3.7 Fields and their consequences

Question 1

What is a force field?

Answer 1

An area in which an object experiences a non-contact force

Question 2

How can a force field be represented?

Answer 2

• A vector, describing the direction of the force that would be exerted on the object, which allows the direction of the field to be deduced
• Field lines, where the distance between the field lines represents the strength of the force exerted by the field in that region

Question 3

How are force fields formed?

Answer 3

During the interaction of masses, static charge or moving charges

Question 4

How are gravitational fields formed?

Answer 4

During the interaction of masses

Question 5

How are electric fields formed?

Answer 5

During the interaction of charges

Question 6

What are the similarities between gravitational and electrostatic forces?

Answer 6

• Both follow an inverse square law
• Both use field lines to be represented
• Both have equipotential surfaces

Question 7

What are the differences between gravitational and electrostatic forces?

Answer 7

• In gravitational fields, the force exerted is always attractive, while in electric fields the force can be either repulsive or attractive
• Electrostatic forces act on charges, while gravitational forces acts on masses