What is Electrostatic: Definition and 879 Discussions

Electrostatics is a branch of physics that studies electric charges at rest.
Since classical physics, it has been known that some materials, such as amber, attract lightweight particles after rubbing. The Greek word for amber, ήλεκτρον, or electron, was thus the source of the word 'electricity'. Electrostatic phenomena arise from the forces that electric charges exert on each other. Such forces are described by Coulomb's law.
Even though electrostatically induced forces seem to be rather weak, some electrostatic forces such as the one between an electron and a proton, that together make up a hydrogen atom, is about 36 orders of magnitude stronger than the gravitational force acting between them.
There are many examples of electrostatic phenomena, from those as simple as the attraction of the plastic wrap to one's hand after it is removed from a package to the apparently spontaneous explosion of grain silos, the damage of electronic components during manufacturing, and photocopier & laser printer operation. Electrostatics involves the buildup of charge on the surface of objects due to contact with other surfaces. Although charge exchange happens whenever any two surfaces contact and separate, the effects of charge exchange are usually only noticed when at least one of the surfaces has a high resistance to electrical flow. This is because the charges that transfer are trapped there for a time long enough for their effects to be observed. These charges then remain on the object until they either bleed off to ground or are quickly neutralized by a discharge: e.g., the familiar phenomenon of a static "shock" is caused by the neutralization of charge built up in the body from contact with insulated surfaces.

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  1. Narayanan KR

    Will capacitors react to external electric field

    1. Passage of current via coil creates magnetic field (fig a), similarly external magnetic field linked to coil when changed created electric current in the circuit connected ( Faraday's em induction fig b). 2. Charging of capacitor using voltage source creates electric field in the capacitor...
  2. O

    Potential difference of helium nucleus question

    Homework Statement What potential difference is needed to give a helium nucleus (Q = 3.2 × 10-19 C) 50 keV of kinetic energy? Homework Equations V=U/Q 3.2 × 10-19 C = 2e The Attempt at a Solution I was quite sure I had the right answer but it keeps saying I'm wrong? V = (50*10^3 eV) / 2e =...
  3. O

    Calculating Torque and Work of an Electric Dipole in a Uniform External Field

    Homework Statement An electric dipole consists of +/- Q = 330nC separated by a distance of 1200nm. The dipole is initially oriented in the -i direction (along the negative x axis). The dipole is in a uniform external electric field of E=2500j N/C Determine the following: a) The magnitude of...
  4. K

    Voltage and Potential Energy

    Homework Statement When a -2C is moved from point A to B, the potential energy of the system increases by 10J. What is the voltage V(ab)? Homework Equations U=qV The Attempt at a Solution 10=(-2)V, I thought the voltage was -5V but the correct answer is +5V. Could someone explain why this is?
  5. E

    A question about electrostatic

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution i don't understand what happens at the end, when the pail becomes negative charged!. my assumption is that since the positive charged nylon rod is making the electrons to closed together in one side of the pail by attraction...
  6. E

    Understanding Electrostatics: Explaining Charge Separation in a Physics Lab"

    Homework Statement hi, in my physics lab we did an expirement where we had to use an vernier electrostatic kit. So it consisted of placing a metal can inside a metal cage, and both were attached to an plastic disk, and below was a metal plate which was used for grounding. A black wire was...
  7. G

    I Does a Conductor Inside Another Conductor Have a Constant Potential?

    So the potential inside a conductor is constant. Does this mean that if there were a conductor, B, inside another conductor, A, the charges of A/B would redistribute such that the electric field inside would be zero (hence constant potential)? This seems logical but a bit too easy? Also, if it...
  8. K

    I Virtual photons [in electrostatic interactions]

    I've been looking through the internet and I haven't found anything too clear on this: is it correct to assume a electrostatic interaction, say, between two stationary electrons as an exchange of virtual photons?
  9. Rajeswar Panja

    Curl of electrostatic field vector

    I know that the curl of electrostatic field vector is zero. I want to know what will be the curl of electrostatic field at the edge region of the finite parallel plate capacitor?
  10. A

    Difference between electrostatic charges& electric charges

    What's the difference between electrostatic charges& electric charges
  11. zwanderer

    Electrostatic precipitators to capture diesel pollution?

