Physics 12.3.2a - The Electric Field Around a Charge

[PaulK0512]

Ugh this makes too much sense.

[Bruinboi16]

a capacitor video would be awesome

[sarwansagar]

why is it necessary to assume the test charge to be positive?

[derekowens]

@sarwansagar It's not necessary to assume the test charge is positive. You could imagine, for example, a negative test charge, and think about how it would behave. However, the direction of the field is *defined* as the direction of the force it would exert on a positive test charge.

[behnamasid]

Does the electric field go out to infinity?

[derekowens]

@behnamasid Yes, but it weakens with distance. If you could go all the way to an infinite distance, then it would weaken all the way to zero.

[bigmangiff]

excellent video , really helpful :) thank you!

[UAR1992]

Great explanation dude thanks very helpfull

[latetilla0205]

Hi, I hav a question I hope you can help me! Why do positive and negative charges attract? Why do (+) and (+) repel? Because teachers always say this is how it works, but why does it work this way?

[derekowens]

@latetilla0205 I don't think we can say why that is the case. That is simply the way the universe is. Newton explained the equation for gravity, but when asked "why", he simply said, "I feign no hypothesis", meaning that he did not pretend to know why - God had simply made the universe that way. Just as we live in a world with gravitational forces, we also live in a world with electrical forces. Asking "why" is a very legitimate, but it is more in the ream of philosophy than science

[latetilla0205]

@derekowens Thank's for answering. I believe not knowing why they attract is the same thing as when we didn't know why thing's go down. I hope scientists work on this kind of things, and I hope one day to be able to contribute with this things :) By the way, you are a terrific persone for doing this, thank you so much for spreading your knoledge for free, KUDOS!!

[Redeyes143open]

Thaks Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tenseman08]

i like the way you say moon..The Moun lol

[00ZeeeeZooo00]

Thanks for the vedioes Mr. Owens

keep it up, students needs people like u

Only one thing to ask :$

have u ever consider making vedioes about : Flux and Gauss' Law, Capacitance, and Current and resistance ?? If there are vedioes about them would u send me the links plz ??

thanks again

[firebirdkarla]

As a physics student teacher, your videos have been fantastic for me. I have more confidence in clearly presenting these topics to my students. Thank you

[firebirdkarla]

As a physics student teacher, your videos have been fantastic for me. I have more confidence in clearly presenting these topics to my students. Thank you

[kokocipher]

If "Force at a distance" is a factual concept, then Magneto's power could exist!! :O

[RichieVJL123]

Wow... good videos .... Thumbs up :)

[Hioto555]

THANK YOU!

[Techn0cide]

I have a Physics test tomorow. I am 11th grade. I never studied physics in my life. Never understood what the teacher was saying about physics in class.. Every time I tried to study physics I was disapointed because I couldn't understend anything. I watched some of our videos, and now I think that I am starting to understand, and like physics. Thnk u so much dude...

[DARKsonofCHAOS]

Thumbs up for Mobile ringing at 4:00

nokia 1112 :D

[puncheex]

I would stress a couple of things; that the choice of a positive test charge is arbitrary, but is a standard in electrical use. I'd also point out that the electrical field, unlike the gravitic field, can attract or repel, while the gravitational field always attracts. Very good use of graphics, and clear presentation.

[derekowens]

@puncheex Yes, good points. The positive test charge is arbitrary and that's definitely worth mentioning. I do cover attraction and repulsion compared to gravity only attracting in other places. Thanks for the feedback.

[puncheex]

@derekowens: Thanks. I must say when I was investigating these same things long ago, that was a big question in my mind that I had to intuit. Good stuff!

[moezart94]

@derekowens Why isn't the test charge negative? or if it was a negative charge, what would happen?

[derekowens]

@moezart94 Well, you could think of it either way. By convention, we typically think of the test charge as positive. A negative charge would be forced in the opposite direction of a positive charge.

[moezart94]

@derekowens Thanks for answering :) I want to ask you one more question I hope you can help. What are the uses of knowing the directions? Is there any video that explains it?

[BoroTheYeti]

@derekowens do you have a video about capacitors? thanks

[Anikaangellove]

we watched your video in our physics class :)

[derekowens]

@Anikaangellove Excellent!  I hope it was effective.

[11053634s]

it good to understand it more clearly. thaks.

[gunhound45]

you are god :)

[kitzayitzay]

lol, all ur videos are saved in my favourites....hehhehe...thanx heaps for the help....and btw, loving the analogies

[jim830320]

Thanks for your hard working, and it's clear & easy-understanding for me.

[WizzardOle]

WOW Thanks allot for this explanation =)

[vaeshi]

Its a pretty cool video science dude. Come back with some more videos, they really help out...

[punkvijay224]

thanks for uploading...its really helping me a lot...thank from heart>>>>