ELECTROSTATIC FIELDS

CHAPTER 4

Topics:

Introduction Coulombs laws and Field Intensity Electric Flux Density Gausss Law Electric Potential

Introduction

1)

2)
3)

4)

An electrostatic field is produced by a static charge distribution. Applications of electrostatics fields: X-ray machines Lightning protector Solid state electronics (capacitors and resistors) Active devices (bipolar, field effect transistors).

Introduction(cont)
1) 2)

There are two fundamentals law governing electrostatics fields: Coulombs law Gausss law Coulombs law is applicable in finding the electric field due to any charge distribution Gausss law applicable in finding the electric field when charge distribution is symmetrical. Throughout our discussion in this chapter, we will assume that the electric field is in vacuum or free space.

Electrostatic (Static Electric Fields)

Objective of Electrostatic field is to evaluate and understand the properties of Electrostatic field due to several scenarios of charges distribution. The properties of Electrostatic Field are as follows: i.Electrostatic Force, F ii.Electric Field Intensity/Strength, E iii.Electric Flux Density, D iv.Electric Flux, v.Electric Scalar Potential, V

Electrostatic (Static Electric Fields)

Once the understanding of properties is established, then the application of electrostatic is discussed in Capacitance. To gain more understanding of capacitance, properties of material will be reviewed. (Dielectric, Conductance, Resistance)

Coulombs law

The objective of Coulombs Law is to determine the Force, exerted by one charge on another charge. Eventually, from the equation of Force, we can determine the other properties of Electric field, such as E, D and . Coulombs Law stated that the Force between two charges is equal to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square distance and along the direction joining them.

Coulombs law and Field Intensity

Deals with the force a point charge exerts on another point charge. Point charge means a charge that is located on a body whose dimensions are much smaller than other relevant dimensions. The polarity of charges maybe positive or negative. Like charges repel each other Unlike charge attract each other. Charges generally measured in Coulombs (C).

Coulombs Law

i. ii.

iii.

Coulombs law state that the force F between two point charges Q1 and Q2 is: Along the line joining them Directly proportional to the product Q1Q2 of the charges Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R between them.

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Coulombs Law(Cont)

Electric Field Intensity

The electric field intensity ( or electric field strength) E is the force per unit charge when placed in an electric field. Thus E = lim F Q 0 Q Or simply E= F Q Electric field intensity measured in Newton per Coulomb or volts per meter. For Q>0, the electric field intensity E is obviously in the direction of the force F.

Electric Field Intensity

Cont

Electric Fields due to Continuous Charge Distributions.

So far, we have considered only the forces and electric fields due to point charges (charges occupying very small space). It is possible to have continuous charge distribution along a line, on a surface, or in a volume.

Various charge distributions and charge elements.

Charge element dQ and total charge Q.

If the charge, Q, is distributed over a line of length l, , it is then will create charge density over the whole line, and said to have line charge density of L. If, then it is required to find the total charge from the line charge density, reverse math should be done. Total charge now is an integral of line charge density over the entire length.l

Charge density

It is customary to denote: Line charge density by L, unit in C/m Surface charge density by s, unit in C/m2 Volume charge density by v, unit in C/m3

Charge element dQ and total charge Q.

The charge element dQ and the total charge Q due to these charge distributions, obtained from figure as, dQ = L dl Q = L dl -------- line charge dQ = s dS Q = S dS -------- surface charge dQ = v dv Q = v dv -------- volume charge

Cont

The electric field intensity due to each of the charge distributions L, s, v regarded as the summation of the field contributed by the numerous point charges making up the charge distributions. From previous equation; E= Q aR 4 0 R2 By replacing Q with charge element dQ and integrating, get;

Electric Field Intensity

A) Line charge

Consider a finite line charge AB placed on z axis, as shown in figure. The density of the line charge is L (C/m). If dl is the element (small portion) of the line AB, the total charge carried by dl is dq Where dq = L . dl

A) Line charge(cont)

Hence, the total charge carried by the line charge AB is q, where

Electric field intensity;

Example: Line Charge

A circular ring of radius a carries a uniform charge L C/m and is placed on the xy plane with axis the same as the z-axis. Show that. E (o,o,h) = L ah 2o [h2 + a2]3/2

B) Surface charge

Consider a finite surface charge of density s, placed in xy plane. ds is an element of S, carrying a total charge of dq, where dq = sds. Note that ds= dd The element of charge dq, carried by dS creates an element of electric field dE at the point of observation P located at (0,0,h).

