Prepared by,

Nandini Rao G

Introduction to vectors
Vector analysis is a mathematical shorthand.
Vector approach provides better insight into various aspects of

Electromagnetic phenomenon.
Any physical quantity can either be a scalar or vector quantity.
A scalar refers to a quantity whose value may be represented by a single

real number i.e. scalar quantity has only magnitude.

Eg:mass,density, pressure.
A vector quantity has both magnitude and a direction in space.
Eg:Force, velocity , acceleration.

A field can be mathematically defined as some function of the vector which

connects an arbitrary origin to general point in space.

Vector algebra:
Vector addition follows the parallelogram law, accomplished graphically.

If A,B, C are vectors and m is a scalar,

A+B=B+A

; Vectors obeys commutative law

A+(B+C)=(A+B)+C; Obeys associative law.

A-B= A+(-B);
m*A=mA, a vector;
m(A+B)=mA+mB;

Coplanar vectors are those vectors which lie in a common plane.

 A vector is represented by a directed line segment.

Let the coordinates of A and B be (x1,y1,z1) and (x2,y2,z2).The distance R

between these two coordinates will be R=

A unit vector is the one with unity magnitude.
A vector A is described as A=Aa+Ayay+Azaz.

THE CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM

In order to describe a vector accurately some specific lengths , directions,

angles, projections or components must be given.A simple method of doing

this is by Rectangular or Cartesian coordinate system.

y=0 plane

x = 0 plane
origin
z = 0 plane

Fig:A right-handed cartesian coordinate system where three coordinate axes

are mutually perpendicular to each other.

 Dot product: Given two vectors A and B and be the angle between them ,

then dot product or scalar product of two vectors is given by

A.B=|A||B|cos
Consider any two vectors whose cartesian components are given by
A=Axax+Ayay+Azaz and B=Bxbx+Byby+Bzbz
Dot product of A and B is given by

.5

A.B=AxBx+AyBy+AzBz

Cross product: Cross product between two vectors is given by

AxB=aN |A||B|sin ; where aN is the unit vector normal to the plane of A and B.
Cross product of two vectors A and B as in (5)is given by
AxB=

The cylindrical coordinate system

The 3 coordinates at a point P are r, and z
The unit vectors are

ar point outward from the origin along r in xy

plane.
a points along the tangent to the circle of radius

Fig:Cylindrical coordinates.

r in x-y plane.
az points along z-axis in the positive direction.
Volume of differential element is dv=r dr d dz.
Relation between rectangular and cylindrical coordinate parameters is given

by,

Spherical coordinate system

The unit vectors are
.

point outwards from origin along r.

is same as seen in cylindrical coordinate

system.

points along tangent to a circle of radius r,

in the increasing direction of .
Fig:Spherical coordinate system

Volume of differential element is

Relationship between rectangular and spherical coordinate system

parameters is given by,

Note:
We have

If V is a scalar
If A is a vector , divergence of A is given by

div A=

If A is a vector ,

Coulombs law and Electric Field Intensity

Electrostatics deals with the cases in which electric charges are stationary.

Unit of a charge-Coulomb
Different types of charge distributions are
Point charge distribution

Surface charge distribution

Line charge distribution

Volume charge distribution

Coulombs law:
The magnitude of the electrostatic force of interaction between two
point charges is directly proportional to the scalar multiplication of the
magnitudes of charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between them.

With k=1/(4); = o r , r is the relative permitivity of the medium.

Hence we get,

is the unit vector along the line joining two charges.

Basic definitions:
Electric field is the region or vicinity of a charged body where a test charge

experiences a force.
It is expressed as a scalar function of co-ordinates variables.
Electric Field Intensity at any point in an electric field is the force

experienced by unit positive charge placed at that point.

Electric Flux Density (D)is the measure of cluster of electric lines of

force. It is the number of lines of force per unit area of cross section.

Electrical Potential (V) The work done in moving a unit +ve charge from

Infinity to that is called the Electric Potential at that point. Its unit is volt
(V).
Electric Potential Difference (V12) is the work done in moving a unit +ve
charge from one point to (1) another (2) in an electric field.

 According to definition, electric field intensity is force per unit charge, i.e.

Field at a point due to many charges is obtained by using superposition

theorem and is given by

Electric Field Intensity E for different charge

configurations
due to continuous volume charge distribution:
The charge is uniformly distributed within in a closed surface with a volume

charge density of

 Electric field intensity E due to a line charge of infinite length with a line

charge density of l C / m

E due to a surface charge with density of

 Electric field intensity at a point due to line charge

Electric field due to line charge of infinite length:

Electric field intensity due to sheet of charge

Electric Potential at a point due to different

charge configurations.
Discrete charges

Line charge

Surface charge

Volume charge

Gauss Law
Divergence , Poissons and Laplace
equations

Concept of electric flux

Electric flux is proportional to the number of electric field lines going

normally through a perpendicular surface.

Flux lines start from positive charges and end at negative charges
Their directions are identical to that of electric field
Q number os flux lines are visualised to emanate from a charge if the

magntitude of the charge is Q coulomb.

Electric flux is also referred as

electrical displacement.

=Q

Relation between D and E

Consider a point charge Q and we construct a sphere of radius r with Q at

center.
We have D=
P
r

And
By comparing above equations we get

 Gausss law : The surface integral of normal component of D emerging

from a closed surface is equal to the charge contained in the space bounded
by the surface.

Fig:Flux throgh closed

surface

i.e

; S is the Gaussian surface.

By Divergence theorem
Hence we get

and
; Point form of Gauss law.

Poissons equation and Laplace equation

We know that

To solve problems,
The fundamental approach and physical concepts used in solving problems are
Coulombs law : Here E is found as force f per unit charge. Thus for the

simple case of point charge of Q C,

Gausss law : An appropriate Gaussian surface S is chosen. The charge

enclosed is determined. Then

and

 Laplace equation : The Laplace equation

considering different boundary conditions.

Then we get E by using

is solved by