Electricity & Magnetism

A set of flashcards covering key concepts in Electricity & Magnetism from the lecture notes.

Which particles have an electrical charge?

Proton, Electron, Ion, All the above.

What is electric charge?

A fundamental physical property of protons and electrons; like charges repel while opposite charges attract.

What happens to Fido's fur when electrons are scraped from it?

The charge of Fido's fur becomes positive.

What does Coulomb's Law state?

The electrical force between two point charges varies directly as the product of their charges and inversely as the square of their distance of separation.

What is the relationship between the force of an electron on a proton and the force of a proton on an electron?

It is equal; both forces exert the same magnitude.

If a proton is repelled by a force of 40 N at a certain distance, what would the force be if it is twice as distant?

10 N.

What does the electric field represent?

An energetic aura surrounding charged objects.

What is the conventional direction of an electric field?

It is the direction of force that the field would exert on a proton.

What is electric potential?

Electric potential energy per charge; also known as voltage.

When work is done on an electrically charged particle, what changes?

The potential energy of the particle changes.

What is electric potential a ratio of?

Energy to charge.

What does it mean when a battery is rated at 500 volts?

It refers to the electric potential difference provided by the battery.

What is electric current?

The flow of charged particles from higher potential to lower potential.

Which statement is correct regarding a circuit?

Charge flows in a circuit.

What are magnetic poles?

Regions that give rise to magnetic forces; like poles repel while opposite poles attract.

What happens when a weak magnet and a strong magnet repel each other?

The greater repelling force is by the stronger magnet.

How does moving charge relate to magnetic fields?

Moving charge produces a magnetic field.

What is an electromagnet?

A magnet whose field is produced by an electric current.

What do surrounding moving electric charges create?

Both electric fields and magnetic fields.

What do moving electric charged particles interact with?

Both electric fields and magnetic fields.

What is the principle behind an electric motor?

Magnetic force occurs between a magnetic field and a moving charge or charges.

If a magnet produces a force on a current-carrying wire, does the wire produce a force on the magnet?

Yes.

What is electromagnetic induction?

The production of voltage when a magnetic field changes with time.

What induces voltage in a wire loop?

A change in the magnetic field within that loop.

What does a generator rely on?

Electromagnetic induction.

What causes resistance when pushing a magnet into a coil of wire?

Repulsion by the magnetic field you produce.

How is light described in terms of electromagnetic waves?

It results from vibrating electric and magnetic fields regenerating each other.

What induces an electric field in space?

A magnetic field changes with time.

What induces a magnetic field in space?

An electric field changes with time.