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184_notes:q_in_wires [2021/02/23 20:22] – [Hypothesis 1 - Electric field comes from the battery alone] bartonmo | 184_notes:q_in_wires [2021/06/08 00:38] (current) – schram45 | ||
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Because the wire is made of metal, electrons are free to move and any excess charge will move to the surface of the wire. Thus, when connected to the battery, **there are charges on the surface of the wire**, which contribute to the net electric field in the wire (in addition to the field from the battery). | Because the wire is made of metal, electrons are free to move and any excess charge will move to the surface of the wire. Thus, when connected to the battery, **there are charges on the surface of the wire**, which contribute to the net electric field in the wire (in addition to the field from the battery). | ||
- | For example, near the negative end of the mechanical battery, there are negative charges on the surface of the wire. Near the positive end of the mechanical battery, there are positive charges on the surface of the wire. Moving farther from the negative end of the battery will result in less and less negative surface charges, with the same effect as you move farther from the positive end. In the middle, there must be a place where the surface charge is zero (where the surface charge switches from positive to negative). **This creates a __continuous | + | For example, near the negative end of the mechanical battery, there are negative charges on the surface of the wire. Near the positive end of the mechanical battery, there are positive charges on the surface of the wire. Moving farther from the negative end of the battery will result in less and less negative surface charges, with the same effect as you move farther from the positive end. In the middle, there must be a place where the surface charge is zero (where the surface charge switches from positive to negative). **This creates a // |
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The electric field around the circuit then follows the charge gradient, pointing from more positive areas of the wire to less positive areas (or from less negative areas to more negative areas). Ultimately, this means that the **electric field follows the wire pointing from the positive end of the battery to the negative**. Remember that because electrons are negative charges, [[184_notes: | The electric field around the circuit then follows the charge gradient, pointing from more positive areas of the wire to less positive areas (or from less negative areas to more negative areas). Ultimately, this means that the **electric field follows the wire pointing from the positive end of the battery to the negative**. Remember that because electrons are negative charges, [[184_notes: | ||
- | The contributions of the surface charges generate an electric field that adds with the electric field due to the battery (via [[184_notes: | + | The contributions of the surface charges generate an electric field that adds with the electric field due to the battery (via [[184_notes: |
If we consider the surface charge hypothesis, this is much more consistent with what we observe when we connect a wire to a battery: | If we consider the surface charge hypothesis, this is much more consistent with what we observe when we connect a wire to a battery: | ||
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==== Examples ==== | ==== Examples ==== | ||
- | [[: | + | * [[: |
+ | * Video Example: Charge Distribution on the Bends of a Circuit | ||
+ | {{youtube> |