ELECTROSTATICS

Frictional Electricity:
Column I (+ve Charge) Column II (-ve Charge)
Glass Silk
Wool, Flannel Amber, Ebonite, Rubber, Plastic
Ebonite Polythene
Dry hair Comb

Coulomb’s Law:
q1 q2
F=k
r2
1
In vacuum, k = 4πε
0
1
In medium, k = where ε is the absolute electric permittivity of the
4πε dielectric medium
The dielectric constant or relative permittivity or specific inductive capacity or
dielectric coefficient is given by
e
K = εr =
ε0

1 q1 q2
In vacuum, F = 4πε
0 r2

1 q1 q2
In medium, F =
4πε0εr r2

ε0 = 8.8542 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2

1 1
= 8.9875 x 109 N m2 C-2 or = 9 x 109 N m2 C-2
4πε0 4πε0
Coulomb’s Law in Vector Form:
+ q1 r12 + q2
In vacuum, for q1 q2 > 0,
F12 r F21
1 q1 q2
F12 = r21
4πε0 r2 q1q2 > 0

1 q1 q2
F21 = r12 - q1 - q2
4πε0 r2 r12

F12 r F21

q1q2 > 0

In vacuum, for q1 q2 < 0,

+ q1 r12 - q2
1 q1 q2 1 q1 q2
F12 = r12 & F = r21 F12 F21
4πε0 r2 21 4πε0 r2
r
F12 = - F21 (in all the cases) q1q2 < 0

1 q1 q2 1 q1 q2
F12 = r12 & F21 = r21
4πε0 r3 4πε0 r3
Note: The cube term of the distance is simply because of vector form.

Otherwise the law is ‘Inverse Square Law’ only.

Dielectric Constant or Relative Permittivity:
ε
K = εr =
ε0
Fv
K = εr =
Fm
Linear Charge Density:

dq
λ=
dl
Surface Charge Density:

dq
σ=
dS
Volume Charge Density:

dq
ρ=
d‫ז‬

Electric Field:

+q + q0 -q + q0

F F

q – Source charge, q0 – Test charge, F – Force & E - Field

F 1 q
Lt F or E= r
E= or E= 4πε0 r2
∆q → 0 ∆q q0

Density of electric lines of force:

∆N α E
∆A
Electric field due to a point charge:
1 q
E (r) = r
4πε0 r2

F
+ q0

r P (x,y,z)

+q
O X

0 r2
Electric Field in terms of co-ordinates:

1 q
E (r) = ( x i + y j +zk )
4πε0 ( x2 + y2 + z2 ) 3/2

Superposition Principle:

F14

- q5
+ q1
+ q2
F15

F12
F13
+ q4 - q3

F12
F1
F15
F13
F14

F1 = F12 + F13 + F14 + F15

 N
1 ra - rb
Fa (ra) = ∑ qa q b
4πε0 b=1 │ra - rb │3
b≠a

Dipole and its Moment:

p
p = (q x 2l) l
-q +q
2l

Electric Field due to a dipole:

i) At a point on the axial line:
 EP = E B - E A
A B EA EB
O +q P
-q p
l l x

1 2px
│EP │ =
4πε0 (x2 – l2)2

1 2px
EP = i
4πε0
(x2 – l2)2

2p
EP ≈
If l << x, then 4πε0 x3

The direction of electric field intensity at a point

on the axial line due to a dipole is always along
the direction of the dipole moment.

ii) At a point on the equatorial line:

 EB
EB EB sin θ
θ
EQ Q EB cos θ θ
θ Q
EQ
EA EA cos θ θ
y EA sin θ
EA
A θ θ B
O +q
-q p
l l

1 p
EQ =
4πε0 ( x2 + l2 )3/2

If l << y, then
p
EQ ≈
4πε0 y3

The direction of electric field intensity at a point on the equatorial line

due to a dipole is parallel and opposite to the direction of the dipole
moment.

If the observation point is far away or when the dipole is very short,
then the electric field intensity at a point on the axial line is double the
electric field intensity at a point on the equatorial line.

i.e. If l << x and l << y, then EP = 2 EQ

Torque:
 p
t = pxE
θ
E

Case i: If θ = 0°, then t = 0.

