Introduction to Forces and Electrostatics

These flashcards cover key concepts related to forces in nature and electrostatics, including definitions, laws, and principles.

Force

A push or pull acting on an object, capable of changing its state of motion or shape.

Newton's Second Law

Mathematically expressed as F = ma, where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration.

Gravitational Force

The weakest but most dominant force at large scales, responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the Sun.

Coulomb’s Law

Governs the electromagnetic force, expressed as F = k(q1*q2)/r², where k is Coulomb’s constant, q1 and q2 are charges, and r is the distance between them.

Strong Nuclear Force

The strongest force that acts at very short distances, binding protons and neutrons inside the atomic nucleus.

Weak Nuclear Force

Responsible for radioactive decay and nuclear reactions, plays a role in beta decay.

Electric Charge

A fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electric field.

Positive Charge

Results from the loss of electrons.

Negative Charge

Results from the gain of electrons.

Conservation of Charge

The principle stating that charge can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred.

Quantization of Charge

Charge exists in discrete packets and is always an integer multiple of the elementary charge (e).

Charging by Friction

The process when two different materials are rubbed together, causing electrons to transfer and one object becomes charged.

Charging by Induction

Charging that occurs without direct contact, causing a redistribution of charges within a neutral object.

Electric Field (E)

The force per unit charge experienced by a small positive test charge placed at a point in space.

Electric Field Lines

Visual representations of electric fields that show the direction and relative strength of the field.

Superposition Principle

The principle stating that the net force on a charge is the vector sum of the forces acting on it due to other charges.

Dielectric Constant (kd)

A factor by which the electrostatic force is reduced in a medium other than vacuum.

Gravitational Constant (G)

A constant used in the formula for gravitational force, approximately equal to 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N(m²/kg²).

Coulomb's Constant (k)

A constant used in Coulomb's Law, approximately equal to 8.99 × 10⁹ N(m²/C²).

Electromagnetic Force

A fundamental force acting between charged particles, much stronger than gravity.

Mass (m)

A measure of the amount of matter in an object, which contributes to the object's gravitational force.