Comparing Gravitational And Electric Fields Flashcards
Force - uniform?
In a uniform field, the force is constant at all points.
Force - type?
Gravitational forces are always attractive, where as electric forces can be both attractive or repulsive
Forces - size?
Gravitational forces are usually much more smaller than electric forces unless a very large mass is used.
Field - definition?
Both field strengths are defined as the force per unit mass/charge
Field strength - radial?
In both cases the field strength in a radial field is proportional to 1/r^2
It is also proportional to the magnitude of the masses/charges that produces it
Field strength- uniform?
The field has the same magnitude and direction at all points
Field strength -direction?
A gravitational field is always directed towards the masses producing it, whilst an electric field is directed towards a negative charge and away from a positive charge
Field strength - size?
A mass of 1 kg is small in terms of the gravitational field it produces, but a charge of 1C would produce a very large and strong electric field
Potential - definition?
The definitions of both gravitational and electric potential involve work done in moving a charge or mass from infinity to a point, per-unit charge/mass
Potential - radial?
Both potentials are proportional to 1/r
Both potentials is a proportional to the mass/charge producing it.
Potential- uniform?
In a uniform field potential varies linearly with distance
Potential- work done?
The work done in moving to charge/mass across a potential difference is calculated by multiplying the mass/Charge by the potential difference
Potential- type?
Gravitational potential is always a negative quantity but electric potential is negative for negative charges and positive for positive charges
Force - radial field?
In a radial field, both gravitational and electric forces include an inverse square relationship, the force is the portional to the product of the masses or the charges.
