In the previous section of Lesson 4, the concept of an electric field was introduced. It was stated that the electric field concept arose in an effort to explain action-at-a-distance forces. All charged objects create an electric field that extends outward into the space that surrounds it. The charge alters that space, causing any other charged…
Action at a Distance The underlying and primary question being addressed in this unit of The Physics Classroom is: How can an object be charged and what effect does that charge have upon other objects in its vicinity? Early in Lesson 1, we investigated charge interactions – the effect of a charged object upon other objects of the…
The attractive or repulsive interaction between any two charged objects is an electric force. Like any force, its effect upon objects is described by Newton’s laws of motion. The electric force – Felect – joins the long list of other forces that can act upon objects. Newton’s laws are applied to analyze the motion (or lack of motion) of objects…
Science in general and Physics in particular are concerned with relationships. Cause and effect is the focus of science. Nature is probed in order to find relationships and mathematical patterns. Scientists modify a set of conditions to see if there is a pattern of behavior in another set of measurable quantities. The goal is to answer the…
The interaction between charged objects is a non-contact force that acts over some distance of separation. Charge, charge and distance. Every electrical interaction involves a force that highlights the importance of these three variables. Whether it is a plastic golf tube attracting paper bits, two like-charged balloons repelling or a charged Styrofoam plate interacting with…
Charge Interactions Revisited Previously in Lesson 1, the interactions between charged objects of like charge and opposite charge were discussed. At that time, the two fundamental charge interactions were stated: oppositely charged objects attract and like charged objects repel. These mutual interactions resulted in an electric force between the two charged objects. This force is commonly observed…
The previous three sections of Lesson 2 discussed the three common methods of charging – charging by friction, charging by induction, and charging by conduction. A discussion of charging would not be complete without a discussion of uncharging. Objects with an excess of charge – either positive or negative – can have this charge removed by a process known as grounding. Grounding is…
In the previous two sections of Lesson 2, the process of charging by friction and charging by inductionwere described and explained. In this section of Lesson 2, a third method of charging – charging by conduction – will be discussed. As was the case for charging by friction and charging by induction, the process of conduction will be described and explained using…
The previous section of Lesson 2 discussed the process of charging an object by friction or rubbing. Friction charging is a very common method of charging an object. However, it is not the only process by which objects become charged. In this section of Lesson 2, the charging by induction method will be discussed. Induction charging is a method…
Charging by Friction In Lesson 1, it was explained that atoms are the building blocks of matter. Furthermore, it was explained that material objects are made of different types of atoms and combinations of atoms. The presence of different atoms in objects provides different objects with different electrical properties. One such property is known as electron affinity….