Electric Fields

(again)

For next time:

Read: Section 16.6
Homework: Chap 16: P14, P28, P30
The electric field

Field at q’s

F = qE location due to
other charges at
other locations
Force on q due The charge that is (source charges)
to the field, E, feeling the force
at q’s location (test charge)
 The direction of E

HO
What is the direction of the electric field at x?

W
BIG
E

?
What is the direction of the electric field at x?

E
Coulomb’s Law
k qs
E=
r 2
qs E
r

k = 9 x 109 Nm2/C2
Coulomb’s Law
k qs
E =
r 2
qs E
r

k = 9 x 109 Nm2/C2
Two point charges +Q and -Q are fixed in place a
distance 2d apart as shown. What direction is the
electric field at the midpoint between the charges?
+Q d d -Q

Student 2: “The electric field is given by E=kqs/r2 so

if I do the calculation I get:
Enet = k(+Q)/d2 + k(-Q)/d2 = 0
So, the electric field is zero and has no direction.”
Two identical positive charges, A and B, are
arranged as shown. The distance from point C to A
is twice the distance from point C to B. Which of
the following best represents the electric field at
point C?
a d
A
b

c e

B C
Two identical positive charges, A and B, are
arranged as shown. The distance from point C to A
is twice the distance from point C to B. Which of
the following best represents the electric field at
point C?
a d
A
b

c e

B C
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

Does 9x5=45?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

What if all the charge

were moved to the
bottom?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
Distributed Charge:
or what if charge were peanut butter?

+Q/9 +Q/9

+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q
+Q/9 +Q/9
+Q/9 +Q/9 +Q/9
What is the electric field in
the middle of the circle?