Module 1 Coulomb’s Law

General Physics 2

Introduction

“Science is nothing more that refinement of everyday thinking”

-Albert Einstein

Historical Perspective
 Aristotle was(perhaps)the first to think about the causes of natural phenomena, rather than just
document them.
 So far, most of the physics you have studied was developed between 200-400 years ago.
 Quantitative description of nature with accurate predictions.
 Coincident with new developments in mathematics (eg. Calculus) that were needed to accurately
describe dynamic physical systems.

Mathematical Description of Nature

 We will describe many specific examples of physical systems, but usually not try to provide the “most
general” description.
 It will be very efficient to describe the properties of physical systems using algebraic equations, but
this is just for convenience...

Quantitative Description of Nature

 We can work out equations that can describe measurements, in some cases with great accuracy.

􏰀
 If we had numbers for everything on the right, then we could calculate the thing on the left.
 To use this, we need to agree on a consistent system of units.

Math Skills
 We will make use of the following concepts:
– Algebra
 One equation in one unknown
 Sine, cosine, tangent, exponentials
– Basic geometry
 Right triangles, Pythagoras’ theorem
– Scientific notation
 Including SI prefixes (kilo, mega, micro, etc...)
– Simple vector concepts
Electrostatics
 Electrostatics is concerned with the properties of charges that are not moving.
– For example, forces on charged objects
 Most objects have no, or very small net electric charge so we don’t notice these forces.
– They are small compared with gravity
 Inthe1700’s, people began the systematic study of these forces induced by static electricity.
 But what is electric charge?

Observing Electric Charge

 Electric charges exert forces on each other.
 Charles DuFay classified types of charge
(vitreous/resinous).
 Ben Franklin proposed that there was only one type of
charge but that objects could have too much (+) or too
little (-).
 Thought of charge as a fluid and electric forces cause
it to move...
Electric Charge
 An electron(or a proton)has a measured charge of magnitude 􏰀
 This means that there are approximately 1/􏰀e = 6.25 × 1018 electrons or protons in one Coulomb (1
C) of charge.
 Macroscopic materials contain a very large number of protons and electrons.
– Avogadro’s number: 􏰀􏰀 NA= 6.02 × 1023
– Example: 12 grams of Carbon-12 contains NA atoms.
 When an object has an equal number of electrons and protons, it is electrically neutral.

How do objects become electrically charged?

 The addition or removal of electrons creates negatively or positively charged objects.
 Except under extreme conditions, protons stay in place and electrons are moved or transferred.

Example:

Key Points
 􏰀Charge is said to be quantized – it is always observed as an integer multiple of e, the magnitude of the charge of one
electron or one proton.
 Charge can be redistributed, but cannot be created or destroyed.
 An object is charged when it has an imbalance between electrons and protons.

Conservation of Charge
 Electric charge is conserved. The net charge of an isolated system can be positive, negative or zero.
Charge can move between objects in a system, but the net charge of an isolated system remains
unchanged.
 CONDUCTOR: an object or material in which charge can flow freely (eg. metals)
 INSULATOR: an object or material in which charge does not move freely – also called dielectrics (eg.
glass or plastic)
 GROUND: a name given to a large, conducting reservoir of charge. Its properties do not change when
charge is added or removed.
– An object that gets connected to ground is no longer an isolated system.
– The charge of the object changes as it flows to/from ground.

Charging by Friction
Inducing an Electric Charge without direct contact

 In a metal, electron scan move freely.

 Electrons are attracted to a positively
charged rod.
 Electrons are repelled from a negatively
charged rod.
 The metal bar remains electrically neutral.
 The charged rod and the metal are
attracted in both cases.
What are the consequences of net charge?
 Charges exert forces on other charges
 Opposite-sign charges experience an attractive force
 Same-sign charges experience a repulsive force.

In general, this force will cause the charges to move until they
are balanced by other mechanical forces in the system.

When the charges stop moving, they are said to be in

electrostatic equilibrium.

Mechanics Question
Does a static charge configuration imply that there are no forces acting on them?
 Not necessarily!
 There can be several forces:
– Electrostatic force
– Mechanical forces, eg. tension in a string
– Gravity
 The forces must cancel each other so that the net force is zero.
 Remember that forces are vectors – they have both magnitude and direction
 General Physics 2
Coulomb’s Law

Name: ______________________________________ Date: __________________

Instruction: To be passed in one whole sheet of long bond paper. Answer the following problems. Show
your solutions.

1. The electron and proton of a hydrogen atom are separated (on the average) by a distance of
approximately 5.3 X 10-11 m. Find the magnitudes of the electric force and the gravitational force
between the two particles.

2. A small sphere, carrying a charge of -8.0 μC, exerts an attractive force of 0.5 N on another sphere
carrying a charge with a magnitude of 5.0 μC.
a. What is the sign of the second charge?
b. What is the distance of separation of the centres of the spheres?

3. Calculate the electrostatic force between charges of −2.4 μC and +5.3 μC, placed 58 cm apart in a
vacuum.

4. The electrostatic force of attraction between charges of +4.0 μC and −3.0 μC is 1.7 × 10−1 N. What is
the distance of separation of the charges?

5. Two identically charged objects exert a force on each other of 2.0 × 10−2 N when they are placed 34
cm apart. What is the magnitude of the charge on each object?

6. Two oppositely charged objects exert a force of attraction of 8.0 N on each other. What will be the new
force of attraction if the objects are moved to a distance four times their original distance of
separation?

7. Two identical objects have charges of +6.0 μC and −2.0 μC, respectively. When placed a distance d
apart, their force of attraction is 2.0 N. If the objects are touched together, then moved to a distance of
separation of 2d, what will be the new force between them?

8. Consider three point charges located at the corners of a right

triangle as shown in Figure, where q1 = q3 = 5.00 μC, q2 = -2.00 μC,
and a = 0.100 m. Find the resultant force exerted on q3.

9. Three charges, A (+5.0 μ C), B (−2.0 μ C), and C (+3.0 μ C), are arranged
at the corners of a right triangle as shown. What is the net force on
charge C?