Case ii: If θ = 90°, then t = pE

(maximum value).
Case iii: If θ = 180°, then t = 0.

Work done on a dipole:

W = p E (cosθ1 - cos θ2)

Potential Energy U = - p E cos θ

Note: Potential Energy can be taken zero arbitrarily at any position of

the dipole.

Case i: If θ = 0°, then U = - pE (Stable Equilibrium)

Case ii: If θ = 90°, then U = 0
Case iii: If θ = 180°, then U = pE (Unstable Equilibrium)

Work done:
 B
1 1
WAB = dW = - E . dl =
qq0
4πε0 [r
B
-
rA
]
A

Work done by electric field in a closed loop is zero.

B

E . dl = 0
A

Electric Potential:

WAB 1 1
q0 =
q
4πε0 [r B
-
rA
]
W∞B q W∞B
= =V V=
_q0 4πε0 r _q0

Electric Potential Difference:

WAB
VB - VA = ∆V = q
0

Electric Potential due to a single point charge:

 E dx +q q0E
0
B Q P ∞
+q
r
x

q
V =
4πε0 r

Electric Potential due to group of point charges:

q1 1 n qi
V=
4πε0
∑
r1 i=1 ri
qn q2
+1 C r2
rn
P
r4 r3

q4 q3

1 n qi ( in terms of position
V=
4πε0
∑ vector )
i=1 │r - r │
i

Electric Potential due to an Electric Dipole:

i) At a point on the axial line:
 A B +1 C
O +q P
-q p

l l
x

1 p
VP =
4πε0
(x2 – l2)

ii) At a point on the equatorial line:

Q VQ = 0

y
A θ θ B
O +q
-q p

l l

Electrostatic Potential Energy:

i) Electrostatic Potential Energy
Y
of a Two Charges System:
A (q1)
1 q1q2 r2 - r1
U = │r - r r1
4πε0 B (q2)
│ 2 1
r2
or
O X
1 q1q2
U=
4πε0 r12 Z

ii) Electrostatic Potential Energy Y

of a Three Charges System: C (q3)
r3 - r 1
A (q1)
1 q1q2 1 q1q3 r3 - r2
U= + r1 r2 - r 1
4πε0 │ r2 - r1 │ 4πε0 │ r3 - r1 │ r3 B (q2)
r2
1 q2q3
+ O X
4πε0 │ r3 - r2 │
Z

q1q2 q1q3 q2q3

or U=
1
4πε0 [ r12
+
r31
+
r32 ]
iii) Electrostatic Potential Energy of an n - Charges System:

U=
1
2
[ 1
4πε0
n
∑ ∑
i=1
n

j=1
qi qj

│ rj - ri │
]
i≠j

Electric Flux:
 dΦ = E . dS = E dS cos θ

Φ= E . dS = E S cos θ = E . S
S

Special Cases:

For 0° < θ < 90°, Φ is positive.

For θ = 90°, Φ is zero.
For 90° < θ < 180°, Φ is negative.

Solid Angle:

dS cos θ θ n
dΩ = dS
r2
r
dS cos θ
Ω = dΩ = = 4π steradian dΩ
2
r
S S

Gauss’s Theorem:
1 n
ΦE = E . dS = ε0
∑ qi
i=1
S

1. Electric Field Intensity due to an Infinitely Long Straight Charged

Wire:
 1 λ
E = 2 πε
0 r

1 2λ
E=
4 πε0 r
1 2λ
In vector form, E (r) = r
4 πε0 r

The direction of the electric field intensity is radially outward from the
positive line charge. For negative line charge, it will be radially
inward.

Note:
The electric field intensity is independent of the size of the Gaussian
surface constructed. It depends only on the distance of point of
consideration. i.e. the Gaussian surface should contain the point of
consideration.

2. Electric Field Intensity due to an Infinitely Long, Thin Plane Sheet

of Charge:

σ σ
E= In vector form, E (l) = l
2 ε0 2 ε0
=

The direction of the electric field intensity is normal to the plane and
away from the positive charge distribution. For negative charge
distribution, it will be towards the plane.