    I would like to understand if someone has tried/or atleast if its feasible to make a Electrostatic precipitators that captures automotive pollution from sources like this? Does the physics allow to do that?
  12. Gummy_Bear

    Kinetic energy of positron and proton

    1.e problem statement, all variables and given/known data Two positrons and two protons are kept on the four corners of a square of side a. Positrons are kept at vertices A and C and protons are kept at B and D. let q denote the charge on both positron as well as the proton. So what is the...
  13. K

    Electrostatic Energy in the Hydrogen Atom

    Homework Statement We model the Hydrogen atom as a charge distribution in which the proton (a point charge) is surrounded by negative charge with the volume density of ρ = -ρ0 * exp (-2r/a0) where a0 is the Bohr radius. And ρ0 is a constant chosen such that the entire atomic distribution is...
  14. J

    Missmatch in electrostatic force calc. by different methods

    I have been looking into the forces exerted by electrostatic fields and have come up with different answers using two different methods. I would appreciate any help in pointing to a reference that will reconcile this or point to an error in my methods. To keep things simple I am using a one...
  15. Swapnil Das

    Reasons for Electrostatic interactions

    Hello. Well, each and everyone of us know that Like Charges repel, while unlike charges attract. That's a normal high school physics fact. But what's the reason for that? Is it just an experimental fact, or even does have theoretical significance? Please do help. Thanks a lot Swapnil Das.
  16. P

    Electrostatic Potential: Value at zero distance from charge

    Formula for Electrostatic Potential due to a point charge is V=1/4π∈ Q1 Q2/r This implies that at r=0 value of the potential should be infinity. Is it True. If that is the case then how we say the terminals of a battery having positive and negative charge are having definite value of...
  17. M

    Difference between electric, electrical and electrostatic

    Homework Statement Is there a difference between electric, electrical and electrostatic force? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I used them interchageably. Is it incorrect?
  18. P

    Electrostatic Interaction Energy of a Rod and a Ring

    Homework Statement [/B] Thin rod of length l is placed with one of its ends at the center O of the (thin circular )ring of radius R as shown (Figure 1), perpendicular to the plane of the ring. The rod is charged with total charge Q that is distrubted along the rod's length with linear charge...
  19. P

    Electrostatic field at the centre of a disk

    Homework Statement A thin conducting disc has radius a thickness b and electrical resistivity ρ. It is placed in a uniform time-dependent magnetic induction ##B = B_0 sin ωt## directed parallel to the axis of the disc. Assuming that ρ is large, find E at a distance r < a from the axis of the...
  20. B

    Relatively simple vectors question, but no numbers....

    The unit right now is electrostatics, but this question is really just vectors, nothing to do with charges or anything... anyways here is the info: 1. Homework Statement Three identical point charges, A, B, and C are located as shown here: The force A-on-C is the same as the force B-on-C...
  21. P

    Find the electrostatic potential above loop of charge Q?

    Homework Statement An electric charge Q is uniformly distributed along a thin circular wire situated in the z = 0 plane at x2 + y2 = R2 . Determine the electrostatic potential at the point (0, 0, D). Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I figured the only components that mattered would...
  22. electricnoob

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  23. Biker

    Uncharged object between two charged plates

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  24. N

    Electrostatic potential a a point, the pluses and minuses

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  25. C

    Electrostatic seperator questions

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  26. Khaled Yasein

    Electrostatic potential of a charged disk

    How can I find the electrostatic potential of any point on a charged disk with radius R and surface charge density σ
  27. V

    A Problem In Electromagnetic Phenomena

    Homework Statement [/B] In a thin rectangular metallic strip a constant current I flows along the positive x-direction, as shown in the figure. The length, width and thickness of the strip are l,w and d, respectively. A uniform magnetic field B is applied on the strip along the positive...
  28. V

    How Does Introducing Different Dielectrics Affect Capacitance?

    Homework Statement A parallel plate capacitor having plates of area S and plate separation d, has capacitance C1 in air. When two dielectrics of different relative permittivities ( ε1=2 and ε2=4) are introduced between the two plates as shown in the figure, the capacitance becomes C2. the ratio...
  29. Y

    Force on a charge due to charged sheet

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  30. M

    A Electrostatic Repulsion of graphene layer on metal surface

    Dear Member, Respected Members, I am working on the behaviour of hydrogen at the Cu/Ni (111)-graphene interface. In case of Ni (111), the atomic H on the interface diffuse inside the the surface. While in case of Cu (111), the H atom stays at the Cu(111)-graphene interface. It seems that H...
  31. Titan97

    Surface charge density of conducting disc

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  32. P

    Find the electrostatic interaction energy between the dipole

    Homework Statement Consider the following pair of dipoles in one dimension. One of the dipoles: -ve dipole positioned at (-D/2, 0) and +ve (+D/2, 0), with the origin between them. Other dipole: -ve dipole positioned at (r-d/2, 0) and +ve at (r+d/2, 0), with (r, 0) being the centre. Show that...
  33. blee22

    Electrostatic, Electric Field,Electrostatic potential energy

    Homework Statement In the figure below, a right triangle, determine the magnitudes of the a. Net e-field at p (assume a proton is placed at p) b. Net electrostatic force at P c. Net electrostatic potential at P let q = 1.70 x 10^-8, R = 78cm and P is halfway between Q1 and Q3 Red dot is P A^2...
  34. A

    Boundary conditions electrostatic potential

    I'm modelling a system with a nanosized semiconductor in 1d, inside which I want to find the electrostatic potential. Having found this I am unsure what boundary conditions to put on this, when it is connected to a metal on one side and to vacuum on the other. So far I have put that it is...
  35. A

    Find the interaction potential energy

    Homework Statement 2 concentric shells are placed with inner shell having charge q and outer charge -q, with radii a and b respectively. Homework Equations don't know The Attempt at a Solution the question asked me to find self energy of the 2 shells and interaction potential energy,i found...
  36. UchihaClan13

    What is the explanation for the electrostatic force between two charged bodies?

