Questions tagged [electrostatics]
Electrostatics is concerned with the electrical fields and scalar potentials of stationary electrical charges and charge distributions. Use this for questions about electromagnetic situations in which currents and magnetic fields are absent, otherwise use the [electromagnetism] and/or [magnetic-fields] tags.
8,231 questions
3 votes
1 answer
85 views
How is this ratio formula for two conducting balls true?
I recently skimmed through my tutor's physics book, it's not the greatest book out there since it doesn't provide much detail about how the physics works rather its more like a compilation for ...
- 133
0 votes
1 answer
135 views
Working principle of Van de Graaff generator revisited
I have a few questions about principle how van de Graaff generator works. To avoid confusion I will use numbering from the wiki picture: [ADDED LATER #1] See also here for nearly identical ...
- 1,721
-2 votes
0 answers
10 views
Typing math equations at physics stack exchange in mathjax [migrated]
How do you type equations at physics stack exchange. Seems like mathjax is proposed, but what are the steps ? Thanks Sorry about the tag and if this not the correct place to ask for help.
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2 votes
0 answers
42 views
Does a net charge inside sealed container increase the pressure?
If you ionize the gas inside a sealed container, giving it a net positive or negative charge, does the pressure of the gas on the walls of the container increase due to electric forces? If so, has ...
- 559
-1 votes
0 answers
64 views
Why does my electroscope not work after the first time?
I have a gold leaf electroscope which works very well the first time. After thus it stopped working. Even when the gold leaf moves, it moves very less. How to fix this?
- 127
0 votes
0 answers
27 views
What is the equation for the change in electric potential due to a field generated by a point charge? [duplicate]
I'm a current AP Physics 2 high school student with a test in a few days; a swift reply would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance. My question is concerning the formula for the change in ...
- 63
6 votes
1 answer
299 views
Does the electric potential energy of a positively-charged particle vary directly with its distance from a charged particle or surface?
Current high school AP Physics II student here, so apologies if this question comes off as unlearned. I'm trying to learn about electric potential in my class, but I realize I still don't understand ...
- 63
1 vote
2 answers
103 views
Why does the Poisson equation help to compute the electric field $E$ when the integral is intractable?
Currently I am reading through Griffiths Introduction to Electrodynamics and I am in chapter 3.1 about Laplace's equation. The author explains that our aim is to compute the electric field given a ...
-1 votes
2 answers
62 views
How does electric potential vary between two positive test charges? [closed]
If you plot a graph showing the variance of electric potential between two charges, does the middle have a maximum or minimum electric potential and why?
- 3
0 votes
0 answers
56 views
Why am I getting Work done as negative in bringing a positive charge near another positive charge? [duplicate]
Let us consider a charge $Q>0$ at origin. Let $P(r,0)$ where $r>0$ be on $X$ axis.Consider a point $M(x,0),\:x>r$ from which we have to move a charge $q>0$ towards point $P$. Now I am the ...
- 113
0 votes
3 answers
83 views
When do we consider that grounding the conductor makes the potential zero?
When do we consider that grounding the conductor makes the potential zero? I was recently seeing why is the outer charge of the system of grounded conducting plate becomes zero, and the reason given ...
- 23
2 votes
1 answer
80 views
Edge singularity and finite energy in a conducting wedge
Solving Laplace in a conducting wedge of opening angle $a$ with Dirichlet data on $\phi = 0, a$ gives $$ \Phi(r, \phi) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty A_nr^{n\pi / a} \sin \frac{n\pi \phi}{a}. $$ Near the apex $r ...
0 votes
0 answers
47 views
How is the $E$ field at the surface of a charged rod affected by its dielectric constant?
I am seeking clarification on a concept from a test question I have been studying. Essentially, the question gives an example of an infinitely long charged rod, made of an insulating material. The rod ...
- 23
1 vote
2 answers
142 views
Will an off-center charge inside a conducting shell experience a force, or is the force zero? [duplicate]
I have a fundamental question about the force on a charge inside a conducting shell that I can't resolve. The setup: Take a hollow, spherical conducting shell (it can be charged or uncharged). Place ...
-1 votes
2 answers
84 views
Why is the electrical field outside spherical (shell) conductor radial if the charge $q$ inside is not concentric with the shell?
Suppose we have a spherical shell that is a conductor and randomly inside the shell a charge $q$. Then inside the shell the electrical field should be $0$. Why is that? I'm thinking that the ...
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