Note:
The electric field intensity is independent of the size of the Gaussian
surface constructed. It neither depends on the distance of point of
consideration nor the radius of the cylindrical surface.
If the plane sheet is thick, then the charge distribution will be
available on both the sides. So, the charge enclosed within the
Gaussian surface will be twice as before. Therefore, the field will be
twice.
 σ
E=
ε0

3. Electric Field Intensity due to a Uniformed Charged This Spherical

Shell:

i) At a point P outside the shell:

q Electric field due to a uniformly charged

E= thin spherical shell at a point outside the
4πε0 r2 shell is such as if the whole charge were
concentrated at the centre of the shell.

σ R2
E=
ε0 r2

ii) At a point A on the surface of the shell:

q
E=
4πε0 R2

Electric field due to a uniformly charged

σ thin spherical shell at a point on the
E= surface of the shell is maximum.
ε0

iii) At a point B inside the shell: E=0

This property E = 0 inside a cavity is used for electrostatic shielding.

Electric Field Intensity due to a Uniformed Charged This Spherical

Shell:
 E

Emax

O
R r

Electrical Capacitance:
q
C=
V
Capacitance of an Isolated Spherical Conductor:

C = 4πε0 r

Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor:

A ε0
C=
d

(with dielectric medium)

A ε0 εr
C=
d

Series Combination of Capacitors:

 C1 C2 C3
q q q

V1 V2 V3

V
1 1 1 1
= + +
C C1 C2 C3

Parallel Combination of Capacitors:

C = C1 + C2 + C3 C1
V q1

C2
V q2

C3
V q3

Energy Stored in a Capacitor:

 q
q 1 q2 1 1
U= dq or U= or U= C V2 or U = qV
C 2 C 2 2
0

Energy Density:
1 A ε0
U= CV 2
But C= and V=Ed
2 d
1 U 1 1
U= ε0 Ad E2 or = ε0 E2 or U = ε0 E2
2 Ad 2 2

Loss of Energy on Sharing of Charges between the Capacitors in

Parallel:
Total charge after sharing = Total charge before sharing
(C1 + C2) V = C1 V1 + C2 V2

C1 V 1 + C 2 V 2
V=
C1 + C 2
The total energy before sharing is

1 2
1
Ui = C1 V 1 + C2 V22
2 2
The total energy after sharing is

1
Uf = (C1 + C2) V2
2

C1 C2 (V1 – V2)2
Ui– Uf =
2 (C1 + C2)

Ui – Uf > 0 or Ui > Uf

Therefore, there is some loss of energy when two charged capacitors

are connected together.
The loss of energy appears as heat and the wire connecting the two
capacitors may become hot.

Polarization of Dielectrics:
The dielectric constant is given by
 E0
K=
E0 - E p
Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor with Dielectric Slab:

C0
C=
[1 – t
d
(1 - t
) ]
K

C > C0. i.e. Capacitance increases with introduction of dielectric slab.

Dielectric Constant:

C
K=
C0

WITH DIELECTRIC SLAB

Physcial Quantity With Battery With Battery
disconnected connected
Charge Remains the same Increases (K C0 V0)

Capacitance Increases (K C0) Increases (K C0)

Electric Field Decreases Remains the same

EN = E0 – E p
Potential Difference Decreases Remains the same

Energy stored Remains the same Increases (K U0)

Van de Graaff Generator:
S

P2

C2
S – Large Copper sphere D
C1, C2 – Combs with sharp points
P1, P2 – Pulleys to run belt
HVR – High Voltage Rectifier
M – Motor T
IS – Insulating Stand C1 I S
D – Gas Discharge Tube
T - Target
HVR
P1
M

KEY POINTS:

Action of points in comb C1

Ionization of air
Corona discharge
Electric wind

Induction of charges in comb C2

Hollow sphere capable of storing charges irrespective of its higher
potential
Neutralisation of charges at comb C2

Conveyor belt carrying the charges upward but coming down neutral;
hence conservation of charges

High potential on the Sphere accelerates the charges (ions) in the

target tube