University of Missan

College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Department

1st Semester Year

2013-2014
2nd Lesson Stage

Engineering Electromagnetic Fields

Subject: Coulomb's Law and Electric

Field Intensity
Lecture No. 4

Dr. Ahmed Thamer Radhi

2013 - 2014

Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

Lesson Year 1 st Semester:2013-2014

Stage
2 nd Year
Subject
Charge Density
Lecture No.
4
Lecturer
Dr. Ahmed Thamer

University of Missan
College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Dept.

Engineering
Electromagnetics Fields

3- Various Charge Distributions

++ +++
+++++++++
+ + + S + + +
+++++++
Surface Charge

L
++++++++
Line Charge

Q
point Charge

Line charge density (

Surface charge density (

Volume charge density (

Q = L dL

+ +++
+ V

Volume Charge

m2
C

m3

)
)

Q = S dS
R

Q = V dV
R

Notes that:
Q
L = where (L) is any given line length or circumference
S =

V =

L
Q

A
Q
V

where (A) is any given area such as area of circle or sphere

where (V) is any given volume such as volume of sphere

Q

Since, E = K

R2

a R
R

So by replacing Q in above equations with line charge density, surface charge density, and
volume charge density, we get:
= K LL
E
a R
2
=
E

R
K sds

E =

a R

R2
K vdv
R2

a R
R

4- Field Due to Continuous Volume Charge Distribution

C
Volume charge density is measured in Coulomb per cubic meter ( 3 ). The total charge
m
within some finite volume is obtained by integrating throughout that volume as:

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

Q = Vol Q = Vol V dv

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 1

Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

Example 4.1: Find the total charge inside each of the volumes indicated as:
(a) V = 10 ze-0.1x siny; -1 x 2; 0 y 1; 3 z 3.6
(b) V = 4xyz; 0 2; 0 /2; 0 z 3
(c) V = 3 sin cos2/[2r2(r2+1)]; universe
R

Solution: (a) Cartesian coordinate:

Q = V dxdydz
Q = 10 ze0.1x siny dxdydz
3.6
1
2
Q = 10 [ z=3 z z y=0 siny y x=1 e0.1x x ]
z2

Q = 10 [ ]3.6
3 [
2

e 0.1x

]10 [

0.1

]21 = 36.1 C

(b) Cylindrical coordinate:

Q = V ddz
Since, V = 4xyz, we have x= cos; y= sin, and z=z; then,
V = 4 z 2 cos sin
Hence, Q = 4 z 2 cos sin ddz = 4 z 3 cos sin ddz
R

Q=

2
4[=0 3

Q=4

4
[ ]20
4

=0 cos sin z=0 z z]

sin 2
2

(c) Spherical coordinate:

z2

]0 [ ]30 = 36 C
2

Q = 3sin cos 2 /[2r 2 (r 2 + 1)] r2 sinrd

Q=

Q=
Q=
Q=

Hint:

x2+ a2

1
a

3
2
3
2
3

r =0 sin2 =0 cos2 ]
r 2 +1
1

[ tan1 (r)]
0 * [

* * * * * 2

2
2
3()4
8

[r=0

= 36.5 C

sin 2
]0
2

* [ +
2

sin 2 2
]0
2

tan1 ( ) + c
1

2 2 3 = 2 2 1/2 + c
(x + a )
(x + a )

2 2 3/2 = 2 2 2 1/2 + c
(x + a )
a (x + a )
1

sin 2x = (1-cos2x)
P

2
1

cos x = (1+cos2x)
2
sin2x = 2 sinx cosx
Dr. Ahmed Thamer

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 2

Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

5- Field of a Line Charge

Let us assume a straight line charge extending a long z-axis in cylindrical coordinate
at any
system from - to as shown in Fig. 4.1. We desire the electric field intensity E
and every point resulting from a uniform line charge density L .

Figure 4.1

Symmetry should be always considered first in order to determine two specific factors:
With which coordinates the field does not vary.
Which components of the field are not present.
Now, which components are present? Each incremental length of line charge acts as a point
charge and produces an incremental contribution to the electric field intensity which is directed
away from the bit of charge.
No element of charge produce as component of electric intensity, (E is zero). However, each
element does produce an Er and Ez component, but the contribution to Ez by elements of charge
which are equal distance above and below the point at which we are determining the field will
cancel. We therefore have found that we have only an (E )component and it is varies only with
(r), now to find this component:
We choose a point P(0, y,0) on the y-axis at which to determine the field. This is a perfectly
general point in view of the lack of variation of the field with and z we have:
E =

a R

4o R 2

dQ = L dL = L dz'
= k Q
dE
2
R

a R = k

r= ya y = a
r = z' a z
R

L
R2

a R
R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 3

Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

=r- r= a - z' a z
R
= 2 + z'2
R
R

a z az

a R =

2 + z 2
L (a z az)

