Question 1 (Chap.

14)
A penny carrying a small amount of positive charge Qp
exerts an electric force F on a nickel carrying a large
amount of positive charge Qn that is a distance d away (Qn
> Qp ). Which one of the following is not true?
A. The electric force exerted on the penny by the nickel is
also equal to F.
B. The number of electrons in the penny is less than the
number of protons in the penny.
C. F=KQpQn/d2 , if d is small compared to the size of the
coins.
D. F=KQpQn/d2 , if d is large compared to the size of the
coins.

Question 2 (Chap. 14)

Which one of the following is not true?
The electric force exerted by an electron on an electron:
A. decreases by a factor of 25 if the distance is
increased by a factor of 5.
B. has the same magnitude as the electric force exerted
by a proton on a proton at the same distance.
C. has the same direction as the electric force exerted by
a proton on a proton at the same distance.
D. is much weaker than the gravitational force between
them.

The Superposition Principle

The E of a Uniformly Charged Sphere

Can calculate using principle of superposition:

Esphere

1 Q
r
2
4 0 r

Esphere 0

for r>R (outside)

for r<R (inside)

The Superposition Principle

The electric field of a dipole:
Electric dipole:
Two equally but oppositely charged
point-like objects

s
-q

+q
Example of electric dipole: HCl molecule

What is the E field of the dipole?

Calculating Electric Field

Choice of the origin

y
s

-q

+q

z
Choice of origin: use symmetry

1. E along the x-axis

E1, x

1
q
1
q
E , x E , x
2
2
4 0 r s 2 4 0 r s 2

E1, x

1 qr 2 qrs qs 2 / 4 qr 2 qrs qs 2 / 4

2
2
4 0
r s 2 r s 2

E1, x

1
2qrs

4 0 r s 2 2 r s 2 2

Approximation: Far from the Dipole

E1, x

if r>>s, then r
2

E1, x

1
4 0

2 srq
2

s
s
r

2
2

r
2

1 2 sq

4 0 r 3

r2

E1

r = 1,0,0
1 2 sq
,0,0
3
4 0 r

While the electric field of a point charge is proportional to 1/r2,

the electric field created by several charges may have a different
distance dependence.

2. E along the y-axis

1 q
r
2
4 0 r

s
s
r 0, y ,0 ,0,0 , y ,0
2
2

r r

s
s
r 0, y ,0 ,0,0 , y ,0

2
2
s

y2

1
4 0

1
4 0

s
, y ,0
2

q
s
y
2

s
, y ,0
2

q
s

s
y2
2

y2

y2

2. E along the y-axis

1
4 0

s
, y ,0
2

q
s
y
2
2

1
E2 E E
4 0
s

y2

r
if r>>s, then E2

1
4 0

q
s
y
2
2

qs
q

s
y
2

s
, y ,0
2

3
2 2

s
y
2

1s,0,0

1 qs
, 0, 0
3
4 0 r

at <0,r,0>

3. E along the z-axis

E1

E2

1 qs
,0,0
3
4 0 r

1 2 sq
,0,0
3
4 0 r

at <r,0,0>

at <0,r,0>
or <0,0,r>

Due to the symmetry E along the z-axis must

be the same as E along the y-axis!

Other Locations

Example Problem
y
E=?

A dipole is located at the origin, and is composed of particles with

charges e and e, separated by a distance 210-10 m along the xaxis. Calculate the magnitude of the E field at <0,210-8,0> m.

1 sq
Since r>>s:
4 0 r 3
2

2 10 10 m 1.6 10 19 C
9 Nm
E1, x 9 10

3
2
8
C

2 10 m
N
E1, x 7.2 104
C
E1, x

200

Using exact solution:

4 N
E1, x 7.1999973 10
C

Interaction of a Point Chargeand a Dipole

Edipole

F QEdipole Q

1 2qs
,0,0
3
4 0 d

Direction makes sense?

- negative end of dipole is closer, so its net contribution is larger
What is the force exerted on the dipole by the point charge?
- Newtons third law: equal but opposite sign

Dipole Moment
x:
y, z:

E1

E2

1 2qs
p
,0,0,0,0
33
4 0 rr

r>>s

1 qs
p
,,00,,00
3
4 0 r

The electric field of a dipole is proportional to the

Dipole moment: p = qs

p qs, direction from q to +q

Dipole moment is a vector pointing
from negative to positive charge

Dipole in a Uniform Field

F qE

Forces on +q and q have the same

magnitude but opposite direction

Fnet qE qE 0

It would experience a torque about its

center of mass.
What is the equilibrium position?
Electric dipole can be used to measure
the direction of electric field.

Neutral Matter in the Electric Field

A wooden dowel rod is balanced on a sharp
needle and placed between a pair of parallel
plates connected to an electrostatic
generator.
When the plates are charged, the dowel rod:
A) Could not care less
B) Will orient perpendicular to the direction of the E field
C) Will orient parallel to the direction of the E field
D) Will jump out of the area with E-field

Polarization of Atoms

E
-

Force due to E created by positive charge shifts electron

cloud and nucleus in opposite directions: electric dipole.
An atom is said to be polarized when its electron cloud has
been shifted by the influence of an external charge so that
the electron cloud is not centered on the nucleus.

Induced Dipole
An applied electric field creates induced dipoles!

it is not a permanent dipole

an induced dipole is created when a neutral object is polarized
by an applied electric field

Choice of System
Multiparticle systems: Split into objects to include into system
and objects to be considered as external.
To use field concept instead of Coulombs law we split the
Universe into two parts:
the charges that are the sources of the field
the charge that is affected by that field

A Fundamental Rationale
Convenience: know E at some location know the electric
force on any charge.
Can describe the electric properties of matter in terms of
electric field independent of how this field was produced.
Example: if E>3106 N/C air becomes conductor

Retardation
Nothing can move faster than light c
c = 300,000 km/s = 30 cm/ns
Coulombs law is not completely correct it does not
contain time t nor speed of light c.

1 q1q2
r
2
4 0 r

1 q
r
2
4 0 r

v<<c !!!