B) Surface charge(cont)

From the expression,

The electric field can be defined at point P

B) Surface charge(cont)

B) Surface charge(cont)
Remarks: For an infinite surface charge, due to the symmetry of the distributions, for each dE1, there is dE2, hence the component along of the vector sum of dE1 and dE2 will vanish. The resultant vector E has only z component.

Example : Surface charge

The finite sheet 0x1, 0y1 on z=0 plane has a charge density , Find: a) The total charge on the sheet b) The electric field at (0,0,5) c) The force experienced by a -1mC charge located at (0,0,5).

s = xy(x2 + y2 + 25)3/2

Electric Flux Density, D

A new vector field D independent of medium is defined by; D = 0.E In SI units, one line of electric flux emanates from +1C and terminates on -1C. Therefore, the electric flux is measured in coulombs Hence, the vector field D is called the Electric flux density and Measured in coulombs per square meter. The electric flux density is also called electric displacement.

Electric Flux Density, D

Electric flux in terms of D is, = D.ds By definition, electric flux originates on positive charge and terminates on negative charge. In the absence of negative charge, the flux terminates at infinity.

Example Determine D at (4,0,3) if there is a point charge -5mC at (4,0,0) and a line charge Of 3mC/m which lies along the y-axis.

Electric Potential (Maxwells Equation)

1) 2)

There are two methods to obtain Electric field intensity E, which are; Due to a charge distributions from Coulombs law When the charge distribution is symmetric. Another way of obtaining the electric field intensity E is from the electric scalar potential, V This way of finding E is easier, because it easier to handle scalars than vectors. Consider a point charge Q in an electric field. Suppose we wish to move a point charge Q from point A to point B in an electric field E as shown in figure. From Coulombs law, the force on Q is F = QE

Figure : displacement of point charge Q in an electrostatics field E.

Electric Potential (Maxwells Equation)

Thus, the work done in displacing the charge Q by dl is; dW = -F.dl = -QE.dl Negative sign indicates that the work is being done by an external agent.

Electric Potential (Maxwells Equation)

Thus, the total work done, or the potential energy required, in moving Q from A to B is;

Dividing W by Q in previous equation gives the potential energy per unit charge, denoted by VAB VAB is known as the potential difference between points A and B. Thus;

Electric Potential(cont)

If the E field is due to a point charge Q located at the origin, then E= Q aR 4 0 R2 So, equation for potential difference becomes;

Electric Potential(cont)

Where VB and VA are the potentials at A and B respectively. Thus, the potential difference maybe regarded as the potential at B with reference to A. It is customary to choose infinity as reference, assume the potential at infinity is zero.

Electric Potential(cont)

Thus, the potential at point P due to a point charge Q is given by;

Where r is the distance between P and Q, the infinity is taken as a reference.

Electric Potential(cont)

For an electric fields due to n point charges(q1,q2qn) located at points with position vectors r1,r2..rn, the potential V created at point P is;

Electric Potential(cont)

For continuous charge distributions

Electric Potential(cont)

For continuous charge distributions V= 1 L.dl due to line charge 40 r V= 1 s.ds due to surface charge 40 r V= 1 v.dv due to volume charge 40 r Where L, s, v is density of charge r is distance between the source (dl,ds,dv) and the observation point.

Electric Potential(cont)

Electric Potential(cont)

Electric Potential(cont)

Example
2 point charges -4C & 5C are located at (2,-1,3) & (0,4,-2) respectively. Find the potential at (1,0,1) assuming zero potential is infinity.

Exercise
If point charge 3C is located at origin in addition to the 2 charges of the example above, find the potential at (-1,5,2) assuming V() = 0. Ans : 10.23kV

Example
Given the potential V=10/r2 (sin cos ) a) Find the electric flux density D at (2,/2,0) b) Calculate the work done in moving a 10C charge from point A(1,30,120) to B(4,90,60)

GAUSSS LAW

GAUSSS LAW MAXWELLS EQUATION

Gausss law constitutes one of the fundamental laws of electromagnetism Gausss Law states that the total electric flux through any closed surface is equal to the total charge enclosed by that surface. = Qenc

Gausss Law(Cont)

The total charge enclosed in a closed surface (bounding a volume v, is: Qenc = vdv Thus, = Qenc = D.ds = vdv Applying Divergence theorem when D.ds = ( .D) dv Hence, .D = v 1st Maxwells equation.

