Chapter 8 ~ Electric Fields Flashcards
Definitions, formula and key ideas
4 characteristics of electric charge :
- Objects are usually electrically neutral but they may become electrically charged
- 2 types of charge:°positive
°negative - Opposite charges attract and like charges repel
- A charged object may also be able to attract an uncharged one ; this is a result of electrostatic induction
3 examples where static electricity is useful
- Process of photocoping
- In dust precipitation to clean up industrial emissions
- Crop spraying
How is electric shock formed ?
It is formed when static electric charge builds up and gives a shock when it discharges
What is electric charge?
A property of a body that gives rise to a force on the body when it is within an electric field
Friction can transfer….?
Electrons between materials
Why do electrons transfer and not protons?
3 reasons
- They are on the outside of atoms, so therefore they are less strongly held within a material than protons
- Electrons may be free to move about within a material
- Electrons may be relatively weakly bound within atoms
Definition of a field of force
A region of space where an object feels a forces, the force may be gravitational, electric, magnetic, etc.
Name the 3 main types of fields of force and what they act upon:
- electric fields - act on objects with electric charge
- magnetic fields - act on magnetic materials, magnets and moving charges (including electric currents)
- Gravitational fields - act on objects with mass
Definition of field lines ⚟
Lines ⚟ drawn to represent the strength and direction of a field of force
What tells us how strong the field is?
What will lead to the strongest field
The separation of the lines.
Strongest field has closest lines ⚟
Field line’s direction is always from…
Positive to negative
A uniform field has the same (……..) at all points. Fill in the word.
Strength 💪
An example of a uniform electric field that we learn about in AS
An electric field between oppositely charged parallel plates
A radial field spreads out in all directions. Give 2 examples…
- an electric field around a point charge
2. A charged sphere
What are the 3 most important electric fields?
- A uniform electric field (e.g.is produced between two oppositely charged plates)
- A radial electric field (e.g. surrounds a charged sphere)
- The electric field between a charged sphere and an earthed plate 🌎