Electric fields (Edexcel GCSE Physics): Flashcards
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What is an electric field?
What is an electric field?
Region around a charged object where another charged object experiences a force
How does electric field strength vary with distance?
How does electric field strength vary with distance?
Closer to object = stronger field; strength decreases with distance
What causes a spark from a charged object?
What causes a spark from a charged object?
High enough potential difference between object and Earth
What happens to air particles during spark formation?
What happens to air particles during spark formation?
Air particles become ionised (electrons removed from molecules)
Why does ionised air allow a spark to occur?
Why does ionised air allow a spark to occur?
Ionised air becomes conductive, allowing current to flow
Define electrostatic forces
Define electrostatic forces
Forces that charged objects experience in an electric field
Interaction between like charges
Interaction between like charges
Like charges repel each other
Interaction between opposite charges
Interaction between opposite charges
Opposite charges attract each other
What direction do electric field lines point?
What direction do electric field lines point?
From positive to negative charges
What do closer field lines indicate?
What do closer field lines indicate?
Stronger electric field
Field line behaviour for same charges
Field line behaviour for same charges
Field lines push against each other (repulsion)
Field line behaviour for opposite charges
Field line behaviour for opposite charges
Field lines join up between objects (attraction)
Define uniform electric field
Define uniform electric field
Field where strength is same at all points in region
How to create a uniform electric field?
How to create a uniform electric field?
Between two oppositely charged parallel plates
Appearance of uniform field lines
Appearance of uniform field lines
Parallel and evenly spaced