Understanding Electric Charge and Forces

These flashcards cover key concepts related to electric charge, including definitions and fundamental principles important for understanding electrostatics.

Charge

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

Positive Charge

A type of charge that repels other positive charges and attracts negative charges.

Negative Charge

A type of charge that repels other negative charges and attracts positive charges.

Coulomb's Force

The force between two charged objects, inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as force.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that has magnitude but no direction, such as charge.

Induction

The process of charging an object without direct contact, usually through the influence of a nearby charged object.

Insulator

A material that does not allow the flow of electric charge, such as rubber or plastic.

Conductor

A material that allows electric charges to flow freely, such as metals.

Grounding

Connecting an electrical system to the earth, allowing for excess charge to be safely dispersed.