Fields & Static (Edexcel GCSE Physics)

Fields & Static

• Charged objects in an electric field experience a force

• The electric field helps to explain the non-contact force between charged objects

  • This is because the electric field cannot be seen, but can be detected by another charged object that moves within that field due to the electric force

• This is a non-contact force because the charged objects do not touch for the force to be exerted

Positive and negative charges will travel towards the opposite charge, creating a spark

• If an electric field becomes strong enough, the charges are forced through insulators such as air, creating a spark

  • This is what happens for example, when a charged person touches a conductor

• The charged particles will travel towards the area with the opposite charge