All Flashcards
Define electrostatic equilibrium.
A condition where charges on a conductor are not moving, resulting in a stable charge distribution.
What are free electrons?
Electrons in a conductor that can move freely through the material, enabling electrical conductivity.
Define electric shielding (or screening).
The phenomenon where a conductor cancels out an external electric field inside its volume due to charge rearrangement.
What is a Faraday cage?
A conductive enclosure that blocks external electric fields, creating a field-free zone inside.
Define electric potential.
The amount of electric potential energy a unitary point charge would have if located at any point in space.
What is the effect of placing a conductor in an external electric field?
The free electrons in the conductor rearrange themselves to cancel out the external field inside the conductor, creating a zero-field zone.
What happens when a charge is placed inside a conducting shell?
A charge of equal magnitude but opposite sign is induced on the inner surface of the shell, and a charge of equal magnitude and same sign is induced on the outer surface.
What is the effect of non-perpendicular electric field lines on the surface of a conductor?
A horizontal force would act on the charges, causing them to move, which contradicts the state of electrostatic equilibrium.
What happens when two conducting spheres with different radii and the same positive charge are connected by a wire?
Electrons will flow from the sphere with the larger radius to the sphere with the smaller radius until they reach the same electric potential.
What is the effect of a Faraday cage surrounding an electronic device?
The electronic device is shielded from external electric fields, protecting it from shocks or interference.
Compare the electric field inside and outside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium.
Inside: Electric field is zero. | Outside: Electric field is perpendicular to the surface.
Compare the charge distribution in conductors versus insulators.
Conductors: Charge resides on the surface and distributes evenly. | Insulators: Charge can be distributed throughout the volume and does not move freely.
Compare electric potential and electric field inside a conductor.
Electric Potential: Constant inside the conductor. | Electric Field: Zero inside the conductor.
Compare the behavior of conductors in electrostatic conditions versus dynamic (current flow) conditions.
Electrostatic: Charges are stationary, electric field inside is zero. | Dynamic: Charges are moving, electric field can exist inside due to voltage source.
Compare the function of a conductor with and without a voltage source.
Without Voltage Source: Distributes charge to achieve electrostatic equilibrium. | With Voltage Source: Facilitates continuous charge flow, creating an electric current.