The Electric Field

B. Sc. Physics (H.R.
K) Chapter 28: The Electric Field

9
Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik, Govt. Degree College, Naushera, 03016775811

THE ELECTRIC FIELD

28.1 Electric Field
The region or space around a charge in which it can exert the force of attraction or
repulsion on other charged bodies is called electric field.
28.2 Electric Field Intensity
The electrostatic force on unit positive charge at a specific field point is called the
electric field intensity. In order to find out electric field intensity due a point charge q, a test
charge q
0
is placed in its electric field at a field point. The electric field intensity E due to a
point charge q is expressed as,
E =
F
q
0
---------------------- (1)
where F is the electrostatic force between the source charge q and test charge q
0
.
The test charge q
0
should be very small, so that it cannot disturb the field produced
by source charge q. Therefore the electric field intensity can be written as,
E = lim
q
0
0

F
q
0
---------------------- (2)
28.3 Electric Field Intensity Due To a Point Charge
Consider a test charge q
0
placed at point P in the electric field of a point charge q
at a distance r apart.

We want to find out electric field intensity at point P due to a point charge q.
The electrostatic force F between q and q
0
can be find out by using expression,
F =
1
4ns
0

qq
0
2
---------------------- (3)
The electric field intensity E due to a point charge q can be obtained by putting the
value of electrostatic force in equation (1),
B. Sc. Physics (H.R.K) Chapter 28: The Electric Field
10

E =
[
1
4ns
0

qq
0
r
2

q
0

E =
1
4ns
0

q
2
---------------------- (4)
This expression gives the magnitude of electric field intensity due to a point charge
q. In vector form, the electric field intensity E will be:
E =
1
4ns
0

q
2
r ---------------------- (5)
where r is the unit vector which gives the direction of electric field intensity.
28.4 Electric Field due to Many (n) Point Charge
Let q
1
, q
2
, q
3
, . . . . . . . . . . , q
n
are the n point charges as shown in the figure.

The electric field intensity due to assembly of n point charges at a specific field
point can be determined by following the procedure mentioned below;
Calculate the electric field intensity at a field point due to each charge separately by
assuming that the other charges are absent.
Calculate the total electric field intensity by taking the vector sum of intensities of
individual point charges.
Now if E
1
, E
2
, E
3
, . . . . . . . . , E
n
be the electric field intensities at a field point due to
the point charges q
1
, q
2
, q
3
, . . . . . . . . . . , q
n
respectively. Then, the total electric field intensity
due to assembly of n point charges will be;
E = E
1
+ E
2
+ E
3
+. . . . . . . . + E
n
---------------------- (6)
where
E
1
= Electric Field Intensity at a Field Point due to Point Charge q
1
=
1
4ns
0

q
1
1
2
r
1

11

E
2
2
=
1
4ns
0

q
2
2
2
r
2

E
3
3
=
1
4ns
0

q
3
3
2
r
3

E
n
n
=
1
4ns
0

q
n
n
2
r
n

Putting values in equation (6), we get
E =
1
4ns
0

q
1
1
2
r
1
+
1
4ns
0

q
2
2
2
r
2
+
1
4ns
0

q
3
3
2
r
3
+. . . . . . . . +
1
4ns
0

q
n
n
2
r
n

=
1
4ns
0
[
q
1
1
2
r
1
+
q
2
2
2
r
2
+
q
3
3
2
r
3
+. . . . . . . . +
q
n
n
2
r
n

=
1
4ns
0

q
i
i
2
r
i
n
=1
---------------------- (7)
This equation gives the total electric field intensity due to assembly of n point
charges at a specific field point.
28.5 Electric Field due to a Dipole
Two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance form an electrical
dipole. Consider two point charges +q and q of equal magnitude lying distance J apart as
shown in the figure below.

We want to determine the electric field intensity E due to a dipole at point P. The
point P is at a distance x along the perpendicular bisector of the line joining the charges.
Let the electric field intensities at point P due to the charges +q and q be E
+
and E
-

respectively.
12

The total electric field intensity at point P due to the charges +q and q is given by
the expression.
E = E
+
+ E
-
---------------------- (8)
For the present case, E
+
= E
-
because the point P is equidistant for the charges +q
and q. Therefore,
E
+
= E
-
=
1
4ne
0

q
r
2

=
1
4ns
0

q
_x
2
+[
d
2
2
_
---------------------- (9)
From the figure it is clear that the y components of E
+
anu E
-
will cancel the effect
of each other while the x components of E
+
anu E
-
added up to give of resultant electric
field intensity of electric dipole. Therefore,
E = E
+
cos0 + E
-
cos 0
E
+
= E
-