= k
dE

3/2

( 2 + z 2)

z =0, then, dE
= k
Due to symmetry, dE

L a

3/2

( 2 + z 2)

Since only the E component is present, we may simplify: dE = k

For infinite line charge (i.e L );

L

E =

4o

E =
R

E =
R

Or, E =

4o
L

2o
L

2o

3/2

( 2 + z 2)

4o

1/2

2( 2 + z 2)

3/2

( 2 + z 2)

. We might have used the angle as our

There are many other ways of obtainingE
variable of integration, from Fig.4.1 z'= cot and dz' = - csc2 d. Since R= csc, our
integral becomes, simply,
L

dE =
R

E =
R

E =
R

=
Or, E

sin= -

4o R 2
0

- L
sin

4o
L

2o
L

2o

L sin
4o

= -

4o

[cos]0

As an example, let us consider an infinite line charge parallel to the z-axis at x=6, y=8,
at the general field point P(x, y, z). We replace in above equation
Fig.4.2. We wish to find E
by the radial distance between the line charge and point P, R=(x-6)2 + (y-8)2, and let a be aR .
Thus,

E =

2o (x6)2 + (y8)2

Where aR =
E =

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

(x6)ax + (8)ay

aR

(x6)2 + (y8)2

2o

(x6)ax + (8)ay
(x6)2 + (y8)2

)
Figure 4.2

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 4

Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

Example 4.2: A uniform line charge, L = 25nC/m, lies on the line x=-3, z=4, in free space.
in Cartesian components at: (a) the origin (b) point P (2, 15, 3)
Find E
(c) Q ( =4, =60o, z=2)
Solution:
L
(a) L in the direction of y, by replace and a in E =
a by R and aR ,
R

respectively, then:
L

=
E

aR

2o R

R=3ax 4az
=32 + (-4)2=25=5
R
aR =

3ax 4az
5

R=5ax az
=52 + (-1)2=26
R
26

-X

(0, 0, 0)

(b) P(2, 15, 3)

5ax az

(-3, 0, 4)

2510
3a 4a
=
E
( x z)
12
5
5
23.148.85410
= 53.9ax 71.9az (V/m)
E

aR =

2o

(-3,15, 4)

(2,15, 3)

2510
5a a
E =
( x z)
12
26
26
23.148.85410
E= 86.4ax 17.3az (V/m)

(c) x= cos=4cos60 =2
y= sin=4cos60o =3.46
z=2
Hence, Q(2, 3.46, 2)
o

R=5ax
2az
2
=5 + (-2)2=29
R
aR =

=
E
Dr. Ahmed Thamer

5ax 2az
29

2510 9

23.148.85410 12 29

z
5ax 2a
29

) = 77.5ax 31az (V/m)

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

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Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

6- Field of a Sheet Charge

Another basic charge configuration is the infinite sheet of charge having a uniform
density of S C/m2. Let us place a sheet of charge in y-z plane and again consider
symmetry as shown in Fig. 4.3. We see first that the field cannot vary with y or with z.
Hence only E x is present, and this component is a function of(x) alone. Let us use the
field of the infinite line charge by dividing infinite sheet into differential-width strips.
Once such strip is shown in Fig. 4.3, the line charge density, or charge per unit length, is
( L = S dy', and the distance from this line charge to our general point P on the x-axis is
R=x2 + y'2.

Figure 4.3

The contribution to E x at point P from this differential-width strip is:

= L aR (line charge), then;
We have E
2o R
S y

dE x =

2o x2 + y 2

cos =

Adding the effects of all the strips,

E x =
Ex =

Ex =

2o
S

2o

S x y

2o (x2 + y 2)

S y

2o x2 + y 2

2o

x y

.(

x2 + y 2

)=

S x y

2o (x2 + y 2)
y

S
[tan1 ( )]
(x2 + y 2) = 2
x
o

If the point P were chosen on the negative x-axis, then,

Ex

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 6

Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

Example 4.3: Three uniform sheets of charge are located in free space as follow:
at the points:
2C/m2 at x=-3, -5 C/m2 at x=1, and 4 C/m2 at x=5. Determine E
(a) (0, 0, 0)
(b) (2.5, -1.6, 4.7)
(c) (8, -2, -5)
(d) (-3.1, 0, 3.1)
S1= 2C/m2

