Electrostatics

Forces Between Charged Particles The electrostatic force between two charged particles is dependent on 1) the amount of charge on each particle: e 1 , 2 2) the distance between the charges: 1 e 2 Coulombs Law 1 2 2 where

e =

e is the electrostatic force (measured in Newtons, N) is Coulomb's constant = 9.0 109 Nm2 /C2 1 and 2 are charges on particles 1 and 2, respectively* (measured in Coulombs, C) is the distance between particles 1 and 2 (measured in metres, m) *An electron has a charge of 1.6 1019 C. We can determine the direction of the force by remembering that 1) LIKE charges REPEL e = Note: 2) UNLIKE charges ATTRACT 1 |1 ||2 | is used in some higher level textbooks, 40 2

where 0 is the permittivity of free space = 8.85 1012 C2 /Nm2 Question 1: Calculate the electrostatic force which a) 1 acts on 2 b) 2 acts on 1 c) If the positively charged particle was fired and the negatively charged particle has a mass of 1.68 105 kg, calculate the acceleration of the negatively charged particle. Solution First, let us calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting between 1 and 2 : e | = | |1 ||2 | (9.0 109 Nm2 /C 2 )|1 106 C||2 106 C| = = 7.2 N (0.05 m)2 2

12 = 7.2 N right 21 = 7.2 N left b) a) Note the application of Newtons Third Law: 21 and 12 are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. Since the particles are moving toward each other, this is a case of electrostatic attraction.

c) By Newtons Second Law, = = 7.2 N = = 4.3 105 m/s2 1.68 105 kg (ie. 4.3 105 m/s 2 left)

Question 2: Determine where the electron would experience a net force of zero (ie. equilibrium position).

= 1 + 2 = 0

1 | = | 2 | (ie. 1 and 2 have the same magnitude) |

Let be the distance of the electron from the 2 C-particle and 4 the distance from the 3 C-particle. (9.0 109 Nm2 /C2 )(2 106 C)(1.6 1019 C) (9.0 109 Nm2 /C2 )(3 106 C)(1.6 1019 C) = (4 )2 2 (2 106 C) (3 106 C) = (2 106 C)(4 )2 = (3 106 C) 2 (4 )2 2 Let us drop the units for now and multiply everything by 106 , just to make our computations easier (this does not change the value of the equation). (2)(4 )2 = (2)(16 8 + 2 ) = 32 16 + 2 2 = 3 2 2 + 16 32 = 0 this is not factorable, so we use the Quadratic Formula = 16 162 4(1)(32) = 1.8 cm and 17.8 cm 2(1)

We reject the negative solution because it does not make sense in the real world. Thus, the electron experiences a net force of zero 1.8 cm right of the 2 C-particle, or 2.2 cm left of the 3 C-particle. Electric Field Lines Every charge has an electric field around it which exerts forces on the surrounding charges. We use a small positive test charge (0 in the pictures on the next page) to determine the direction of the field. A test charge is so small that it does not significantly alter the electric field being measured. , acting upon a particle placed in the electric field is given by The electric field strength, = is measured in N/C, and is the charge of the particle. where

Fixed Charge

Fixed Charge

The further apart the field lines, the weaker the field strength. As a result, we would expect the field strength to increase as we move closer to the charge. On a side note, compare the electric field strength with the gravitational field strength for an object of mass inside a gravitational field: G = = 2 = 2 where is measured in N/kg.

is the force per unit charge, while Note how each is defined: is the force per unit mass. Electric Field due to a Single Point Charge The electric field strength around a single, specific point charge is given by 2 = = = 2 is measured. where is the distance from the point charge to where

Electric Field around Multiple Fixed Charges

Field lines never intersect. In a uniform electric field, the field lines are parallel and equally spaced. The electric field strength, the electrostatic force, and the acceleration are all constant, which means that we can use the equations of motion to solve problems in this field. Charged Parallel Plates

Example 1: Where would I place an electron in the charge set up below so that it would remain in equilibrium? (Draw a free body diagram of the electron) Assume 1 and 2 are fixed charges here.

=0 At equilibrium,

2 | = | 1 | |

2 1 2 1 2 106 C 1 106 C = | | | = | | = | | | | | | (1 + 0.05 m)2 (1 + 0.05 m)2 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Drop the units and cross-multiply: (2 106 )1 2 = (1 106 )(1 + 0.05)2

Simplify: 21 2 = (1 + 0.05)2 = 1 2 + 0.11 + 0.0025 1 2 0.11 0.0025 = 0 Use the quadratic formula: 1 = (0.1) (0.1)2 4(1)(0.0025) = 0.12, 0.021 2(1)

We reject the negative solution because it does not make sense in real life applications. Therefore, you should place the electron about 12 cm from the positive particle and 17 cm from the negative particle. Example 2: An electron is placed within a pair of opposing charged plates. Given that the uniform electric field between the plates is 50 N/C, calculate a) the acceleration of the electron (magnitude and direction). = = = (50 N/C)(1.6 1019 C) = = 8.8 1012 m/s 2 toward the positive plate 9.11 1031 kg

b) the time it takes for the electron to move from one plate to the other if the plates are 1.0 cm apart and the electron starts from rest. 1 2 1 2 = i + = 2 2 = 2 2(0.010 cm) = = 4.8 108 s 8.8 1012 m/s 2