E = 2E
+
cos0 ---------------------- (10)
From figure,
cos0 =
J2
r

cos0 =
J2
_
x
2
+[
J
2
2

By putting the value of E
+
and cos0 in equation (10), we get
E = 2E
+
_
d2
_
x
2
+[
d
2
2
_ = E
+
_
d
_
x
2
+[
d
2
2
_
E =
1
4ne
0

q
_x
2
+[
J
2
2
_

`
J
_
x
2
+[
J
2
2
/

E =
1
4ne
0

qJ
_x
2
+[
J
2
2
_
3
2

The quantity p = qJ is called dipole moment. Therefore,
E =
1
4ne
0

p
_x
2
+[
J
2
2
_
3
2

13

E =
1
4ne
0

p
x
3
_1 +
1
x
2
[
J
2
2
_
3
2

E =
1
4ne
0

p
x
3
_1 +_
J
2x
]
2
_
-
3
2

By using binomial expansion, we get
E =
1
4ne
0

p
x
3
_1 +_-
S
2
] _
J
2x
]
2
+_

If we neglect the 2
nd
and higher terms, then
E =
1
4ns
0

p
x
3
---------------------- (11)
This is the expression of electric field due to a dipole.
28.6 Electric Field Intensity due to an Infinite Line of Charges
Consider an infinite line of positive charge as shown in the figure below.

We want to calculate the electric field intensity at point P at a perpendicular distance
x from the line of charge. As the charge is distributed uniformly over it, so it has constant
linear charge density p;
p =
Cborgc
Icngtb
=
q
I

For an infinitesimal length element Jy having charge Jq
p =
Jq
Jy

Jq = p Jy
The electric field intensity due to this length element at point P is given by;
JE =
1
4ns
0

dq
2
=
1
4ns
0

d
2

JE =
1
4ns
0

d
x
2
+
2
---------------------- (12)
The rectangular components of JE are
14

JE
x
= JE cos0 and JE
= JE sin0
If we consider identical charge elements symmetrically located on both sides of O,
then the y -components of electrical field intensity will cancel out each other and its
x -components are added up to give the total electric field intensity due to this continuous
charge distribution. Therefore, the total electric field intensity will be
E = E
x
= _ JE
x
=
=-

= _
=
=-
JE cos0
= 2 _
=
=0
JE cos0
Putting value of JE from equation (12), we get
E = 2 _
=
=0
1
4ne
0

p Jy
x
2
+ y
2
cos0
E =
1
2ne
u
]
=
=0
p Jy
x
2
+ y
2
cos0 ---------------------- (13)
From figure,
y
x
= ton0
y = x ton0
Jy = x scc
2
0J0
Putting values in equation (13), we get
E =
p
2ne
0
_
=
=0

x scc
2
0J0
x
2
+ y
2
cos0
E =
p
2ne
0
_
=
=0

x scc0J0
x
2
_1 +
y
2
x
2
]

x
= ton0
E =
p
2ne
0
_
=
=0

scc0J0
x(1 + ton
2
0)

E =
p
2ne
0
x
_
=
=0

scc0J0
scc
2
0

E =
p
2ne
0
x
_
=
=0
cos0J0
consiJcring
x
= ton0
wcn y = u, 0 = u
wbcn y = , 0 =
n
2

Therefore,
15

E =
p
2ne
0
x
_
0=
n
2
0=0
cos0J0
E =
p
2ne
0
x
|sin0|
0
n2

E =
p
2ne
0
x
[sin
n
2
-sinu
E =
p
2ne
0
x
(1 -u)
E =
p
2ne
0
x

This is the expression for electric field intensity at point P due to an infinite line of charge.
28.7 Electric Field Intensity due to a Ring of Charge
Consider a ring of positive charge of radius R as shown in the figure below.

We want to find out the electric field intensity at point P which is at the distance z
from the plane of ring.
As the charge is distributed uniformly over it, so it has constant linear charge density
p. For an infinitesimal length element Js of ring,
p =
Jq
Js

Jq = p Js
The electric field intensity due to the charge Jq at point P is given by;
JE =
1
4ns
0

dq
2
=
1
4ns
0

ds
2

JE =
1
4ns
0

ds
z
2
+ R
2
---------------------- (14)
The rectangular components of JE are
JE
z
= JE cos0 and JE
= JE sin0
If we consider the identical charge elements located on the opposite end of tne
diameter, then JE
components will cancel out each other and JE

z
components are added up
16

to give the final value of electric field intensity at point P. Therefore, the total electric field
intensity will be
E = E
z
= _ JE
z

= _JE cos0
Putting value of JE from equation (12), we get
E =
1
4ne
0
_
p Js
z
2
+ R
2
cos0
From figure, cos0 =
z
R

E =
1
4ne
u
]
p Js
z
2
+ R
2
.
z
---------------------- (15)
From figure, z
2
+ R
2
= r
2

