Electrical force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between charges.
- Double the distance → force is 1/4
- Halve the distance → force is 4x
The simulation shows how electric field lines behave around electric charges.
The field lines start from positive charges and end at negative charges, indicating the
direction of the electric field. The direction of the field represents the path that a positive
test charge would follow.
The strength of the electric field is shown by how close the field lines are to each other.
When the lines are close together, the electric field is strong. When the lines are far apart,
the electric field is weak.
As the distance from the charge increases, the electric field becomes weaker. When
multiple charges are present, the electric fields interact and combine, causing the field
lines to curve
What happens when two like charges are placed near each other?
They repel each other.
Like charges (positive–positive or negative–negative) push away due to electric force.
If a third charged particle is attracted to either of the first two charges, what is the
nature of the third charge?
The third charge is opposite in sign to the charges it is attracted to.
• If attracted to a positive charge → the third charge is negative
• If attracted to a negative charge → the third charge is positive
, Coulomb’s Law
Coulomb’s Law describes the electric force between two charges:
∣ 𝑞1 𝑞2 ∣
𝐹=𝑘
𝑟2
Where:
• 𝐹= electric force
• 𝑘= Coulomb’s constant
• 𝑞1 , 𝑞2 = charges
• 𝑟= distance between charges
Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s Law relates voltage, current, and resistance:
𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
Where:
• 𝑉= voltage
• 𝐼= current
• 𝑅= resistance
Gauss’ Law
Gauss’ Law relates electric flux to enclosed charge:
𝑄enclosed
∮ 𝐸⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝐴 =
𝜀0
It is mainly used to find electric fields in symmetrical charge distributions.
- Double the distance → force is 1/4
- Halve the distance → force is 4x
The simulation shows how electric field lines behave around electric charges.
The field lines start from positive charges and end at negative charges, indicating the
direction of the electric field. The direction of the field represents the path that a positive
test charge would follow.
The strength of the electric field is shown by how close the field lines are to each other.
When the lines are close together, the electric field is strong. When the lines are far apart,
the electric field is weak.
As the distance from the charge increases, the electric field becomes weaker. When
multiple charges are present, the electric fields interact and combine, causing the field
lines to curve
What happens when two like charges are placed near each other?
They repel each other.
Like charges (positive–positive or negative–negative) push away due to electric force.
If a third charged particle is attracted to either of the first two charges, what is the
nature of the third charge?
The third charge is opposite in sign to the charges it is attracted to.
• If attracted to a positive charge → the third charge is negative
• If attracted to a negative charge → the third charge is positive
, Coulomb’s Law
Coulomb’s Law describes the electric force between two charges:
∣ 𝑞1 𝑞2 ∣
𝐹=𝑘
𝑟2
Where:
• 𝐹= electric force
• 𝑘= Coulomb’s constant
• 𝑞1 , 𝑞2 = charges
• 𝑟= distance between charges
Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s Law relates voltage, current, and resistance:
𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
Where:
• 𝑉= voltage
• 𝐼= current
• 𝑅= resistance
Gauss’ Law
Gauss’ Law relates electric flux to enclosed charge:
𝑄enclosed
∮ 𝐸⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝐴 =
𝜀0
It is mainly used to find electric fields in symmetrical charge distributions.
