Electricity and Magnetism

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts from a lecture on electricity and magnetism.

Electrostatics

The study of stationary electric charges and the forces they exert on each other.

Electric Charge

A property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field, quantified in coulombs.

Coulomb's Law

A fundamental principle that describes the electrostatic force between two charged objects, stating that the force is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Electric Field

A region of space around an electrically charged particle where other charges experience an electric force.

Electric Potential

The work done to move a unit charge from infinity to a point in an electric field, represented as potential energy per unit charge.

Conductors

Materials that have free electric charges allowing them to conduct electric current easily.

Insulators

Materials with high resistance to electric current, preventing the flow of electricity.

Semiconductors

Materials that have electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators, allowing for controlled conductivity.

Direct Current (DC)

An electric current that flows in one direction only and is typically produced by batteries.

Batteries

Devices that store and provide electrical energy through electrochemical reactions.

Electrolyte

A substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in a solvent or molten, typically containing free ions.

Electrophoresis

A process that uses an electric field to drive charged particles through a medium, often used in medical applications.

Dielectric

An insulating substance between conductors that affects the electric field and capacitance.

Voltage

The measure of electric potential difference between two points in an electric field.

Resistance

The opposition to the flow of electric current in a material, measured in ohms.

Ohm's Law

A fundamental law stating that the current through a conductor is proportional to the voltage across it, with resistance as the constant of proportionality.

Superposition Principle

A principle stating that the net force acting on a charge is the vector sum of all individual forces acting on it.

Polarization of Electrodes

The change in chemical composition of electrodes in an electrolytic process, often affecting the efficiency of the process.

Ionization

The process of adding or removing electrons from atoms or molecules, resulting in the formation of ions.

Electric Current

The flow of electric charge carried by electrons or ions.

Aeroions

Airborne ions that can have beneficial effects on health and well-being.