Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 184_notes:pc_force [2021/01/26 21:25] – [General Relationship] bartonmo
+++ 184_notes:pc_force [2021/01/26 21:28] – [General Relationship] bartonmo
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 $$\vec{F}_{net \rightarrow q}=q*\vec{E}_{net}$$
-Where we are using the notation of $net \rightarrow q$ to show that this is the force //from// the net electric field //on// the charge q. Since electric field is a vector and charge is a scalar, when they are multiplied together, the result is a vector (electric force). This vector points in the same direction as the electric field for positive charges and in the opposite direction of the electric field in the case of negative charges. **Note that this is the electric force from the //external electric field// on the //charge//**. A charge's own electric field cannot affect the charge itself (for the same reason that you can't lift a board while standing on it and fly).  **Also note that electric force is not the same thing as electric field**, but they are related. The electric field is the //electric force per unit charge// at a given location; in a sense, it tells you how large (magnitude) and which way (direction) the force could be. //Note there's some ambiguity about the direction of the force as it would matter which kind of charge is placed in the field.//
+Where we are using the notation of $net \rightarrow q$ to show that this is the force //from// the net electric field //on// the charge q. Since electric field is a vector and charge is a scalar, when they are multiplied together, the result is a vector (electric force). This vector points in the same direction as the electric field for positive charges and in the opposite direction of the electric field in the case of negative charges. **Note that this is the electric force from the //external electric field// on the //charge//**. A charge's own electric field cannot affect the charge itself (for the same reason that you can't lift a board while standing on it and fly).  **Also note that electric force is not the same thing as electric field**, but they are related. The electric field is the //electric force per unit charge// at a given location; in a sense, it tells you how large (magnitude) and which way (direction) the force could be. //Note there is some ambiguity about the direction of the force as it would matter which kind of charge is placed in the field.//
 The electric force works in the same way as any other force that you learned about in Mechanics: