What is Electric: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell's equations. Various common phenomena are related to electricity, including lightning, static electricity, electric heating, electric discharges and many others.
The presence of an electric charge, which can be either positive or negative, produces an electric field. The movement of electric charges is an electric current and produces a magnetic field.
When a charge is placed in a location with a non-zero electric field, a force will act on it. The magnitude of this force is given by Coulomb's law. If the charge moves, the electric field would be doing work on the electric charge. Thus we can speak of electric potential at a certain point in space, which is equal to the work done by an external agent in carrying a unit of positive charge from an arbitrarily chosen reference point to that point without any acceleration and is typically measured in volts.
Electricity is at the heart of many modern technologies, being used for:

Electric power where electric current is used to energise equipment;
Electronics which deals with electrical circuits that involve active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies.Electrical phenomena have been studied since antiquity, though progress in theoretical understanding remained slow until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The theory of electromagnetism was developed in the 19th century, and by the end of that century electricity was being put to industrial and residential use by electrical engineers. The rapid expansion in electrical technology at this time transformed industry and society, becoming a driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution. Electricity's extraordinary versatility means it can be put to an almost limitless set of applications which include transport, heating, lighting, communications, and computation. Electrical power is now the backbone of modern industrial society.

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  1. Shivang kohlii

    Engineering An electric bulb of 500 W at 100v is used in a circuit

    If the circuit has 200 V supply. The resistance R that must be put in series with bulb so that it draws 500 w is? 2. Relevent equations P= v^2/r I = v/r 3. My attempt at the solution R= V^2/P r (bulb)= 10000/500 = 20 ohm Now for 200 v supply .. P= 500 W V= 200V Rnet = 20 + R R+20= 80 R= 60...
  2. hugo_faurand

    New materials and ways to store electric energy

    Hello everyone ! I'm Hugo. I'm a french high school student. This year I've a project on new way to store electricity and their materials.I've done researches on super capacitors. But I've found only that "new way" to store electric energy. And for the material part, I don't know what I can...
  3. E

    The sign of F (dot) dl when finding electric potential

    The electric potential can be defined as V = - ∫C E⋅dl where we are taking the line integral along C from some convenient reference point O, where we have set V = 0, to the point r we are trying to find the potential at. Of course, C can be any curve, but it's usually the most convenient to...
  4. B

    Dipole problem with electric fields

    Dipole problem (which is solved through mirror imaging) has been troubling me with its solution. I understand everything except how the dipole moment's coordinates came to be, since when converted into x-y axis, its doesn't make sense. (problem 4.6) The screenshot contains the solution which...
  5. B

    Electric field of "half" an infinite charged sheet

    Homework Statement A charged sheet with charge density ##\sigma## is described by ##-\infty<x<0,-\infty<y<\infty, z = 0##. Find the electric field at ##(0,0,z)##. Homework Equations Electric field of continuous density charged body from the Coulomb law: $$E = \frac{1}{4\pi...
  6. B

    Calculating the Electric Field outside a dielectric

    In the textbook (Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths), the problem in the attached image asks to find the electric field ##E## outside a dielectric. The problem consists of dividing the electric field into the one produced by the negative charges in the dielectric and another by the...
  7. B

    Electric Field and Potential in a conductor

    So in my textbook (Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths) it said that inside a conductor, the electric field E would have to zero, since if it wasn't the free charges would move accordingly and create a electric field that cancels the original field. But in a question that soon followed...
  8. S

    Electric current flowing in a power transmission line

    A cable of resistance 12 Ohm carries electric power from a generator producing 250 kilowatt at 10,000 volts. Calculate the current in the cable. Solution using P=VI I=25A but using P=I^2R 250000=I^2×12 I =500/root 12 Amps What is the reason for the different...
  9. YMMMA

    What causes electric field/ magnetic field?

