Questions and Answers
What does Coulomb's Law allow you to find?
magnitude of electrostatic force (Fe) between two charges that are a distance r apart
What is the direction of electrostatic force (Fe)?
Unlike charges attract, like charges repel
What is an electric field?
Electric force felt by a test charge q due to a source charge Q, divided by the magnitude of the test charge.
Positive source charges have electric field lines that radiate ________, and negative source charges have electric field lines that radiate ________.
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Describe the relationship between the density of field lines and the strength of the electric field.
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What is electrical potential energy?
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Opposite charges have (positive/negative) electrical potential energy, while like charges have (positive/negative) electrical potential energy.
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With lower electrical potential energy, stability (increases/decreases). What can you draw inferences about electrical potential energy between two charges?
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What is electrical potential (V)?
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For a negative source charge, as the distance from Q increases, voltage ______________. Explain.
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For a positive source charge, as the distance from Q increases, voltage ______________. Explain.
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What is potential difference (voltage)?
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Study Notes
Coulomb's Law
- Calculates the magnitude of the electrostatic force (Fe) between two charges at a distance (r).
- Essential for understanding interactions between charged bodies.
Direction of Electrostatic Force
- Unlike charges attract, while like charges repel.
- This principle is fundamental in electrostatics.
Electric Field (E)
- Defined as the electric force felt by a test charge (q) per unit charge due to a source charge (Q).
- A positive test charge experiences an electrostatic force of qE in an electric field.
Electric Field Lines
- Positive source charges create electric field lines that radiate outward.
- Negative source charges generate electric field lines that radiate inward.
Density of Electric Field Lines
- Closer field lines indicate a stronger electric field.
- Farther field lines suggest a weaker electric field.
Electrical Potential Energy
- Represents the work needed to move a charge (q) against an electric field produced by a source charge (Q).
- Stored energy can convert to kinetic energy as a charged particle moves in the direction of the electric field.
- Energy requirements vary with movement: moving a positive charge away from a negative field requires increasing energy, similarly for moving into a positive field.
Electrical Potential Energy and Charge Types
- Opposite charges result in negative electrical potential energy.
- Like charges result in positive electrical potential energy.
Stability and Electrical Potential Energy
- Stability increases with lower electrical potential energy.
- Electrical potential energy decreases and stability increases when like charges move farther apart or unlike charges come closer.
- Conversely, electrical potential energy increases and stability decreases when like charges get closer or unlike charges move apart.
Electrical Potential (V)
- Defined as the difference in potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electric field.
- Represents work done to move a test charge between two locations without needing the charge's value.
- Can be calculated by the ratio of potential energy (Uelec) to the charge magnitude.
Voltage Changes with Distance
- For a negative source charge, voltage increases with greater distance due to increasing potential energy as two charges are pulled apart.
- For a positive source charge, voltage decreases as the distance increases, indicating a more stable system as charges repel each other.
Potential Difference (Voltage)
- Measures the change in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points.
- Essential for understanding energy conversions in electric fields.
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Description
These flashcards cover key concepts in electrostatics and magnetism, including Coulomb's Law, the direction of electrostatic forces, and the concept of electric fields. Ideal for students looking to reinforce their understanding of these fundamental physics topics.
