All Flashcards
Given an electric field line diagram around a positive and negative charge, what do the arrows represent?
The arrows represent the direction of the electric field at that point.
In an electric field line diagram, what does the density of the lines indicate?
The density of the lines indicates the strength of the electric field.
In a diagram of a charged conductor, where does excess charge reside?
Excess charge resides only on the surface of the conductor.
In a diagram of electric field lines, what do the starting and ending points of the lines represent?
Field lines start on positive charges and end on negative charges.
In a diagram representing a Faraday cage, what is the electric field inside the cage?
The electric field inside the cage is zero.
Define electric field.
The electric field is the force per charge that a charged object creates around itself, influencing other charges nearby. It is a vector quantity.
What is a test charge?
A test charge is a tiny charge used to measure the electric field at a point, small enough to avoid disturbing the original field.
Define electrostatic equilibrium in a conductor.
Electrostatic equilibrium in a conductor means excess charge resides only on the surface, and the electric field inside the conductor is zero.
What are electric field lines?
Electric field lines are lines used to represent the direction and strength of an electric field. Their density indicates field strength.
Define electric field vector.
A vector quantity that represents the electric field's magnitude and direction at a specific point in space.
Compare charge distribution in conductors vs. insulators.
Conductors: Excess charge resides only on the surface. | Insulators: Excess charge can be distributed throughout the volume and on the surface.
Compare electric fields inside conductors vs. insulators in electrostatic equilibrium.
Conductors: Electric field inside is always zero. | Insulators: Electric field inside can be non-zero.
Compare charge mobility in conductors vs. insulators.
Conductors: Charges move freely. | Insulators: Charges are fixed and do not move freely.
Compare the behavior of electric field lines near positive and negative charges.
Positive charges: Field lines point radially outward. | Negative charges: Field lines point radially inward.
Compare the effect of an external electric field on conductors and insulators.
Conductors: Charges redistribute to cancel the external field inside. | Insulators: Charges do not move freely, so the external field can penetrate.