Physics II Electrostatics

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CHAP#12

Electrostatics
Electrostatics: The branch of physics which is concerned with the study of
charges at rest is called Electrostatics.

Electric Charge: Substance are said to possess Electric Charge when force of
attraction or repulsion is between them. There are two types of electric charges 1) Positive charge. 2) Negative charge. Similar charges repel each other and opposite charges attract each other. 12.1) Coulombs Law: Force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitude of their charges & inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Explanation:
Consider two point charges of magnitude distance .According to Coulombs law; F or F=k placed in free space at

.The force F is always along the line, joining the two

point charges and k is the constant of proportionality . It depends upon the nature of medium. Consider the two point charges are in vacuum , then k= Where is called epsilon knot and given 8.85x10-12.Now F= and applies a force F12 on . F= . . Consider

applies a force F21 on having direction

.Both forces are

equal but opposite in direction. F12 = -F21.Both forces F12 & F21 are along . F12=

Effect of an Insulator on Coulombs law:

Presence of a die-electric between two charges always decreases the electrostatic force or Coulombs force . As compared with that in free space by a factor r which is the constant of relative permittivity. So the Coulombs force is F= .

12.3) Electric Field Lines: Electric field is always represented by lines known
as Electric field lines. Electric field line gives the information about the direction & strength of electric field at various places. In the case of positive charge, electric field lines are directed radially outward. In the case of negative charge , electric field lines are directed radially inward. In the case of similar charges, electric field lines are represented repelling lines of other charge.

Properties of Electric field lines:

1: Electric field lines start from positive charge and end on negative charge. 2: The tangent to a field line at that point gives the direction of the electric field. 3: The electric field lines are closer where the field is strong and further apart where the field is weak. 4: Two lines never cross each other.

12.5) Electric Flux: Numbers of lines passing through an element area is called electric flux. It is may also defined as the scalar product of Electric intensity E and area A. It is denoted by e. e = E.A , e=EA Cos ; Where is the angle between E & A. Electric Flux is a -1 scalar quantity having SI unit Nmc . Maximum Electric Flux: Electric flux is maximum when lines are
perpendicular to area then = 0

e= EA Cos0 ; e=EA(1) ; e=EA Minimum Electric flux: Electric flux is minimum when area & lines are
perpendicular to each other. Then =90

e= EA Cos(0) ; e= EA(0) ; e= 0 12.6) Electric flux through a surface enclosing a charge:

Consider a closed surface in the form of sphere of radius which has a point charge at its center. To calculate the electric flux the sphere should be flat. For this reason total surface of sphere is divided into small parts of areas A1, A2,

A3.. An . Direction of electric field intensity & vector area is same at each part. Electric intensity at the centers of vector areas A1, A2, A3.. An are E1,E2,E3. En . Total flux passing through the closed surface is e= A1 E1+ A2 E2 + A3 E3.. +An En. Since the direction of electric
intensity is same for each part then

e= A1 E+ A2 E + A3 E.. +An E e= E(A1 + A2 + A3 .. +An ) e= E(Total spherical area )

e= e=

12.7) Gausss Law: It is stated that the total flux through an enclosed surface
is equal to the product of and charge enclosed in it

Consider a closed surface S with charges q1,q2,q3.. qn enclosed in it. Electric flux due to charges q1,q2,q3.. qn is e= Total flux = e=

, e=

, e=

. e=

+ + .+

e= e=
where Q = total charge.

e=

Applications of Gausss law: 1) Calculate the electric field intensity enclosed the hollow sphere:
Consider a hollow sphere S of radius R, given positive charge. Let us find the electric flux enclosed the sphere. Now imagine a Gaussian surface in the form of sphere enclosed sphere S with radius

Where R<R. Let e to be the flux through Gaussian sphere. According to figure charge enclosed Gaussian sphere is zero. Then e= . But we know that

e=EA=0. Where area A

0 . So the E=0.

2) Calculate the electric intensity due to an infinite charged sheet. Consider a flat infinite metallic sheet and positive charges are spread in it. Imaging a Gaussian surface in the form of a cylinder is passing through sheet. Cylinder has three surfaces; Flats surfaces S1 & S2 and curved surface S3

Suppose the flat surfaces S1 & S2 & at equal distance from the sheet. A is the area of sheet. Since curved surface S3 is perpendicular to area A so no flux will pass through. e= EA Cos90

e= EA Cos(0) ; e= EA(0) ; e= 0
Flat surfaces S1 & S2 are parallel to area so flux will be maximum

e= EA Cos0 ; e=EA(1) ; e=EA Total Flux e= EA+ EA+0 ; e=2 EA

Surface charge intensity is equal to charges on unit area. . According to Gausss law e= . But e=2 EA . Then, 2 EA=

; e=
r. Where r is unit vector.

; E=

. In vector form E =