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1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

Coulombs Law

A. The Basic (Inductive) Approach for the Study of E&M


Slides

B. Early Experiments in Electricity


Demo ES-1

Pith Balls

C. Discussion & Derivation (Vector form of Coulombs Law)

Lecture #1

1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

Lecture #1

A. The Basic (Inductive) Approach for the Study of E&M


At the heart of E&M are four fundamental equations, just as Newtons laws of
motion and the law of universal gravity form the heart of Mechanics. However,
the four basic equations of E&M were not formulated by Newton. Instead they
were formulated by James Maxwell in the second half of the 19th century,
following centuries of experimentation by numerous people that culminated in
Michael Faradays experiments on induction and the publication of his
Experimental Researches in Electricity (1839 & 1844).
In our study of E&M, we could adopt a deductive approach, as we did in Physics
135-1, where we started with Newtons Laws and derived everything from those
laws:
Physics 135-1 (Mechanics)
Newtons Laws:
F = ma etc.

(Deductive Reasoning)

Behavior of Mechanical Systems:


Linear Dynamics
Rotational Dynamics
etc.

1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

Lecture #1

However, the deductive approach would not be very fruitful in our study of
E&M because Maxwells eqs. are not very simple; theyre involved mathematically - and include lots of integrals and vector notation. So if I were
to write them on the board right now, they would not mean much to you. Youll
get a much better feel for the physics involved, if we take an inductive
approach instead, and start with the experimental results and gradually develop
the mathematics.
Physics 135-2 (Electricity & Magnetism):

Maxwells Four Equations

(Inductive Reasoning - ground up)

Experimental Results:
-

Coulomb - charges attract/repel


Oersted - currents create magnetic fields
Ampere - wires attract each other magnetically
Faraday - time-changing magnetic field induces current

1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

B. Early Experiments in Electricity

Lecture #1

1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

Lecture #1

1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

Lecture #1

If, on the other hand, q1 and q2 have opposite signs, so that one is positively
charged and the other is negatively charged, then they will attract each other.
This allows us to understand how a negatively charged plastic rod can pick up
small pieces of paper in a common physics demonstration.
DEMO

: A plastic rod attracts and picks up small pieces of paper. The plastic

rod is first rubbed with fur, a process that deposited electrons on the rod and
therefore leaves the rod negatively charged. The pieces of paper, however, are
electrically neutral, which is puzzling, since neutral objects shouldnt experience
an electrical force.
Explanation:
Charged objects attract neutral objects by induction. Molecules within the
paper become distorted, i.e. develop a dipole moment. The positive charge in
the molecules is drawn slightly
closer to the negatively charged
plastic rod and the negative charge
in the molecules is pushed slightly
farther away from the rod. The
piece of paper remains electrically
neutral, and the bulk of the paper
develops no net charge density.
The only effect is at the edges of
the paper; the side nearest the
rod develops a positive surface
charge and the side farthest from the rod develops a negative surface charge.
The force of attraction on the near side is larger than the force of repulsion on
the far side - due to the r-2 dependence of the coulomb force.
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1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

C. Discussion

Lecture #1

1/03/2017

Coulombs Law

Lecture #1

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