P4.1 Electrical charge Flashcards
What is meant by “electric charge”?
Electric charge is a property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electric and magnetic field. There are two types of charge: positive and negative.
What happens when two objects with like charges are brought together?
Two objects with like charges (either both positive or both negative) will repel each other.
What happens when two objects with opposite charges are brought together?
Two objects with opposite charges (one positive and one negative) will attract each other.
What is the fundamental unit of charge?
The fundamental unit of charge is the coulomb (C).
How is charge conserved in an isolated system?
Charge is conserved in an isolated system because charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between objects.
What is the charge of an electron and a proton?
The charge of an electron is -1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C, and the charge of a proton is +1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.
What is static electricity?
Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on the surface of an object, often caused by friction, which leads to an imbalance of charges.
How can you transfer charge from one object to another?
Charge can be transferred between objects by friction, conduction, or induction.
What is a conductor and an insulator?
A conductor is a material that allows the flow of electric charge (e.g., metals like copper), while an insulator is a material that does not allow the flow of electric charge (e.g., rubber, glass).
How does an electric field behave around a positive charge?
The electric field lines around a positive charge point away from the charge.
How does an electric field behave around a negative charge?
The electric field lines around a negative charge point towards the charge.
What is meant by an “electric field”?
An electric field is a region around a charged object where a force would be experienced by other charges placed within that field.
