All Flashcards
Compare charge distribution in conductors vs. insulators.
Conductors: Excess charge resides only on the surface. | Insulators: Excess charge can be distributed throughout the volume and on the surface.
Compare electric fields inside conductors vs. insulators in electrostatic equilibrium.
Conductors: Electric field inside is always zero. | Insulators: Electric field inside can be non-zero.
Compare charge mobility in conductors vs. insulators.
Conductors: Charges move freely. | Insulators: Charges are fixed and do not move freely.
Compare the behavior of electric field lines near positive and negative charges.
Positive charges: Field lines point radially outward. | Negative charges: Field lines point radially inward.
Compare the effect of an external electric field on conductors and insulators.
Conductors: Charges redistribute to cancel the external field inside. | Insulators: Charges do not move freely, so the external field can penetrate.
What is the effect of placing a positive test charge in an electric field?
The test charge experiences a force in the same direction as the electric field.
What is the effect of excess charge on a conductor?
The charges redistribute until the electric field inside the conductor is zero, with all excess charge residing on the surface.
What is the effect of a strong electric field on an insulator?
Dielectric breakdown can occur, causing the insulator to conduct electricity.
What is the effect of increasing the density of electric field lines?
It indicates a stronger electric field.
What is the effect of placing a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium?
The electric field inside the conductor becomes zero.
How do you calculate the electric field at a point?
Divide the electric force on a tiny positive test charge by the magnitude of that test charge: .
How to find the net electric field at a point?
Add the individual electric field vectors from all nearby charges. Remember that electric fields are vector quantities.
What is the process of charge redistribution in a conductor?
Conductors rapidly move charges until the electric field inside is zero and charges are at rest.
How to determine the direction of the electric field from a positive charge?
The electric field points radially outward from the positive charge.
How to determine the direction of the electric field from a negative charge?
The electric field points radially inward toward the negative charge.