Electric Forces, Fields, Potential Energy & Electric Potential Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core terminology, formulas, and conceptual rules for electric forces, fields, electric potential energy, voltage, and equipotential surfaces from Chapters 18 & 19.

Charging by contact

A process where a charged object physically touches another object, allowing electrons to transfer.

Charging by induction

Charging an object without direct contact by bringing a charged object nearby and causing charge separation.

Polarization

Separation or redistribution of positive and negative charge within an object.

Conservation of charge

The principle that the total charge of an isolated system remains constant; charge can be transferred but not created or destroyed.

Fundamental charge ($e$)

The magnitude of elementary charge, equal to $1.60 \times 10^{-19}\,C$.

Quantization of charge

The property that electric charge occurs in integer multiples of the fundamental charge $e$.

Microcoulomb ($1\,\mu C$)

A unit of electric charge equivalent to $1 \times 10^{-6}\,C$.

Nanocoulomb ($1\,nC$)

A unit of electric charge equivalent to $1 \times 10^{-9}\,C$.

Coulomb's law

An equation used to calculate the magnitude of the electric force between two point charges: $F = \frac{k|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}$.

Coulomb's constant ($k$)

The physical constant $k = 8.99 \times 10^9\,N \cdot m^2/C^2$ used in Coulomb's law.

Electric field ($E$)

The electrostatic force per unit positive test charge at a point in space, defined as $E = \frac{F}{q_0}$.

Electric field due to a point charge

The electric field generated by a single source charge $q$ at distance $r$, given by $E = \frac{k|q|}{r^2}$.

Zero net electric field ($E_{\text{net}} = 0$)

A state where individual electric fields from multiple charges have equal magnitudes and opposite directions, thus canceling out.

Electric potential energy (EPE)

The energy a charged object possesses because of its position in an electric field.

Electric potential ($V$)

Electric potential energy per unit charge at a specific location, defined by $V = \frac{\text{EPE}}{q}$.

Voltage

Another name for electric potential difference ($\Delta V = V_B - V_A$).

Work done by the electric force ($W_{\text{electric}}$)

The work done on a charge by an electric field, given by $W_{\text{electric}} = -\Delta \text{EPE} = -q\Delta V$.

Electric potential due to a point charge

The electric potential created by a source charge $q$ at a distance $r$, calculated as $V = \frac{kq}{r}$.

Equipotential surface

A surface or curve on which every point has the exact same electric potential.

Electric field line orientation to equipotentials

Electric field lines always intersect equipotential surfaces perpendicularly at $90^{\circ}$ and point toward decreasing potential.

Equipotential line spacing

Closely spaced equipotential lines indicate a stronger electric field, while widely spaced lines indicate a weaker field.

Natural movement of a positive charge

When released from rest, a positive charge naturally moves toward lower electric potential, decreasing its electric potential energy.

Natural movement of a negative charge

When released from rest, a negative charge naturally moves toward higher electric potential, decreasing its electric potential energy.