Electrostatics (AI Version)

What is electrostatics?

The study of the properties and interactions of stationary or slow-moving electric charge.

What particles make up an atom?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What charge do protons have?

Positive charge.

What charge do electrons have?

Negative charge.

What happens when like charges interact?

They repel each other.

What happens when opposite charges interact?

They attract each other.

What is the conservation of charge?

The total electric charge of an isolated or closed system never changes.

How is charging by friction accomplished?

By rubbing two neutral insulating materials together, causing electrons to transfer.

What is conduction in electrostatics?

Charging a neutral object by touching it with a charged object.

What occurs during induction?

A charged object is brought close to a neutral object, causing polarization without direct contact.

What is grounding?

The process of transferring negative charges from a charged object to the Earth.

What does an electric field represent?

A region around a charged particle where a force would be exerted on other charged particles.

What is electric potential energy?

The energy needed to move a charge against an electric field.

What does Coulomb's Law describe?

The electric force between charged objects, stating that like charges repel and unlike charges attract.

What is the significance of electric field lines?

They indicate the direction and strength of the electric field around a charged object.

What is the relationship between electric force and distance according to Coulomb's Law?

The strength of electric force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between charges.

What happens to electric field lines when they are drawn?

They originate from positive charges and terminate at negative charges.

If electric field lines are dense, what does that indicate?

It indicates a stronger electric charge.