1

Electric Field
An electric field is said to exist in the region of space
around a charged object.
This charged object is the source charge.
2
The electric field is defined as the electric force on the
test charge per unit charge.
The electric field vector, , at a point in space is defined
as the electric force acting on a positive test charge, q
o

placed at that point divided by the test charge:
E
o
q

F
E
When another charged object, the test charge,
enters this electric field, an electric force acts on it.
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The direction of is that of
the force on a positive test
charge.
E
The test charge serves as a detector of the field
E
The SI units of are N/C.
We can also say that an electric field exists at a
point if a test charge at that point experiences an
electric force.
1. q is positive, the force is directed away from q.
The direction of the field is also away from the positive
source charge.
2. q is negative, the force is directed toward q.
The field is also toward the negative source charge.
4
5
2
0
2
0
0
r
q
K
q
r
qq
K
q
F
E
e
e
e
= = =
2
r
q
K E
e
=
6
Example (4):
Find the electric force on a proton placed in an electric
field of 2x10
4
N/C directed along the positive x-axis
Solution:
N x . x x x . F
eE F
e
F
q
F
E
C x . e q
e
e
e
o
e
15 4 19
19
10 2 3 10 2 10 6 1
10 6 1

= =
= = =
= =
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Electric field of a Dipole
An electric dipole consists of a positive charge +q and
a negative charge q separated by a small distance 2a
The electric field at the point P on y-axis is:-
r
a
r
q
K cos E E field Electric
symmetry to due zero E
E E
: dipole case in
sin E sin E E
cos E cos E E
e x
y
y
x
2
2 1
2 1
2 1
2 2 = u = =
=
=
u u =
u + u =
8
Cos u
3
3
2
3
2 2
2
1
2 2
2 2
2
2
2
2
y
P
K dipole of field Electric
then
qa moment diploe electric the is P If
y
a q
K
a y dipole of case in
a y
a q
K
a y
a
a y
q
K field Electric
e
e
e
e
=
=
=
)))
+
=
+
+
=
E
Example:
A charge q
1
= 7 C located at the origin, and a second charge q
2
=-5 C is
located on the x-axis 0.3 from the origin as in figure. Find the electric field
at the point P with coordinate (0, 0.4)m.

Solution:
) ...( .......... sin E E E
) ......( .......... cos E E
y
X
2
1
2 1
2
u =
u =
C
N
x .
.
x
x
r
q
K E
C
N
x .
.
x
x
r
q
K E
5
2
6
9
2
2
2
2
5
2
6
9
2
1
1
1
10 8 1
5 0
10 5
10 9
10 94 3
4 0
10 7
10 9
= = =
= = =

C
N
x .
.
.
x .
cos E E
) ( equation o int Substitute
X
5 5
2
10 08 1
5 0
3 0
10 8 1
1
= =
u =
C
N
x .
.
.
x . x .
. sin E E E
) ( oequation int Substitute
y
5 5 5
2 1
10 5 2
5 0
4 0
10 8 1 10 94 3
2
= =
u =
C
N
x . ) x . ( ) x . (
5 2 5 2 5
10 7 2 10 5 2 10 08 1 = + =
2 2
y X
E E E + =
o
x
y
x .
x .
tan
E
E
tan 66
10 08 1
10 5 2
5
5
1 1
= = = |

y
E
X
E
2 2
y X
E E E + =