    Homework Statement What causes electric field? What causes magnetic field? (I) stationary electric fields (II) moving electric charges (III) a changing magnetic field IV) a current-carrying wire Homework Equations E=F/q B=μI/2πr E electric field F elecric force Q charge B magnetic field I...
  10. Silentwhale

    Electricity and magnetism: Electric Field for Two Long Charged Lines

    Homework Statement Given two very long lines each is charged with linear density +lambda Coulombs/meter. The two lines are separated by a distance of d metres. A) show the electric field E, at any point along one of the lines due to the other line is E = lambda/(2 (pi)(epsolon o)(d)) (Note...
  11. J

    Design a Handheld Electric Field Meter with Arduino

    Hello, I want to create a handheld electric field meter to measure the strength at a certain point with an arduino. I have seen various ideas online but I am still not sure what kind of design to use. Is the right concept to use two antennas. Measure the voltage on each and then calculate the...
  12. YMMMA

    Where is the electric field greatest in magnitude?

    Homework Statement In the file Homework Equations No equations needed The Attempt at a Solution I answered it C. Since I learned that at the tip there are most of the charges. Therefore, it’s the point of the greatest E field magnitude. But another tutor told me that it is a circle, and...
  13. HotFurnace

    Electric Potential Distribution in a Vacuum Diode

    Homework Statement This problem is belonging to a book, which is material for Vietnamese students who will take part in IPhO (International Physics Olympiad). Since this problem is written in Vietnamese, I will try my best to translate it to English: A vacuum diode consists of two parallel...
  14. A

    An electron & a proton are each placed in an electric field

    Homework Statement An electron and a proton are each placed at rest in an electric field of 687 N/C. What is the velocity of the electron 56.5 ns after being released? Consider the direction parallel to the field to be positive. The fundamental charge is 1.602×10−19 C, the mass of a proton is...
  15. L

    Electric Field Inside Concentric Spheres

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I am having trouble figuring out why the answer is A) the electric field points radially between A and B. I think it is because since the point between A and B is mostly negative, the electric field would point outwords more...
  16. P

    Electric potential energy between charge and moving magnet

    The setup for one magnet Introduce a magnet: Inertial Frame 1 (or lab frame) A frame where a magnet is seen to move with uniform velocity v and carries a uniform polarization P while a point charge Q is seen to be stationary at time t=0. Inertial Frame 2 (or material frame) A frame where a...
  17. L

    Electric Potential Integral Question Confused

    Homework Statement Homework Equations E=KQ/R^2 The Attempt at a Solution I'm kinda confused at what the question is asked. It is in terms of x, but I thought the integral for potential is V=int(Edr)? Also, should it be integration starting from infinity? Why is the integration from -2 to 3...
  18. E

    Gauss' Law problem: determine the electric flow through a square surface due to a nearby charge

    Homework Statement determine the electric flow through a square surface of side 2l due to a load + Q located at a perpendicular distance l from the center of the plane I really don't know how to answer this question .i need help guys Thanks Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I ended...
  19. L

    Electric Potential at Radius R of Concentric Spheres

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V=kQ/R The Attempt at a Solution The answer is B)kQ/R. It is because V= k(2Q)/R. I don't understand why Q=2Q in this case. Isn't the point on the inside of the outer shell, so the Q for the equation is just Q?
  20. starstruck_

    Electric field of spherical shell

    Homework Statement Consider a spherical shell with uniform charge density ρ. The shell is drawn as a donut with inner (R1) and outer (R2) radii. Let r measure the distance from the center of the spherical shell, what is the electric field at r>R2, R1<r<R2, and r<R1. I am working on the r > R2...
  21. cookiemnstr510510

    Calculate the electric field in all of space for a non conducting sphere

    Homework Statement A) Use Gauss's Law to derive the electric field in all space for a non-conducting sphere with volumetric charge distribution ρ=ρ0r3 and radius, R. B) Repeat when there is a concentric spherical cavity within the non conducting sphere with radius, A. Homework Equations...
  22. cookiemnstr510510

    Derivation of electric potential charged disk from ring

    Homework Statement a)recall that electric potential is a scalar quantity. For a circular ring of radius, R', carrying charge, Q, what is the electric potential at a height,y, above the center of the ring? b)Use your above answer to determine the electric potential at a height,y, above the...
  23. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric Potential Equations: Understanding and Applying in Non-Uniform Fields

    Homework Statement Hello, I am wondering if I am thinking about electric potential correctly: Stop me if I am wrong: V=electric potential, the electric potential is created by source charges altering space around them. If you place a test charge, q, within that space we can say it experiences...
  24. TechTree

    Why did a 230v electric shock not hurt?

