R-AEPHY-18

Electrical Circuits

Static Charge

• Two types of charge: +ve and -ve

• Three charge states: +ve, -ve and neutral(be careful!)

  • Neutral can mean either: has no charge, or net charge is 0!
  • For example, neutron neutrinos are particles with no charge, but neutral atoms, molecules are when the net +ve charge is balanced with the net -ve.

• Charge is a property of matter.

• Charge produces an electric field around it.

  • If it has mass, it gives it a gravitational field, i.e. properties of matter $\implies$ field

• Hence, there are fields for neutral things with net charge of 0!

• We only experience gravitational force as attractive, but electric can be attractive and repulsive!

• Law of Charge: opposite charges attract, like charges repel

Electric Field diagrams

Test charge - always positive(???) Assume that charge is uniformly distributed around charged object.

• Therefore, field lines have to be evenly distributed around object!
• Minimum of four lines

Just look at marking key.

For double charge, draw double number of lines!!

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