Electrostatics

SUMMARY

Electric Charge: Electric charge is the fundamental property of matter, which can be positive or negative. The charge on a proton is positive and the charge on an electron is negative. The unit of electric charge is Coulomb (C). The charge on a proton is +1.6 x 10^-19 C and the charge on an electron is -1.6 x 10^-19 C.

Coulomb's Law: Coulomb's law states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The equation for Coulomb's law is:

F = k * q1 * q2 / r^2

where F is the force between the charges, q1 and q2 are the charges, r is the distance between the charges, and k is the Coulomb's constant, which is equal to 9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2.

Electric Field: Electric field is a region around a charged object where it can exert a force on other charged objects. The electric field at a point in space is defined as the force per unit charge acting on a small test charge placed at that point. The equation for electric field due to a point charge is:

E = k * q / r^2

where E is the electric field, q is the charge of the point charge, r is the distance from the point charge, and k is the Coulomb's constant.

Electric Potential: Electric potential is the potential energy per unit charge of a charged object. The potential at a point in an electric field is defined as the work done per unit charge in moving a test charge from infinity to that point. The equation for electric potential due to a point charge is:

V = k * q / r

where V is the electric potential, q is the charge of the point charge, r is the distance from the point charge, and k is the Coulomb's constant.

Capacitance: Capacitance is the ability of a system of conductors to store electric charge. A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by a dielectric. The capacitance of a capacitor is directly proportional to the charge on the conductors and inversely proportional to the potential difference between them. The equation for capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is:

C = ε0 * A / d

where C is the capacitance, ε0 is the permittivity of free space, A is the area of the plates, and d is the distance between the plates.

These are some of the important equations and concepts covered in the Electrostatics chapter. Understanding these concepts is essential for understanding more complex topics such as electric circuits and electromagnetism.