GAUSSS LAW

The objective of Coulombs Law is to determine the Electric Flux Density, exerted by one form of charge on a specific observation point. Hence, other properties can be obtained. There are some rules in order for one to use this Gausss Law. The form of charge should be symmetry The charge should be in the form of infinity

Gausss Law stated that the total flux coming out form any closed surface is equal to the total charge enclosed by that surface.

GAUSSS LAW
Definition of each symbol

= closed surface integral = Electric flux density = Differential surface of the closed surface Qenc = total charge enclosed

Applications of Gausss Law

The procedure for applying Gausss Law to calculate the electric field involves: First knowing whether symmetry exits. Then, constructs a mathematical closed surface, known as Gaussian surface The surface is chosen such that D is normal or tangential to the Gaussian surface.

Applications of Gausss Law

Gausss Law Application tips 1. Think about the symmetry of the problem. 2. Think what the direction of E should be. 3. Think about the enclosing surface which you can use to calculate the flux (the surface preferably should be perpendicular to E) 4. Notice, this surface must go through the point you want to find electric field in. 5. Calculate the amount of charge enclosed by this surface. 6. Use Gausss law to find the electric field

Applications of Gausss Law

A)

Point Charge Suppose a point charge Q is located at the origin. To determine D at point P, choosing a spherical surface containing P will satisfy symmetry conditions Thus, a spherical surface centered at the origin is the Gaussian surface

Gaussian surface about a point charge.

Point Charge(cont)

Consider a point charge Q placed at the origin. Due to the symmetry, the flux density D is along ar, where D = Dr.ar D is the magnitude of D, depending on the distance between the observation point and the source of the point charge). The magnitude D depends only on the coordinate r of the spherical coordinate system.

Point Charge(cont)

Point Charge(cont)

B)Infinite Line Charge

B) Infinite Line charge Suppose the infinite line of uniform charge L C/m lies along the z-axis. To determine D at point P, choose a cylindrical surface containing P to satisfy the symmetry condition, as shown in figure. The electric flux density D is constant on and normal to the cylindrical Gaussian surface

Gaussian surface about an infinite line charge.

B)Infinite Line Charge(cont)

Due to the symmetry, the flux density D is along u D = D.u D depends only on the distance between the observation point and the source (line charge) The magnitude D depends only on the coordinates of the cylindrical coordinates system.

B)Infinite Line Charge(cont)

Remarks: Note that D.ds on the top and bottom surfaces are zero, since D has no z-component, that means D is tangential to those surfaces.

B)Infinite Line Charge(cont)

C) Infinite sheet of charge

C) Infinite sheet of charge Consider an infinite sheet of uniform charge s C/m2 lying on the z=0 plane. To determine D at point P, choose a rectangular box that is cut symmetrically by the sheet of charge and has two of its faces parallel to the sheet as shown in figure. D is normal to the sheet, with D = Dzaz

Gaussian surface about an infinite sheet of charge.

C) Infinite sheet of charge(cont)

Applying Gausss law gives;

Notes that D.ds evaluated on the sides of the box is zero because D has no components along ax and ay. If the top and bottom area of the box, each has area A, so equation become;

Thus,

D)Uniformly Charged Sphere

D) Uniformly charged sphere. Consider a sphere of radius a with a uniform charge 0 C/m3 To determine D everywhere, construct Gaussian surfaces for case ra and ra separately. Since the charge has spherical symmetry, it is obvious that a spherical surface is an appropriate Gaussian surface.

Gaussian surface for a uniformly charged sphere when

(a) ra and (b) ra

D)Uniformly Charged Sphere(cont)

For ra, the total charged enclosed by the spherical surface of radius r, as shown in figure is;

D)Uniformly Charged Sphere(cont)

For ra, the Gaussian surface as shown in figure (b). The charged enclosed by the surface is the entire charge, that is;

D)Uniformly Charged Sphere(cont)

Hence,

Thus, D everywhere is given by

[D] is sketched in figure as shown below;

Example:
Given that D = z cos2 az C/m2, calculate the charge density at (1,/4,3) and the total charge enclosed by the cylinder of radius 1m with -2z2m.