AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Electric fields
Electricity · Lesson 10 of 10
Warm-up
Answer each one, then check.
1. What is a field?
A region where a force acts on certain objects
2. Which charges attract?
Unlike charges
3. What is a non-contact force?
A force between objects that are not touching
4. What charge does an electron have?
Negative
5. What is a spark?
A sudden flow of charge through air
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the concept of an electric field.
2. Draw the electric field pattern for an isolated charged sphere.
3. Describe how the strength of the field changes with distance.
4. Explain non-contact forces and sparking using the idea of a field.
Electric Fields
A charged object creates an electric field around itself. A second charged object placed in the field experiences a force.
The field is strongest close to the charged object and gets weaker with distance. The force gets stronger as the distance between the objects decreases.
Field Around a Charged Sphere
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Arrows show the direction of the force on a positive charge. |
Radial electric field lines pointing out of a positive sphere and into a negative sphere.
Drawing the Field of an Isolated Sphere
Follow the rules.
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1 Draw the sphere A circle with plus or minus signs. |
2 Draw straight lines At least 8 lines, evenly spaced, starting at the surface and going radially. |
3 Add arrows Away from a positive sphere; towards a negative sphere. |
4 Show the strength Lines are closer together near the sphere, where the field is stronger. |
Force in a Field
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A small positive charge is placed near a positively charged sphere. Describe the force on it and how it changes as the charge is moved closer. |
1. Direction
The charge is repelled: the force is away from the sphere
2. As it moves closer
The field is stronger, so the force gets stronger
Answer: The force is repulsive and increases as the distance decreases.
Explaining a Spark
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Explain how the idea of an electric field helps to explain sparking. |
1. Charged object
Creates a strong electric field around itself
2. Air
The strong field can make air molecules lose electrons (ionise)
3. Charge flows
The ionised air conducts, so charge flows as a spark
Answer: A strong electric field ionises the air so charge can flow: a spark.
Non-Contact Forces
Fields explain forces at a distance.
▸ Field. A charged object does not touch the other object, but its field acts on it.
▸ Distance. The further away, the weaker the field and the force.
▸ Direction. Field lines show the direction of the force on a positive charge.
Key Terms
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Electric field The region around a charged object where another charge feels a force. |
Field lines Lines showing the direction of the force on a positive charge. |
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Isolated sphere A charged sphere far from any other charges. |
Ionise Remove or add electrons to make ions. |
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Non-contact force A force between objects that are not touching. |
Field strength How large the force on a charge is at a point. |
Your Task: Draw the Field
12 minutes
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Draw the electric field around (a) a positively charged sphere and (b) a negatively charged sphere. Show the arrows and how the strength varies. 1. Draw at least eight lines. 2. Add arrows in the right direction. |
A good answer shows: (a) Radial lines with arrows pointing away, closer together at the sphere. (b) Radial lines with arrows pointing towards the sphere.
Can I...?
☐ Define an electric field.
☐ Draw the field around a positive sphere.
☐ Draw the field around a negative sphere.
☐ Say how strength changes with distance.
☐ Explain non-contact force with fields.
☐ Explain sparking with fields.
☐ Use arrows correctly.
☐ Draw evenly spaced lines.
Summary
✓ An electric field surrounds a charged object.
✓ Field lines point away from positive and towards negative.
✓ The field is strongest close to the object.
✓ A strong field can ionise air and cause a spark.
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EXAM FOCUS Draw the electric field pattern around an isolated negatively charged sphere. (2 marks) Straight lines, arrows pointing towards the sphere. |