Electric Fields

• What happens when an insulator gains electrons?

  It becomes negatively charged
• What is static electricity?

  Charge buildup on insulators due to friction
• What do opposite charges do to each other?

  They attract each other
• What charge do both spheres have when they repel each other?

  Both have positive charge
• What is a non-contact force?

  A force between objects not touching
• Why do hairs stand on end when touching a Van de Graaff generator?

  They become positively charged and repel
• What concept explains the forces of attraction and repulsion between charged objects?

  The idea of an electric field
• What happens when another charged object is placed near a charged object?

  It experiences a force
• What surrounds a charged object?

  An electric field
• What do field lines represent in an electric field?

  The direction of force on a charge
• How must field lines be oriented relative to the surface of the object?

  Perpendicular to the surface
• What does a positive object experience when brought near another positive charge?

  A force of repulsion
• What happens to the force when the distance between charged objects decreases?

  The force gets stronger
• What is the relationship between distance and force in electric fields?

  Closer distance increases force strength
• What are the key points about charged objects and electric fields?

  • Opposite charges attract, same charges repel
  • Non-contact forces act between charged objects
  • Electric fields surround charged objects
  • Field lines indicate force direction and strength
• How do electric fields affect charged objects?

  • Charged objects experience forces
  • Closer objects feel stronger forces
  • Field lines show direction of forces