Fields & Static Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

Using fields, why do two charged spheres near each other experience a force?

Each sphere has an electric field, and the other sphere sits in that field, so it feels a force.

In terms of electric fields, why does a spark jump across an air gap?

The field between the charges becomes strong enough to ionise the air, so it conducts and electrons jump across.

True or false? An uncharged object placed in an electric field cannot experience any force.

False. The field moves electrons within it, inducing opposite charge on the near side, so it is attracted.

How does the electric field of a charged object explain induction in a nearby neutral object?

The field makes electrons in the neutral object move, leaving an opposite charge on the side nearest, which is then attracted.