Electricity and Magnetism Study Notes

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to electricity and magnetism, including definitions and laws related to electrostatics, electric charge, and behavior of electric fields.

Electrostatics

The study of the nature, behavior, and use of static electricity and related phenomena.

Electric Charge

A property of matter that allows objects to attract or repel other charged objects through an electric force.

Static Electricity

The buildup of electric charge on the surface of an object, where charges remain in one place rather than flowing.

Coulomb (C)

The SI unit of electric charge.

Law of Electric Charge

Opposite charges attract, while like charges repel.

Electric Field

The effect a charged object has on the space around it, shown by electric field lines.

Uniform Electric Field

An electric field that has the same strength and direction at every point.

Charging by Conduction

Charging that occurs when objects touch, resulting in the charged object gaining the same type of charge.

Law of Conservation of Charge

The total charge remains unchanged before and after an interaction.

Grounding

Safely transferring excess charge into the Earth.

Charging by Induction

Charging that occurs without direct contact, producing two opposite charges.

Electric Current

The flow of electric charge from one place to another.

Electroscope

A device used to detect small electric charges.