1st Quarter Handouts in General Physics 2

ELECTRIC CHARGE
 An atom consists of a small, relatively massive nucleus that contains
particles called protons and neutrons. Surrounding the nucleus is a
diffuse cloud of orbiting particles called electrons.
 It is the fundamental property of matter.
 Experiment reveals that the magnitude of the charge of the proton is
exactly the same to the magnitude of the charge of the electron.
 The SI unit for measuring the magnitude of an electric charge is the
coulomb* (C), and e has been determined experimentally to have the
value e=1.60x10^-19 C
q = Ne
q is the magnitude of the electric charge of an object
e is the magnitude of the electric charge of the particle
N is the number of particles in an object
 The fundamental unit of electric charge is denoted by the small letter “e”
An electron has a charge of –e
A proton has a charge of +e
Law of Conservation of Electric Charge
 During any process, the net electric charge of an isolated system remains constant (is conserved).
 Like charges repel and unlike charges attract each other.
ELECTRIC FORCE
 The electrostatic force that stationary charged objects exert on each other depends on the amount of
charge on the objects and the distance between them.
COULOMB’S LAW
q1q2
F¿ k r 2
 Where:
 F is the force exerted by the two electric charges
 k is constant with a value of 8.99x10^9 N.m^2/C^2
 q is the electric charge
 r is the distance of the two electric charges
CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS
 Substances that readily conduct electric charge are called electrical conductors.
 Metals such as copper, aluminum, silver, and gold are excellent electrical conductors.
 Materials that conduct electric charge poorly are known as electrical insulators.
 Insulators, such as rubber or plastic that coats electrical wiring, prevent electric charge from going
where it is not wanted.
CHARGING BY CONTACT AND INDUCTION
 The process of giving one object a net electric charge by placing it in contact with another object that is
already charged is known as charging by contact.
 The process of giving one object a net electric charge without touching the object to a second charged
object is called charging by induction.
 By contact
 Two objects touching each other
 Conductors or insulators
 By induction
 No contact required
 Grounding source needed
 Conductors only
 By polarization
 Realignment of charge on surface
 Contact or no contact
 Insulators only
ELECTRIC FIELD
 The electric field E (at a given point in space) is the force per unit charge that would be experienced by
a test charge at that point.
Electric Field Lines
 Electric Field Lines are lines that represent both the magnitude and the direction of the electric field.
 The number of lines shown is proportional to the electric field strength. As lines get closer together, the
field strength increases.
 Lines begin on + charges (or at infinity) and terminate on – charges (or at infinity)
 The number of lines drawn leaving a + or terminating on a – is proportional to the magnitude of the
charge
 No two field lines can cross one another.
 Electric field lines always begin on a positive charge and end on a negative charge and do not start or
stop in mid-space. Furthermore, the number of lines leaving a positive charge or entering a negative
charge is proportional to the magnitude of the charge.
 The electric field from an isolated positive charge
 The electric field from an isolated negative charge

ELECTRIC FLUX


E  E A
 How much of something passes through some surface
 Number of particles passing through a given surface
 Number per unit area (e.g., 10 particles/cm2)
 Number passing through an area of interest
 If surface area is not perpendicular to the electric field we have to slightly change our definition of the
flux
  E  E A cos

