All Flashcards
What are the key differences in charge distribution between conductors and insulators?
Conductors: Excess charge resides on the surface. | Insulators: Excess charge can spread throughout the interior and surface.
How does the internal electric field differ in conductors versus insulators in electrostatic equilibrium?
Conductors: Electric field inside is zero. | Insulators: Electric field inside can be non-zero.
Compare electric field lines near positive and negative charges.
Positive charges: Electric field lines point away from the charge. | Negative charges: Electric field lines point towards the charge.
Differentiate between the electric field outside a charged sphere and a point charge.
Charged Sphere: Behaves like a point charge located at the center when outside the sphere. | Point Charge: Electric field radiates directly from the point.
Compare the movement of electrons in conductors and insulators.
Conductors: Electrons can move freely. | Insulators: Electrons are bound and cannot move freely.
What is the effect of placing a positive test charge in an electric field?
The test charge experiences a force in the same direction as the electric field.
What happens when a conductor is in electrostatic equilibrium?
The electric field inside the conductor is zero, and excess charge resides on its surface.
What is the effect of increasing the density of electric field lines?
The strength of the electric field increases.
What happens to the electric field when a charged sphere is observed from a distance much larger than its radius?
The electric field behaves as if all the charge is concentrated at the center of the sphere.
What is the effect of bringing a charged object near a neutral conductor?
Charge redistribution occurs in the conductor, with opposite charges attracted to the charged object and like charges repelled.
Label the electric field lines around a positive and negative charge.
Positive Charge: Lines point radially outwards. Negative Charge: Lines point radially inwards.
Label the charge distribution on a charged conductor in electrostatic equilibrium.
Charge is distributed on the surface of the conductor.
Label a free-body diagram for a charged sphere suspended in an electric field.
1: Gravitational force (mg) downwards, 2: Electric force (qE) horizontally, 3: Tension (T) along the string.
Label the direction of the electric field vector at the surface of a charged conductor.
The electric field vector is perpendicular to the surface.
Label the components of tension in the string of a charged sphere suspended in an electric field.
1: Vertical component (Tcosθ), 2: Horizontal component (Tsinθ)