Electrostatics

Front

What is electrostatics?

Back

The branch of physics that studies electric charges at rest and the forces and fields associated with them.

Front

What is the fundamental principle of electrostatics?

Back

Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract.

Front

What is a Coulomb?

Back

The unit of electric charge in the International System of Units (SI), defined as the amount of charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second.

Front

What is an electric field?

Back

A region around a charged particle where a force would be exerted on other charged particles.

Front

How is the direction of an electric field defined?

Back

The direction of the electric field is defined as the direction of the force that would act on a positive test charge placed in the field.

Front

What is the relationship between electric field strength and distance?

Back

Electric field strength decreases with increasing distance from the charge.

Front

What is the formula for calculating electric force?

Back

F = k * |q1 * q2| / r^2, where F is the force, k is Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between the charges.

Front

What is the significance of electric field lines?

Back

Electric field lines visually represent the strength and direction of an electric field; the density of lines indicates the strength of the field.

Front

What happens to electric field lines around a positive charge?

Back

They radiate outward from the charge.

Front

What happens to electric field lines around a negative charge?

Back

They converge inward toward the charge.