    Okay here's an example of what not to do when working with 230v... So I was about to repair some outdoor lights so I went to the circuit breaker panel and switched off all the power in that area for safety. I began to remove the light and disconnected the wires, then I was about to install the...
  25. L

    Derivation of the Potential Energy of an Electric Charge System

    Hi, I learned about how PE = U=kq1q2/r is the electrical potential energy for the system. It is found by taking the integral of electrical force and dr from infinity to the point of location we are interested in. So that is the intregral(F*dr) from r=inf to r=ro. My question is that do I...
  26. I

    Electric Fields and Electric forces help

    Homework Statement This is the question Structure opposite comprises 5 ions each of which has lost one electron. The sides of the square formed by the 4 outer ions are of length 0.2nm Ion E is at the midpoint 1.What is the force on A due to ion A?Homework Equations I'd imagine: F= kq / r^2...
  27. cookiemnstr510510

    Understand Electric Potential Energy, Difference & Potential

    Homework Statement My textbook is no help, my teacher is no help, so I've found myself here. I am having a difficult time understanding the differences in 1.Electric Potential energy 2. Potential Difference 3. Electric potential Im sure this question has been asked tons of times but I need...
  28. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field from spherically symmetric charge distributio

    Homework Statement A spherically symmetric charge distribution produces the electric field E=(200/r)r(hat)N/C, where r is in meters. a) what is the electric field strength at 10cm? b)what is the electric flux through a 20cm diameter spherical surface that is concentric with the charge...
  29. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field sphere calculations with a hollow cavity using Gauss' law

    Homework Statement A spherical cavity is hollowed out of the interior of a neutral conducting sphere. At the center of the cavity is a point charge, of positive charge q. (picture attached) a)What is the total surface charge q(int) on the interior surface of the conductor (i.e., on the wall of...
  30. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field using Gauss' Law

    Homework Statement Two small insulating spheres with radius 9.00×10−2m are separated by a large center-to-center distance of 0.545 m . One sphere is negatively charged, with net charge -2.35 μC , and the other sphere is positively charged, with net charge 4.35 μC . The charge is uniformly...
  31. O

    How to fix this electric circuit

    Homework Statement I'm not sure if the construction of this circuit is correct, so that both lamps, which are the same, shine equally brightly. Otherwise only the resistors are given. If it's wrong, what else would it look like? And why?[/B] Homework Equations I guess the laws of Kirchoff...
  32. isukatphysics69

    Find the Y component of Electric field at a point

    Homework Statement The figure below shows a thin, vertical rod of length L with total charge Q. The indicated point P is a horizontal distance x from the one end of the rod. What is the electric field at point P. Express your answer in component notation in the two blanks below. L = 5.0 cm, Q...
  33. isukatphysics69

    Find electric field a distance P from a charged rod

    Homework Statement The figure below shows a thin, vertical rod of length L with total charge Q. The indicated point P is a horizontal distance x from the one end of the rod. What is the electric field at point P. Express your answer in component notation in the two blanks below. L = 5.0 cm, Q...
  34. isukatphysics69

    What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field

    Homework Statement What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the position indicated by the dot in the figure below? Give your answer in component form in the blanks below. What is the x-component of the electric field at the indicated point? Homework Equations kq/r^2 The...
  35. cookiemnstr510510

    How Is Electric Flux Calculated for a Rectangle in an Electric Field?

    Homework Statement A 2cm x 3cm rectangle lies in the xy plane. What is the electric flux through the rectangle if Electric field= (100i +50k) N/C Homework Equations Φe=E⋅Acosθ (Electric Flux Equation) The Attempt at a Solution My question is to find the magnitude of the electric field we...
  36. smallville2010

    Electrical Device for Electric Scooter, to get the speed?

