Electrostatics Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What determines whether an object is considered positively charged?

It has an excess of neutrons.
It has an excess of electrons.
It has an excess of positive charge, typically due to losing electrons. (correct)
It has an equal number of protons and electrons.

Charging by rubbing is mainly applicable to conductors, not insulators.

False (B)

What is the principle of superposition in the context of electric charges?

The total force on a particular charge is the vector sum of all the forces acting on that charge due to the other charges.

According to Coulomb's Law, the electrostatic force is inversely proportional to the ______ of the distance between the charges.

square Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their corresponding definitions:

Electric Field = The region around a charged body within which another charged body experiences an electrostatic force. Source Charge = The charge that produces the electric field. Test Charge = The charge that experiences the force in the electric field. Electric Field Lines = Imaginary lines that visually represent the intensity and direction of an electric field. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to electric field lines near a conductor?

They are always perpendicular to the surface. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In a uniform electric field, the electric field intensity varies at different points.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Define electric dipole moment and provide its formula.

Electric dipole moment is the product of the charge and the distance between the two charges. It is given by the formula $p = q * d$, where $d$ is the distance between the charges. Signup and view all the answers

The torque on an electric dipole placed in an electric field is given by the formula τ = p × E = ______ .

pE sin(θ) Signup and view all the answers

What is electric flux a measure of?

The total number of electric field lines crossing per unit area. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Electric flux is a vector quantity.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

State Gauss's Law in your own words.

The total electric flux through any closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed by the surface divided by the permittivity of free space. Signup and view all the answers

According to Gauss's Law, the electric flux (Φ) through a closed surface is equal to ______ / ε₀.

Q Signup and view all the answers

What does linear charge density (λ) represent?

Charge per unit length. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Match the following expressions for charge density with their applications:

Linear Charge Density (λ = dQ/dL) = Charge per unit length Surface Charge Density (σ = dQ/dA) = Charge per unit area Volume Charge Density (ρ = dQ/dV) = Charge per unit volume Signup and view all the answers

For a point inside a charged spherical shell, what is the electric field?

Zero (C) Signup and view all the answers

The electric field due to an infinite uniformly charged plane sheet depends on the distance from the sheet.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Describe how to choose a Gaussian surface when applying Gauss's Law to find the electric field due to a charge distribution.

The Gaussian surface should be chosen such that the electric field is either constant and perpendicular to the surface, or parallel to the surface (so that the flux is zero). Additionally, the surface should take advantage of the symmetry of the charge distribution. Signup and view all the answers

The electric field intensity due to an infinite length conductor is given by E = ______ .

2kλ/r Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the electric field lines between two like charges?

Field lines exert lateral pressure during repulsion between like charges. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Electric Charge Interaction

Similar charges repel, opposite charges attract.

Positive vs. Negative Charge

Positive charge results from losing electrons; negative charge from gaining electrons.