6.

2 – Electric Force and Field

Electric Forces simulations
Unlike Gravitational Fields with only one type of mass to act upon, Electric Fields
have two types of charge that they can make an Electric Force on: POSITIVE and
NEGATIVE.

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/travoltage http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/balloons
or CLICK ON THE PICTURE or CLICK ON THE PICTURE

Use these two simulations to see how electric charges behave.

Notice which one can move and which one can’t?
Charges (Q) – measured in Coulombs

The Law of Conservation of Charge (Q)

Charge can neither be created nor destroyed.

Electric Fields
An electric field is a region of space
where a charged object experiences
a force due to its charge.

Field Lines
Because there are two charges that move in different directions in a field it has been
decided that Field Lines should show the direction that a POSITIVE charge would
accelerate if placed in the field.
Electric Fields (more examples)

The arrows are

always showing the
direction that a
POSITIVE charge
would move in the
field.
Electric Fields simulations

Charges and Fields Electric Field Hockey

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/charges http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/
-and-fields/charges-and-fields_en.html electric-hockey

Use these two simulations to see how the field lines work for different
charges.
Coulomb’s Law
The Force between two point
charges is directly proportional to
the product of the CHARGES and
inversely proportional to the
square of their distance apart.
k= 9 x 10-9 Nm2C-2
Newton’s Law
The Force between two point
masses is directly proportional to
the product of the MASSES and
inversely proportional to the
square of their distance apart.
G= 6.6742 x 10-11 m3kg-1s-2
 Electric Field
Strength
Definition:
The force per unit charge
experienced by a small positive
test charge placed in the field.
Gravitational Field
Strength
Definition:
The force per unit mass
experienced by a small test mass
placed in the field.

Units: NC-1 Units: NKg-1

Example:
Electric Field around a sphere of charge Q

Because Field Strength is a vector it can be added using

Vector addition just like Gravitational Field Strength