1. Electric Fields and Potential
Chapter 16
Electric Fields and Potential

2. Gravitational Field
A force field that exists in the space around every mass.
Forces are “acting at a distance”
Field lines represent the gravitational field
Magnitude and Direction
Closer together = stronger

3. Electrical Field
A force field that exists in the space around every charge.
Forces are “acting at a distance”
Field lines represent the electrical field
Vector Quantity

4. Electrical Field Magnitude and Direction
Strength is a measure of the force exerted on a positive test charge.
Represented by length
Direction is the direction of an electrical force on a positive test charge

7. Potential
Mass some distance above surface of planet has ‘potential’ gravitational energy
Charged particles have potential as well, depending on distance from other charge