ELM-001 · Electrostatics Sample material

Coulomb's law. The electric field and its strength

The scope of electricity and magnetism, electric charge and its properties, Coulomb's law, the electric field, field strength, the superposition principle and the representation of fields by field lines.

Estimated time: 3 h 5 activities

Learning objective

Explain the basic properties of electric charge (two kinds, quantization, conservation).
Write and apply Coulomb's law in scalar and vector form.
Master the concept of electric field strength and the superposition principle.
Learn to represent fields graphically with field lines.

Expected outcomes

Can calculate the interaction force between point charges in vacuum and in a dielectric.
Can find the field strength of several charges by vector addition.
Can locate points where the field strength is zero.
Can sketch the field-line pattern of a point charge, a dipole and a uniform field.

Interactive modelElectric field of point charges

Activities

Lecture · 1 h 20 min · required
Solving problems on Coulomb's law and electric field strength
Practice · 1 h 20 min · required
Study of the electric field
Laboratory · 1 h 20 min · optional
Elements of electrostatics
Self-study · 6 h · optional
Final test
Test · 20 min · required · pass ≥ 70%

Completion conditions

  • Lecture
  • Solving problems on Coulomb's law and electric field strength
  • Final test — at least 70%