4.5 Radial Electric Fields Flashcards
What is a radial field?
Where a point charge has field lines that spread
In what direction do the lines point for a positive point charge?
Away from centre
In what direction do the lines point for a negative point charge?
Towards the centre
In a radial field what does the electric field strength depend upon?
It depends upon distance from the charge creating electric field.
What is therefore electric field strength proportional to in a radial field?
it is inversely proportional to 1/r^2
How does the strength of the electric field change as we get further away from point charge?
Gets weaker.
By what fraction does the electric field strength increase by if distance halves.
2^2 so 4
What is the equation for electric field strength in a radial field?
E = Q/4piEor^2
What does each stand for in this equation?
e = electric field strength q = charge creating field Eo = 8.85 x 10^-12 r = distance from point charge
What is the constant Eo in this equation?
8.85 x 10^-12
What is the meaning of this constant?
The permittivity of free space/ how easily it is to form an electric field inside this material
What is a point charge
charge located in one space - all charge in one bit
What do lines suggest on a radial field diagram?
That the strength decreases as we get further from point charge, since these are further away from each other.
How are equipotentials represented in a radial field?
These get further away from each other as we get further from point charge
What must we remember when travelling along an equipotential?
No work is done
