electron that is free to move away from its atomic orbit

material that allows electrons to move separately from their atomic orbits; object with properties that allow charges to move about freely within it

total source charge composed of so large a number of elementary charges that it must be treated as continuous, rather than discrete

SI unit of electric charge

another term for the electrostatic force

mathematical equation calculating the electrostatic force vector between two charged particles

two equal and opposite charges that are fixed close to each other

physical property of an object that causes it to be attracted toward or repelled from another charged object; each charged object generates and is influenced by a force called an electric force

physical phenomenon created by a charge; it “transmits” a force between a two charges

noncontact force observed between electrically charged objects

particle surrounding the nucleus of an atom and carrying the smallest unit of negative charge

phenomenon of two objects with opposite charges attracting each other

amount and direction of attraction or repulsion between two charged bodies; the assumption is that the source charges have no acceleration

phenomenon of two objects with like charges repelling each other

study of charged objects which are not in motion

smooth, usually curved line that indicates the direction of the electric field

number of field lines per square meter passing through an imaginary area; its purpose is to indicate the field strength at different points in space

flat sheet in which the dimensions making up the area are much, much greater than its thickness, and also much, much greater than the distance at which the field is to be calculated; its field is constant

straight wire whose length is much, much greater than either of its other dimensions, and also much, much greater than the distance at which the field is to be calculated

material that holds electrons securely within their atomic orbits

atom or molecule with more or fewer electrons than protons

net electric charge of a closed system is constant

amount of charge in an element of a charge distribution that is essentially one-dimensional (the width and height are much, much smaller than its length); its units are C/m

neutral particle in the nucleus of an atom, with (nearly) the same mass as a proton

also called the permittivity of free space, and constant describing the strength of the electric force in a vacuum

slight shifting of positive and negative charges to opposite sides of an object

useful fact that we can simply add up all of the forces due to charges acting on an object

particle in the nucleus of an atom and carrying a positive charge equal in magnitude to the amount of negative charge carried by an electron

buildup of electric charge on the surface of an object; the arrangement of the charge remains constant (“static”)

concept that states that the net electric field of multiple source charges is the vector sum of the field of each source charge calculated individually

amount of charge in an element of a two-dimensional charge distribution (the thickness is small); its units are C/m2

amount of charge in an element of a three-dimensional charge distribution; its units are C/m3

amount of charge stored per unit volt

device that stores electrical charge and electrical energy

insulating material used to fill the space between two plates

factor by which capacitance increases when a dielectric is inserted between the plates of a capacitor

energy stored in a capacitor divided by the volume between the plates

components in a circuit arranged with one side of each component connected to one side of the circuit and the other sides of the components connected to the other side of the circuit

system of two identical parallel conducting plates separated by a distance

components in a circuit arranged in a row one after the other in a circuit

system of two equal but opposite charges a fixed distance apart

quantity defined as p=qd for all dipoles, where the vector points from the negative to positive charge

potential energy per unit charge

the change in potential energy of a charge q moved between two points, divided by the charge.

potential energy stored in a system of charged objects due to the charges

energy given to a fundamental charge accelerated through a potential difference of one volt

filters that apply charges to particles in the air, then attract those charges to a filter, removing them from the airstream

two-dimensional representation of an equipotential surface

surface (usually in three dimensions) on which all points are at the same potential

process of attaching a conductor to the earth to ensure that there is no potential difference between it and Earth

small ink droplets sprayed with an electric charge are controlled by electrostatic plates to create images on paper

substance that is an insulator until it is exposed to light, when it becomes a conductor

machine that produces a large amount of excess charge, used for experiments with high voltage

change in potential energy of a charge moved from one point to another, divided by the charge; units of potential difference are joules per coulomb, known as volt

dry copying process based on electrostatics