defintions

Question 1

earthing

Answer 1

the removal of excess charge by providing a low resistance path for electrons to flow through

Question 2

electrical field lines

Answer 2

lines representing an electric field, that point in the direction in which a positive charge would experience an electric force. (the closer they are, the stronger the field)

Question 3

electric field

Answer 3

a region in which a charge will experience a non-contact, electric force. all charged objects have an electric field around them.

Question 4

lightning

Answer 4

a consequence of static charge building up in the clouds. lighting strikes are caused by the discharge of this charge

Question 5

like charges

Answer 5

when two charges of the same polarity meet, they will repel

Question 6

parallel plates

Answer 6

the electric field between two charged plates is uniform. the field lines are parallel, equally spaced and point from the positive plate to the negative plate.

Question 7

point charge

Answer 7

the electric field around a point change becomes weaker the further away you are. the field for a positive charge point radially outwards, whereas the field lines for a negative charge point radically inwards

Question 8

sparking

Answer 8

the transfer of electrons between two surfaces that have an imbalance of charges. sparking can be particularly dangerous in locations such as petrol pumps, and so the pumps must be earthed

Question 9

unlikes charges

Answer 9

when two charges of opposite polarities meet, they will attract

Question 10

static charge

Answer 10

the charge caused by an imbalanced of positive and negative charges in, or on, an object’s surface. it is often caused by electrons being rubbed from one surface onto another