Class questions Flashcards
A charge alters the space around it.
What is this alteration of space called?
Electric field
how does a conductor reach electrostatic equilibrium
the charges are free to move (valence electros) until all the eletric force vectors cancel out, when this happens the electric field iszero
is there a tangential component of an electric field at the surface of a conductor at electrostatic equilibrium
no, if there was, the charges at the surface would experience a force that causes them to move
when is there a net torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field?
whenever the dipole is not vertically aligned with the electric field
when is there no net force on a dipole in a uniform electric field?
there is no force, the positive and negative ends of the dipole are equal and opposite so they cancel out
what direction do positive charges feel an electrical force relative to the electric field?
they feel it in the same direction
what direction do negative charges feel an electrical force relative to the electric field
they feel it in the opposite direction
The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is independent of which quantity?
The charge on the capacitor plates does depend on the voltage, but the capacitance only depends on the geometry of the capacitor. (Area and distance between)
