Electric Fields Flashcards
Coulomb’s law
The size of the force acts between 2 point charges is proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of their separation. It is attractive for opposite charges and repulsive for like charges
Electrical conductor
A material that contains free electrons that are able to move throughout the material and carry charge
Electrical insulator
A material that does not contain any free electrons. All electrons in an insulator are part of the individual atoms that make it up
Electric field
A region surrounding a charges object which causes a force to be exerted on any charged object placed within the field
Electric field strength
The force per unit positive charge exerted on a charged object placed at that point in the field. This is a vector acting in the same direction as the force on a positive charge
Electric potential
The work done per unit charge on a positive test charge in bringing it from infinity to that point in the field
Equipotential
A surface of constant potential. No work is done by the field when an object moves along an equipotential
Field line
A line representing the path that a north pole (magnetic field), positive charge (electric field) or mass (gravitational field) would take when placed within the field
Potential gradient
The change of potential per metre at a point in the field
Radial field
A field in which the field lines are all directed towards a single point
Uniform field
A field in which all of the field lines are parallel and equally spaced- field strength is equal in all areas
Describe the force and motion on an electron in a field
Electrons feels constant force parallel to field lines
Force on an electron is in opposite direction to field lines
Electron accelerates at right angles to its original position
Follows a curved path (parabola)
