Electrostatic Review

Question 1

What do the arrows of electric field diagrams show?

Answer 1

Arrows show:

1. The direction of the force (arrows move towards neg and away from pos)
2. The density of the charge (denser at source, therefore electric field is the strongest there)
3. The overall strength of the charge (more lines = stronger charge)

Question 2

Explain electromagnetic field diagrams

Answer 2

Any charged object produces an creates an electric field that takes up space around it. For example, if you held up a negatively charged rod and placed it near a negatively charged rod, the two objects would repel. Electric fields can be illustrated through electric field diagrams:

Question 3

Define insulator

Answer 3

Insulators: a solid that hinders the flow of electron (ex., wood)

Question 4

Define conductor

Answer 4

Conductors: a solid that enables the free flowing of electrons (ex., aluminum)

Question 5

State and explain three ways an object can be charged

Answer 5

1. Charging by friction – rubbing two neutral objects together will cause the one with a higher affinity for electrons to steal some, creating a neg and pos charge
2. Charging by contact – touching one charged object to a neutral conductor will cause the electrons to flow freely through the conductor or repel its electrons, creating two objects of the same charge
3. Charging by induction – bringing a charged object close to a conductor connected to the ground will cause the electrons to flow onto it and down to the ground, creating two objects of the same charge