Analysing Electric Fields and Charge

Flow
By Ms Nurul Ain Mat Aron
state the relationship between electron flow and electric current
define electric current
describe an electric field
sketch electric field lines showing the direction of the field
describe the effect of an electric field on a charge
solve problems involving electric charge and current
Objectives
Electric Charge, Q
There are two type of electric charge which are
a) Positive charge (+)
b) Negative charge (-)
An electron has a negative charge and a proton has a positive
charge
The charge on a single electron is -1.6 x 10
-19
C
The charge on a single a proton is +1.6 x 10
-19
C

The unit is
coulomb or C
Electric Charge, Q
A body is:
a) Neutral, if it has equal number of positive and negative charges.
b) Negative charged, if it has more negative than positive charges
c) Positive charged, if it has more positive than negative charges
Recall:
12 protons
12 neutrons
Magnesium atom
12 electrons
2+
10 electrons
Magnesium ion
Electric Charge, Q
Examples
An object that is positively charges contains all protons and no electrons
FALSE
An object that is negatively charges could contain only electrons with no
accompanying protons
FALSE
Like charges repel, unlike charges attract
Electric Charge, Q
Like charges repel
Electric Charge, Q
unlike charges attract
Stationary electric charges are known as static electricity
Static Electricity
Static electricity is the accumulation of electrical charges on the surface of a
material
Static electricity is usually caused when certain materials are rubbed
against each other
The process causes electrons to be pulled from the surface of one material
and relocated on the surface of the other material.
The material that loses electrons ends up with an excess of positive (+)
charges. The material that gains electrons ends up an excess of negative ()
charges on its surface.
Electric current consists a flow of electrons. The more charges that flow
through a cross section within a given time, the larger is the current.
Therefore, an electric current is define as the rate of flow of charge
Electric Current, I
The amount of charge, Q flowing through any conductor is given by:


Electric Current, I
Q = It
A B
When free electrons move through the wire from A to B, and the electric
currents flows from B to A
I
A fuse wire will blow if the current flowing through it exceeds 5.0A for
a time of 80ms.
a) What is the quantity of electric charge that has passed through
the fuse wire in 80ms?
b) How many electrons have passed through the fuse wire in that
time, given that the charge on 1 electron is 1.6 x 10
-19
C
Problem 1
Answer: 0.40 C and 2.5 x 10
18
Electric Current, I
A charge of 600 C flows through a metal conductor in every 5 minutes.
What is the electric current in the conductor?
Problem 2
Electric Current, I
An electric current of 3.2mA flows through a bulb for 4 minutes.
Determine
a) The electric charge
b) The number of electrons
(the charge in an electrons, e = 1.6 x 10
-19
C)
Problem 3
Electric Current, I
An electric field is a region in which an electric charge experience a
force.
An electric field can be represented by field lines drawn in certain
pattern. The direction of the field is indicated by arrows on the lines.
Electric Field
The lines of force are directed outwards for a positive charge
and inwards for a negative charge.
Electric Field
The strength of the electric field is indicated by how close the field lines
are to each other. The closer the field lines, the stronger the electric field
in that region.
Electric Field
Electric Field
Electric Field
Electric Field
The Effect of an Electric Field
The ball will still remain stationary. This is because the force exert on the
ball by the positive plate is equal to the force exerted on it by the negative
plate.
A ping-pong ball coated with a Conducting Material
The Effect of an Electric Field
If the ping pong ball is displaced to the right to touch the positive plate, it
will then be charged with positive charge and will be pushed towards the
negative plate
A ping-pong ball coated with a Conducting Material
The Effect of an Electric Field
A ping-pong ball coated with a Conducting Material
When the ping pong ball touches the negative plate, it will be charged with
negative charge and will be pushed towards the positive plate. This process
repeats again and again, causes the ping pong ball oscillates to and fro
continuously between the two plates.
The Effect of an Electric Field
Spreading of a Candle Flame
The Effect of an Electric Field
Spreading of a Candle Flame
The heat of the candle flame removes electrons from the air
molecules around it, and therefore ionised the molecule.
The Effect of an Electric Field
Spreading of a Candle Flame
If the candle is placed in between 2 plates connected to a power supply,
the positive ions will be attracted to the negative plate while the negative
ions will be attracted to the positive plate.