Electric Fields and Charges

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to electric fields and charges.

Electric Field

A region of space in which an electric charge experiences a force.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude (strength) and direction.

Electric Field Lines

Represent the direction and magnitude of an electric field; they always point away from positive charges and towards negative charges.

Electrostatic Force

The force experienced by charged objects within an electric field.

Repulsive Force

The force that causes two like charges to move away from each other.

Attractive Force

The force that causes opposite charges to move towards each other.

Point Charge

A charge that is considered to be concentrated at a single point in space.

Uniform Electric Field

An electric field where field lines are equally spaced and parallel, directed from the positive to the negative plate.

Conductors

Materials that allow charge carriers to move freely, such as metals.

Insulators

Materials that do not allow the flow of charge through them easily.

Earthing

The process of making a charged object neutral by connecting it to the earth through a conductor.

Delocalized Electrons

Electrons in a conductor that are free to move throughout the material's structure.

Conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct electricity, depending on the presence and movement of charge carriers.

Electrostatic Discharge

The release of built-up electric charge from an object, often resulting from contact with a conductor.