ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Quantization of charge: If n number of electrons are added/removed from a body total
charge q on it is such that
q = ± ne .
Coulomb’s law
Force between two charges q1 and q2 placed at a distance r in free space is given by
1 q1 q2
Fo = .
4 o r 2
This relation is called Coulomb’s law.
9 Nm
2
1
Value of is 9 10 .
4 o C2
If there is some medium between the charges, then force is given by
1 q1 q2
Fm = ,
4 r 2
where is the electrical permittivity of the medium.
Dielectric constant:
m F
for a medium m dielectric constant is defined as k , k is also equal to k o .
o Fm
Force acting on a charge q placed in an electric field of intensity E is qE. This force is in
the direction of field if charge is positive and in the opposite direction if charge is negative.
1 q
Electric field at a distance r due to a charge q is E .
4 o r 2
Dipole moment = either charge x distance between the charges,
p = q 2a ,
here 2a is the distance between the charges.
Electric field at any point at a distance r on axial line of an electric dipole
1 2pr
is given by E ,
4 o (r a 2 )2
2
1 2p
for short dipole this formula reduces to E .
4 o r 3
, Electric field at any point at a distance r on equatorial line of an electric dipole is given
1 p
by E ,
4 o
3
(r a )
2 2 2
1 p
for short dipole this formula reduces to E .
4 o r 3
Torque acting on an electric dipole placed in an electric field is given by
pE sin .
Electric potential energy of a dipole in a uniform electric field is given by
U pE (cos2 cos1 ) .
Electric flux through an area is given by
φE =EAcosθ ,
where is the angle between area vector and electric field vector.
Gauss theorem. Electric flux through a closed surface containing a charge q is given by
q
φE .
o
Electric field intensity at a perpendicular distance r due to a line charge is given by
E ,
2 o r
here is the linear charge density.
Electric field at a distance r due to charged spherical shell containing a charge q is
1 q
given by E .
4 o r 2
1 q
At the surface of the shell field is E ,
4 o R 2
where R is the radius of the shell.
Electric field intensity inside a hollow metallic conductor is zero.
Electric field intensity at a point around a charged sheet is E ,
o
where is the surface charge density of the sheet
, ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
POTENTIAL BASICS
If a charge qo is brought from infinity to a point in the field of another charge q and the
W
amount of work done is W, then potential at point A is V .
qo
When a charge q is taken from a point A to B in an electric field and work done is W, then
W
potential difference between A and B is VAB VB VA .
q
1 q
Potential at a distance r due to a point charge q is V .
4πε o r
ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At a point around electric dipole of dipole moment p, potential at
p
o Axial line is
4πε or 2
o Equatorial line is 0
p cos θ
o At any other point is , where r is the distance of point from centre of dipole
4πε or 2
of and θ is the angle between the dipole axis and line joining the centre of dipole
and point.
dV
Potential gradient: E .
dr
V Edr cos θ
POTENTIAL ENERGY
Potential energy of a system of charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance r is
1 q1 q2
U .
4πε o r
1 q1 q2
Potential energy is external electric field is U q1V1 q2 V2
4πε o r
EQUIPOTENIAL SURFACE
Quantization of charge: If n number of electrons are added/removed from a body total
charge q on it is such that
q = ± ne .
Coulomb’s law
Force between two charges q1 and q2 placed at a distance r in free space is given by
1 q1 q2
Fo = .
4 o r 2
This relation is called Coulomb’s law.
9 Nm
2
1
Value of is 9 10 .
4 o C2
If there is some medium between the charges, then force is given by
1 q1 q2
Fm = ,
4 r 2
where is the electrical permittivity of the medium.
Dielectric constant:
m F
for a medium m dielectric constant is defined as k , k is also equal to k o .
o Fm
Force acting on a charge q placed in an electric field of intensity E is qE. This force is in
the direction of field if charge is positive and in the opposite direction if charge is negative.
1 q
Electric field at a distance r due to a charge q is E .
4 o r 2
Dipole moment = either charge x distance between the charges,
p = q 2a ,
here 2a is the distance between the charges.
Electric field at any point at a distance r on axial line of an electric dipole
1 2pr
is given by E ,
4 o (r a 2 )2
2
1 2p
for short dipole this formula reduces to E .
4 o r 3
, Electric field at any point at a distance r on equatorial line of an electric dipole is given
1 p
by E ,
4 o
3
(r a )
2 2 2
1 p
for short dipole this formula reduces to E .
4 o r 3
Torque acting on an electric dipole placed in an electric field is given by
pE sin .
Electric potential energy of a dipole in a uniform electric field is given by
U pE (cos2 cos1 ) .
Electric flux through an area is given by
φE =EAcosθ ,
where is the angle between area vector and electric field vector.
Gauss theorem. Electric flux through a closed surface containing a charge q is given by
q
φE .
o
Electric field intensity at a perpendicular distance r due to a line charge is given by
E ,
2 o r
here is the linear charge density.
Electric field at a distance r due to charged spherical shell containing a charge q is
1 q
given by E .
4 o r 2
1 q
At the surface of the shell field is E ,
4 o R 2
where R is the radius of the shell.
Electric field intensity inside a hollow metallic conductor is zero.
Electric field intensity at a point around a charged sheet is E ,
o
where is the surface charge density of the sheet
, ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
POTENTIAL BASICS
If a charge qo is brought from infinity to a point in the field of another charge q and the
W
amount of work done is W, then potential at point A is V .
qo
When a charge q is taken from a point A to B in an electric field and work done is W, then
W
potential difference between A and B is VAB VB VA .
q
1 q
Potential at a distance r due to a point charge q is V .
4πε o r
ELECTRIC DIPOLE
At a point around electric dipole of dipole moment p, potential at
p
o Axial line is
4πε or 2
o Equatorial line is 0
p cos θ
o At any other point is , where r is the distance of point from centre of dipole
4πε or 2
of and θ is the angle between the dipole axis and line joining the centre of dipole
and point.
dV
Potential gradient: E .
dr
V Edr cos θ
POTENTIAL ENERGY
Potential energy of a system of charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance r is
1 q1 q2
U .
4πε o r
1 q1 q2
Potential energy is external electric field is U q1V1 q2 V2
4πε o r
EQUIPOTENIAL SURFACE