E =
pz
4ne
0
_
Js
r
3

E =
pz
4ne
0
r
3
_Js
E =
pz
4ne
u
r
S
(2nr)
E =
(2np)z
4ne
u
(z
2
+ R
2
)
S
2
,

E =
qz
4ne
u
(z
2
+ R
2
)
S
2
,

p =
totol corgc
totol lcngt
=
q
2nr

2nr p = q
When the point P is far away from ring, i.e., z R so that R
2
can be neglected.
E =
qz
4ne
u
(z
2
)
S
2
,

E =
qz
4ne
u
z
S

E =
1
4ne
u
.
q
z
2

Which is the expression for the electric field intensity, when the field point is far away
from the ring. Thus, the charged ring acts like a point charge when the field point is at the
large distance.
28.8 Electric Field Intensity due to a Disk of Charge
17

Consider a circular disk of uniform surface charge density as shown in the figure
below. We want to find out the electric field intensity at point P which is at the distance z
from the plane of disk.

Consider a small element of the disk in the ring shape of radius and width J. If
Jq is the charge on this element of ring, then
=
Jq
J

wbcrc J is tbc is tbc orco o lcngtb clccnt
Jq = J
Jq = (2n J)
J = 2n J
We know the electric field intensity due to the ring of charge is given by;
E =
qz
4ne
u
(z
2
+
2
)
S
2
,
---------------------- (16)
Consider the ring as the differential part of the disk, the equation (16) becomes
JE =
z Jq
4ne
0
(z
2
+
2
)
3
2
,

By putting the value of Jq, we get
JE =
z (2n J)
4ne
0
(z
2
+
2
)
3
2
,

=
z
4e
u

(2 J)
(z
2
+
2
)
S
2
,

=
z
4s
0
(z
2
+
2
)
- 3
2
,
(2 J)
18

Now total electric field intensity at point P due to whole disk can be calculated
integrating the above expression from = u to = R
E = _ JE
= R
= 0

E =
z
4e
0
_ (z
2
+
2
)
- 3
2
,
(2 J)
= R
= 0

E =
z
4s
0

(z
2
+
2
)
3
2
1
3
2
+1

0
R

E =
z
4s
0

(z
2
+
2
)
1
2
1
2

0
R

E =
z
2s
0

1
z
2
+
2
0
R

E =
z
2e
0
_
1
z
2
+ R
2

1
z
2
+ u
]
E =
z
2e
0
_
1
z
2
+ R
2

1
z
]
E =
z
2e
0
_
1
z

1
z
2
+ R
2
]
E =

2e
0
_1
z
z
2
+ R
2
]
If R z; i.e., z = u
Then
z
z
2
+ R
2
=
0
0
2
+ R
2
= u
Hence
E =

2e
0

It means when z = u, the disk of charge behaves like infinite sheet of charge.

19

28.9 Torque on a Dipole in a Uniform Electric Field
Consider an electric dipole consists of +q and q separated by a distance J is shown
in the figure below.

When an electric dipole is placed in an external electric field, the force on the positive
charge will be in one direction and the force on the negative charge in another direction. The
force on +q and q have the equal magnitude but opposite in direction. Therefore the net
force on the dipole due to external field is zero. The magnitude of each force is
F
1
= F
2
= qE
These two forces make a couple and so the torque acts on the dipole. The magnitude
of this torque is given as
Torque = ( Force ) ( Moment Arm )
= F (J sin0)
= qEJ sin0
= pE sin0
ipolc ocnt p = qJ
In vector form,
= E ---------------------- (17)
The direction of torque of dipole in a uniform electric field is determined by right hand rule.
28.10 Energy of Dipole in a Uniform Electric Field
Consider an electrical dipole is placed in a uniform electric field. We want to calculate the
work done by the electric field in turning the dipole through an angle 0. The work done by
the electric field in turning the dipole from an initial angle 0
to the final angle 0
is given by;
= _Jw
= -_ J0
0
0
i

20

Where is the torque exerted by the electric field. The negative sign is necessary
because the torque tends to decrease . Also
= pE sin0
Therefore,
= -_ pE sin0 J0
0
0
i

Assuming that the dipole is revolve from initial angle 0
=
n
2
to the final angle 0
= 0. Then
= _ pE sin0 J0
0
n
2

= pE _ sin0 J0
0
n
2

= pE |cos0 |
n
2
,
0

= pE cos0 -cos
n
2

= pE cos0
Since the work done by the agent that produces the external field is equal to the negative of
the change in potential energy of the system.
= - = -pE cos0
Therefore
Potential Energy = -. E ---------------------- (18)
This is the expression of potential energy of the dipole in a uniform electric field.

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B. Sc. Physics (H.R.

K) Chapter 28: The Electric Field

components will cancel out each other and JE

to the final angle 0

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