    I want to do an application that can connect to my Electric scooter (the kind you stand on) and can get a speed and engine temperature readings, i'm looking into a device i can attach to the wheel or a temperature gauge i can attach to the engine and get a reading from both of them something i...
  37. José Ricardo

    About the efficiency of engines

    if we had an entire car made of Starlite (a material that was created resistant to 18032 °F). Would the efficiency of the combustion engine be close to that of the electric and that of the electric would be almost 100% efficient? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlite
  38. J

    Electric field as a function of time

    Homework Statement Before diving into the quantum-mechanical superposition principle, let’s get some practice with superposition in classical physics. Consider an electromagnetic wave propagating in the z-direction, which is a superposition of two linearly polarized waves. The electric field...
  39. Another

    Problem about electric potential and power transmitted down a cable

    When to use ## V =-\int E ⋅ dl ## or ## V =\int E ⋅ dl ## ? When i use ## V =-\int E ⋅ dl ##. i can not show that P = IV because ##\frac{ln \frac{b}{a}}{ln \frac{a}{b}} ≠ 1## But the solution use ## V =\int E ⋅ dl ## I'm concerned about using "minus" .
  40. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field of bent non conducting rod

    Homework Statement You are given a non conducting rod carrying uniformly distributed charge, -Q, that has been bent into a 120° circular arc of radius, R. The axis of symmetry of the arc lies along the x-axis and the origin is at the center of curvature of the arc. (a) in terms of Q and R...
  41. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field of concentric rings

    Homework Statement Derive the electric field a distance, z, above the center of a single uniformly charged ring of radius, R, with a linear charge density, λ. You are now given two uniformly charged concentric rings. The inner ring has radius, R, and carries a uniformly distributed total charge...
  42. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field above a disk that equals half the max electric field

    Homework Statement At what distance, a, along the axis of a uniformly charged disk of radius R is the axial electric field strength equal to one half its value at the surface of the disk at the center. Homework Equations electric field of disk (attached) The Attempt at a Solution First I...
  43. U

    Electric potential of an electron in a capacitor

    Why is the electric potential of an electron in a capacitor measured from the negative plate and not the positive plate here? This is from Liboff Introductory quantum mechanics 1st(current is 4th) edition: I don't understand why the distance z is measured from the bottom plate if the...
  44. cookiemnstr510510

    Electric field of ring of charge/washer of charge/disk of charge

    Homework Statement Homework Equations charge density equations, electric field equations, The Attempt at a Solution My attempts are attached. The attachment labeled A, is part A. Part B took a lot of paper so there are two attachments labeled B1 and B2. It is really B and C that I am...
  45. J

    Power required to compress air in a gas turbine

    I'm looking for advice on how much power is required to compress air in a gas turbine engine - parameterised by degree of compression and mass flow. Normal gas turbine engines have exhaust turbine(s) on the same shaft as the air compressors. They bleed some of the exhaust energy to drive the...
  46. Captain Levi

    Someone help explain electric dipole situation

    Ok so she says that electric dipoles are of opposite charge but equal magnitude at 3:40. But then at 5:33 she shows 2Q with -Q, at that point the magnitude of the 2Q particle wouldn't be equal to the -Q so they wouldn't be electrical dipoles right?
  47. nashikin58

    How to avoid a clash of magnetic charge and electric charge

    Hi, now I'm working on a project which involves a dc motor and high voltage. I'm developing a machine consists of a motor to rotate a platform disc and high voltage will be applied during the rotation. The problem is when I supply a positive high voltage at motor shaft during rotation, the motor...
  48. eudesvera3

    Paradox of a convergent nozzle fed by an electric fan

    Let us assume we have a cylindrical wind tunnel having a 0.5 m diameter fed by an electric fan. The cross-sectional area of the wind tunnel would be A1 = (PI/4) D1^2 = 0.196349541 m2. Let us suppose the motor driving the fan has a power rating of 1,500 W. At this stage, let us assume that the...
  49. C

    Electric Field Force Exerted Vertically

    Homework Statement A proton enters the uniform electric field produced by the two charged plates shown below. The magnitude of the electric field is 4.0 × 105 N/C, and the speed of the proton when it enters is 1.5 × 107 m/s. What distance d has the proton been deflected downward when it leaves...
  50. J

    Electric and Magnetic field acting on an electron

    Homework Statement In the figure, an electron of mass m, charge − e, and low (negligible) speed enters the region between two plates of potential difference V and plate separation d, initially headed directly toward the top plate. A uniform magnetic field of magnitude B is normal to the plane...
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