    Okay guys It's no wonder I love electrostatics I keep on getting so many doubts Okay my doubt goes like this Consider 2 charges(q1and q2 having masses m1and m2 (here i am assuming that these two aren't point charges and therefore don't have negligible volume/mass) Okay so i am neglecting the...
  37. J

    Electrostatic analysis of cad model of protons neutrons

    Could the orbit filling order of electrons be more classical and less quantum? I attached a jpeg and need someone to do a electrostatics analysis of the CAD model version of it. Does anyone have an electrostatics software package and have time to do a finite element analysis on a 3-D part to...
  38. F

    Methods of Images between two parallel cylinder

    Homework Statement Using methods of Images, How do I find the potential of the system consisting of two conducting cylinders that are not grounded and separated at a distance of 2D, one in a potential of V_0 and the other is -V_0? Homework Equations The potential due to an infinite line...
  39. Monkey_Man08

    What is the unknown charge if the net electrostatic force on particle 1 is zero?

    1. The problem statement: In the figure four particles form a square with edge length a = 2.44 × 10-2 m. The charges are q1 = q4 = 1.06 × 10-15 C and q2 = q3 = q. What is q if the net electrostatic force on particle 1 is zero? All variables and given/known data: The given variable are in the...
  40. seb7

    Electrostatic Forces: Attraction vs Repulsion

    Hi, two questions: Does the same energy put into an attraction force give the same force as a repulsion force? I am wondering if one is measuring slightly weaker than the other. ie. If I measure the positive/negative attraction force, is the positive/positive repulsion force as strong when...
  41. V

    Doubt on equipotential surfaces

    i know that all conductors are equipotential,then how are charges flowing in a conductor?and at times in we say that charges won't flow since two points are equipotential(like in wheat stone bridge we say that charge won't flow across the capacitor/resistor since the ends of the 5th...
  42. gracy

    How to find electrostatic interaction energy?

    How to find electrostatic interaction energy between two uniformly charged conducting spheres /uniformly charged non conducting spheres or between a charge and uniformly charged spherical shell I mean what is general method of finding electrostatic energy in a given system.I don't have any...
  43. V

    Please help me with this doubt from electrostatics

    in deriving the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor why do we take the field between the capacitors as σ/∈ and not 2σ/∈,when there are two plates and in the region between the capacitors, field must add up so shouldn't it be 2σ/∈?
  44. V

    Why Isn't Induced Charge Shown in Electrostatics Problems?

    Homework Statement Please see this illustration http://www.physicsgalaxy.com/lectures/1/57/1006/Solved-Example-1#6 (see question only) Homework Equations potential due to a hollow sphere at it's centre = kq/rThe Attempt at a Solution here won't there be an induced positive charge on the outer...
  45. S

    Physics Homework Question on Electrostatic forces

    Homework Statement Charge is distributed on the surface of a spherical balloon (an insulator). A point particle with charge q is inside. If polarization effects are negligible the electrical force on the particle q is greatest when: a. it is near the inside surface of the balloon b. it is at...
  46. 24forChromium

    Is Electrostatic Ion Separation Possible for Industrial Element Separation?

    This is probably painfully obvious, but I keeping getting the impression that aqueous ions can be separated spatially via electrostatic force. For example, dissolve some sodium chloride in water, and then put the container in an electric field. Wouldn't the sodium ions migrate to the negative...
  47. D

    Principle behind electrostatic shielding?

    if we have a solid conducting sphere with charges around it, then the elctric field inside the sphere is zero otherwise the electrons of the sphere would not be in equilibrium as there would be a net force acting on it. however if its a hollow sphere then why does the electric field inside the...
  48. E

    Electrostatic pressure for a sheet

    Homework Statement An infinitely large layer of charge of uniform thickness t is placed normal to an existing uniform electric field. The charge on the sheet alters the electric field so that it still remains uniform on both sides of the sheet and assumes values E1 and E2 (E1 on the left...
  49. E

    Electrostatic force between two halves of sphere

    Homework Statement Find the electrostatic force of interaction between two halves of a spherical conductor of radius R carrying a charge Q. This thread already exists- https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/electric-force-between-two-halves-of-a-sphere.317380/ but is closed. Homework Equations...
  50. J

    Electrostatic discharge without dielectric breakdown?

    I saw an experiment the other day, where a van de graaf generator charges up this big smooth chrome sphere. There is a "wand" with a much smaller sphere nearby that's grounded, and periodically a spark can be heard and seen when the big sphere dischrages to the wand, which corresponds to...
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