Electric Fields Lesson 1.5

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Electric Fields

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These forces can be visualized by drawing lines that represent the forces
acting between charges.

Electric Field Diagrams

We will call these electric field diagrams.

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1) Lines exit positive charges.
2) Lines enter negative charges.
3) Lines don't exist around neutral charges.
4) Lines never cross!
5) Lines that are close together represent stronger forces.

Five Rules for Electric Field
Lines

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Field lines between like charges

Both diagrams help us visualize
repulsive forces.

Do you see how the lines look
like they are pushing apart at
their closest points?

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Field Lines between unlike charges

This diagram indicates
electrostatic attraction.
The field lines exit the positive
charge and enter the negative
charge.

Unlike the field lines between like

charges, these lines look like
they are pulling together.

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Two Oppositely Charged Metal Plates

Look at the diagram to the right.

What can be said about the
spacing and direction of the field
lines between the plates?

What does this mean?

Answer

Multiple Choice

Electric field lines exit positive charges and enter
negative charges.

• True

• False

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26 The electric field strength between 2 parallel
oppositely charged plates:

A
Increases as you move towards
the postive plate

B

decreases as you move
toward the negative plate

C

remains constant at all points
between the plates.

Answer

Multiple Choice

The electric field strength between 2 parallel
oppositely charged plates:

• Increases as you move towards
  the postive plate

• decreases as you move
  toward the negative plate

• remains constant at all points
  between the plates.

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Mass

Charge

Attraction

Repulsion

Newton and Coulomb Comparison

If they are used for both laws place the term on the line.

Coulomb's Law

Newton's Law