
10
1
100

9 14
9 14
3
10 9 10
8
25
3 . 0 3 . 0 1 8
10 9 10 25
2
sin

Or
0 3 3
17 15 . 0
2
sin 0032 . 0
2
sin

or

CONSERVATION
Total charge of isolated system remains constant,
Appearance of charge is due to slight disturbance of electrical neutrality of each.

OBJECTIVE 18
A certain charge Q is to be divided into two parts, q and (Q-q). What is the relationship of Q to q
of the two parts, placed at a given distance apart are to have maximum coulomb repulsion?
Solution:

( )
2
0
4
1
r
q Q q
F

For F to be maximum, 0
dq
dF
,



[ ] 0 2 .
4
1
2
0
q Q
r dq
F d

2
0 2
Q
q q Q

SUBJECTIVE 19
Two identical oppositely charged metallic sphere placed 0.5m apart attract each other with a force
of 0.108 N. When they are connected by a Cu wire, they begin to repel each other with a force of
0.036 N. What are the initial charges on them?
Solution:
Let the charge be q
1
and q
2
before connecting by cu-wire. After connection, charges on each will
be

,
_

2
2 1
q q


( )
108 . 0
5 . 0 4
1
2
2 1
0

q q

..(i)

( )
036 . 0
5 . 0
2
4
1
2
2
2 1
0

,
_

q q

(ii)
After solving these two equations,
C q C q
6
2
6
1
10 10 3



OSCILLATIONS
Under equilibrium condition, net force on particle = 0
By displacing slightly, the net force should be restoring in nature.
If net force displacement, it will be making SHM
Exampls




SUBJECITIVE 20
Two particles A and B, each carrying a charge Q, are held fixed with O separation 2l between
them. A particle C having mass m and charge q is kept at the middle points of the line AB.
If the particle c is displaced through a distance x and x <<<1, then find the condition of SHM,
oscillation and also the time period of oscillation.
Condition I: If it is displaced along the line AB
Condition II: If it is displaced perpendicular to the line AB.
Solution:
Condition I: The particle has to be positive in sign for oscillation along the axis.

Suppose the particle C is displaced by small distance x.

Net force towards the centre = F
B
- F
A


( ) ( )
( ) 1
1
]
1

1
]
1

2
2 2
0
2 2
0
4
4
1 1
4
x l
x l q Q
x l x l
q Q


If x <<< 1, then oscillation will become SHM.

4
0
4
4
l
x l q Q
ma

x
l m
q Q
a
3
0



3
0
l m
q Q

q Q
l m
T
3
0
2
2

Condition-II: The particle C has to be negative in sign in order to have restoring force along
perpendicular bisector.

Net restoring force = cos 2F




( )
( )
2 / 1
2 2
2 2
0
4
2
l x
x
l x
q Q
+

( )
2 / 3
2 2
0
4 l x
x q Q
+

If x <<< l, oscillation will become SHM

3
0
4 l
qx Q
ma

or
3
0
4 ml
x q Q
a

Or
3
0
1
4 l m
q Q

q Q
ml
T
0 1
2
2


Equatorial oscillation is having time period 2 times compared to axial oscillation.

SUBJECTIVE 21
Three particles each carrying charge are placed at the vertices of triangle of side a A fourth
particle of charge q and mass m is kept at the centroid of the triangle and then displaced by
very small distance x along the vertical direction.
Find the time period of oscillation.
Solution :
When charged particle is kept at centroid, the net electrostatic force on it will be zero. Taking
centroid as origin of Co-ordinate system, the co-ordinates of points is as follows:

Taking vector from of coulombs law





2 / 3
2
2
^ ^ ^
0
1
3
3 2 2
4

,
_

+
1
]
1

a
x
k x j
a
i
a
q Q
F

2 / 3
2
2
^ ^ ^
0
2
3
3 2
2
4

,
_

+
1
]
1

a
x
k x j
a
i
a
q Q
F

2 / 3
2
2
^ ^
0
3
3
3
4

,
_

+
1
]
1

a
x
k x j
a
q Q
F

2 / 3
2
2
0
^
3 2 1
3
4
3

,
_

+ +

a
x
k x q Q
F F F F

If x <<< a,
3
0
4
3 3 3
a
x q Q
ma

3
0
4
3 9
ma
x q Q
a

;
3
0
4
3 9
ma
q Q

Qq
ma
T
3 9
4
2
3
0

SUBJCTIVE 22
Two free particles with charge +q and +4q are at a distance L apart. A third charge is placed so
that the entire system is in equilibrium. Find the location, magnitude and sign of third charge?

Solution:



Third charge can be of any sign for its equilibrium. But it has to be negative in order to make
force on q and 4q equal to zero. Then only the entire system will be in equilibrium. For net force
on Q
1
to be zero.

( )
2
4
4
1
4
1
2
0
2
0

x
x L
x L
q Q
x
q Q


3 / 2 L x x x L
For net force on q to be zer,

( )
9
4
3
2
4
4
1
3 /
4
1
2
2
0
2
0
q
Q or
L
q
L
q Q

,
_

EFFECT OF MEDIUM
In medium the electrostatic force reduces by factor of K (dielectric constant)

If charge is kept in interfacing media, then effective distance has to be calculated for calculation
of force

Effective distance
2 2 1 1
r k r k +
Force in interfacing media
[ ]
2
2 2 1 1 0
2 1
4 r k r k
q q
+

OBJECTIVE 23
If charge q
1
and q
2
kept in interfacing media of three different dielectric constant 9, 81 and air.
The thickness of each median in interfacing system is equal. If the distance between the charge is
r. Then the coulomb force acting between than.
Solution:
The effective distance in medium r k
Net effective distance




( )
3
13
1 9 3
3 3
81
3
9
3
r r r r r
+ + + +
Colombian force

( )
2
0
2 1
2
2 1
0
169 4
9
3 / 13 4
1
r
q q
r
q q

SUBJECTIVE 24
Two balls each having a density d are suspended form Q common point by two insulated string of
equal length. Both the balls have same mass and charge. In equilibrium, each string makes
angle with the vertical. Both the balls are immersed in a liquid. As a result, angle does not
change. The density of liquid is . Find the dielectric strength?
Solution:
Refer to concept section,


vdg
F
tan .. (i)
When the system is immersed in liquid medium, then the force (electrostatic) becomes F/K and
upward thrust acts on the system.

( )g d v k
F

.
tan .. (ii)




Equating (i) and (ii)

( )

d
d
k
d k d
1 1