-X

X= - 3.1
X= - 3

S2= - 5/
S3= /

X= 1

Y
X= 0

X= 2.5
X= 5

X= 8

Solution: (a) Since the position of plates in x-axis,

depended on (x) in each point.
we determine E
Point (0, 0, 0), and normal on plates is ( )
X

S1 + E
S2 + E
S3 =
T = E
E
R

S 1

2o
510 6

S 2

2o

(- ) +

S 3

2o

(- )

410
T = 210 12 +
(- ) +
(- )
E
12
28.8510
28.8510
28.8510 12
E T = 169.4 (KV/m)
R

(b) Point (2.5, -1.6, 4.7)

X
6

E T = 210 12 + 510 12
28.8510
28.8510
T = - 395 (KV/m)
E
R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

410 6

28.8510 12

(- )

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

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Electromagnetic Fields

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Lecture No.4

(c) Point (8, -2, -5)

X
6

E T = 210 12 + 510 12
28.8510
28.8510
E T = 56.5 (KV/m)
R

410 6

28.8510 12

(d) Point (-3.1, 0, 3.1)

X
6

T = 210 12 (- ) + 510 12 (- ) + 410 12 (- )

E
28.8510
28.8510
28.8510
E T = - 56.5 (KV/m)
R

Example 4.4: Two infinite uniform sheets of charge, each with charge density S , are located at
everywhere.
x= 1 as shown. Determine E
R

Solution: a) x<-1

E = E 1 + E 2 =
R

E =

b) -1<x<1

E = E 1 + E 2 =
S

E =

(- ) +

2o

(- )

-X

X= - 1

c) x>1

2o

(V/m)

1 + E
2 =
= E
E
R

2o
S

2o

(V/m)

(- ) +

2o

2o

=0

X= 1

4- Streamlines and Sketches of Fields

is represented by lines from the charge which are everywhere tangent
The direction of E
to E. These lines are usually called streamlines, although other terms such as flux lines
and direction lines are also used. In the case of the two-dimensional fields in Cartesian
coordinates, the equation of the streamline is obtained by solving the differential
equation as:
Ey
Ex

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

y
x

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 8

Electromagnetic Fields

=
E

Let

x2 + y2

ax +

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

x2 + y2

ay

Thus we form the differential equation,

Therefore, lny = lnx + C 1

or,

y
x

Ey
Ex

y
x

or,

lny = lnx + lnC

y
y

Lecture No.4
x

From which the equations of the streamlines are obtained, y = Cx

If we want to find the equation of one particular streamline, say that one passing through
P(-2, 7, 10). Here, 7 = C(-2), and C = - 3.5, so that:
y = - 3.5 x
Each streamline is associated with a specific value of C.
The equations of streamlines may also be obtained directly in cylindrical or spherical
coordinates as:
Cylindrical coordinates:
Spherical coordinates:

E
Er
E
Ey

Cartesian coordinates:

Ex

Home Work:

=
=
=

r
y
x

Q 4.1: Calculate the total charge within each of the indicated volumes:
1
(a) 0.1 |x| , |y| , |z| 0.2 ; V = 3 3 3
R

x y z

(b) 0 0.1 , 0 , 2 4 ; V = 2 z2 sin0.6

(c) Universe; V =
R

e 2r

r2

Q 4.2: Infinite uniform line charges of 5nC/m lie along the (positive and negative) x and y axes
in free space. Find E at: (a) P A (0, 0, 4); (b) P B (0, 3, 4)
Q 4.3: Three infinite uniform sheets of charge are located in free space as follows: 3nC/m2 at
at the points: (a) P A (2, 5, -5);
z = - 4, 6nC/m2 at z = 1, and -8nC/m2 at z = 4. Find E
(c) P C (-1, -5, 2);
(d) P D (-2, 4, 5)
(b) P B (4, 2, -3);

Q 4.4: Find the equation of that streamline that passes through the point P(1, 4, -2) in the field:
8x
4x 2
ax + 2 ay
(b) E = 2e5x[y(5x+1) ax + x ay ]
(a) E =
y

Q 4.5: The region in which 4 r 5, 0 25o, and 0.9 1.1, contains the volume
1
charge density V = 10(r-4)(r-5) sinsin . Outside that region V = 0. Find the charge
2
within the region.
R

Dr. Ahmed Thamer

Coulomb's Law and Electric Field Intensity

Page 9