What is Electrostatic: Definition and 879 Discussions

Electrostatics is a branch of physics that studies electric charges at rest.
Since classical physics, it has been known that some materials, such as amber, attract lightweight particles after rubbing. The Greek word for amber, ήλεκτρον, or electron, was thus the source of the word 'electricity'. Electrostatic phenomena arise from the forces that electric charges exert on each other. Such forces are described by Coulomb's law.
Even though electrostatically induced forces seem to be rather weak, some electrostatic forces such as the one between an electron and a proton, that together make up a hydrogen atom, is about 36 orders of magnitude stronger than the gravitational force acting between them.
There are many examples of electrostatic phenomena, from those as simple as the attraction of the plastic wrap to one's hand after it is removed from a package to the apparently spontaneous explosion of grain silos, the damage of electronic components during manufacturing, and photocopier & laser printer operation. Electrostatics involves the buildup of charge on the surface of objects due to contact with other surfaces. Although charge exchange happens whenever any two surfaces contact and separate, the effects of charge exchange are usually only noticed when at least one of the surfaces has a high resistance to electrical flow. This is because the charges that transfer are trapped there for a time long enough for their effects to be observed. These charges then remain on the object until they either bleed off to ground or are quickly neutralized by a discharge: e.g., the familiar phenomenon of a static "shock" is caused by the neutralization of charge built up in the body from contact with insulated surfaces.

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  1. K

    Electrostatic Forces and Coulombs Law Question

    Homework Statement Two small, positively charged spheres have a combined charge of 5.4 x 10-5 C. If each sphere is repelled from the other by an electrostatic force of 1.04 N when the spheres are 2.2 m apart, what is the charge on sphere with the smaller charge? Homework Equations...
  2. N

    Electrostatic problem with vectors

    Homework Statement Hi all. A uniformly charged sphere centeren at (0,0,0) has a spherical hole inside and the hole has it's center at (d,0,0). Find the electric field inside the hole. The Attempt at a Solution I use superposition. The electric field from the sphere itself is trivial...
  3. N

    Electrical Circuit Calculations

    [SOLVED] electrostatic physics? Homework Statement a cabin contains only two small electrical appliances: a radio that requires 10 milliamperes of current at 9 volts and a clock that requires 20 milliamperes at 15 volts, a 15 volt battery with negligible internal resistance supples the...
  4. C

    Electrostatic force of four charged particles

    [SOLVED] electrostatic force Homework Statement The figure shows an arrangement of four charged particles, with angle θ = 33.0 ˚ and distance d = 3.00 cm. Particle 2 has charge q2 = 8.00 × 10-19 C; particles 3 and 4 have charges q3 = q4 = -1.60 × 10-19 C. What is the distance D between the...
  5. T

    Can electrostatic forces explain electron configurations?

    I've been studying basic atomic structure-- shells, subshells, orbitals, the four quantum numbers, the periodic table, etc. I've seen diagrams of "atomic structure" that show arrangements of electrons: 1s2, 2p2, 2p6 etc. and I understand how the configurations are derived from the quantum...
  6. T

    Can electrostatic forces explain electron configurations?

    I've been studying basic atomic structure-- shells, subshells, orbitals, the four quantum numbers, the periodic table, etc. This is in a chemistry book, but if my question belongs in the physics forum please let me know. I've seen diagrams of "atomic structure" that show arrangements of...
  7. D

    Electrostatic Forces on Particles

    [SOLVED] Electrostatic Forces on Particles "An Astatine 219 nucleus and an alpha particle at a spacing of 1.5 x 10^-15 m are formed during alpha decay. If the initial velocity of the two particles is zero, calculate the ratio of their velocities." I was thinking of making a ratio of their...
  8. D

    Lenz's Law and counter torque in relation to electrostatic induction

    All right, I was just wandering about something. First, when we have a electric generator, than the rotor in it will rotate easily until current is drawn from it, correct? In other words, counter torque won't be produced until current is drawn. If this isn't true, than just stop reading the...
  9. D

    Electrostatic Fields inside Charged Conductors

    Hi, I'm having a little trouble understanding why the field inside a charged conductor must be zero. I understand that when the charge is put on the conductor, they spread out to the surface such that the surface becomes an equipotential. But why does that mean the field inside must be zero?
  10. A

    How does electrostatic levitation work?

    Any knows how electrostatic levitation works? I know it is the process of using an electrostatic field to lift a charged object, but how does it work? what goes on in the atoms in the dust and with the electric field?
  11. H

    Calculating Electrostatic Work: q1, q2, k, W

    Homework Statement A point charge with charge q1 is held stationary at the origin. A second point charge with charge q2 moves from the point (x1, 0) to the point (x2,y2). How much work W is done by the electrostatic force on the moving point charge? Express answer in joules. Use k for...
  12. B

    Strength of electrostatic force

    Homework Statement Three point charges are located at the corner of an equilateral triangle. The Coulomb constant is 8.98755 X 109 N*m2 / C2 What is the strength of the electrostatic force on the top charge? Answer in units of N. Length of each side is .19m Photo...
  13. H

    Collecting Electrostatic Charge

    What is the best way to collect electrostatic charge from particles in an airtight system? The particles will pass over a collector (that which we are trying to determine), discharge and be circulated away. I'm just not exactly sure what to use. It will either be just plain air, or possibly a...
  14. H

    Capacitors,dielectrics and electrostatic forces

    hi in what direction does the electrostatic force act when we insert a dielectric within a capacitor? and when we remove the dielectric? supposedly they act in opposite directions in each case, and either push or pull the dielectric out or into the capacitor. i m not able to understand how the...
  15. B

    Electrostatic energy with gauss' law

    Homework Statement A solid sphere contains a uniform volume charge density (charge Q, radius R). (a) Use Gauss’s law to find the electric field inside the sphere. (b) Integrate E^2 over spherical shells over the volumes inside and outside the sphere. (c) What fraction of the total electrostatic...
  16. W

    Electrostatic boundary condition

    The question : Consider a thin spherical shell of radius R with a uniform charge density sigma. If a very small piece of this surface were removed, leaving a small hole, what would the electric field be at a point just above/below the hole? Relevent info : the field due to the patch of...
  17. C

    The electric field is perpendicular to the electrostatic force

    Hi, please anyone hlep me this statement. I am doing online quiz. one question I am getting problem. so, i want to know this statement true or false... The electric field is perpendicular to the electrostatic force ( T or F) Thansk!.
  18. A

    Can an electrostatic force repel or just attract?

    [SOLVED] Can an electrostatic force repel or just attract? Two charged plates can't be made to repel each other right?
  19. A

    A Question Related to Electrostatic Energy and Capacitors

    Homework Statement A charge Q is at the origin. A second charge, Qx = 2Q, is brought to the point x = a and y = 0. A third charge Qy is brought to the point x = 0, y = a. If it takes twice as much work to bring in Qy as it did Qx, what is Qy in terms of Q? Homework Equations My main problem...
  20. A

    Calculate Electrostatic Force: Metal Spheres 3.00x10^-6C & 2.00x10^-6C @12.0cm

    Homework Statement A metal sphere with a negative charge of 3.00x10^-6C is placed 12.0 cm from another similar metal sphere with a positive charge of 2.00x10^-6C. The two spheres momentarily touch, then return to their original positions. Calculate the electrostatic force acting on the two...
  21. Y

    Experimental proof of electrostatic equilibrium

    Hey, In my physics we derived certain properties of conductors in electrostatic equilibrium using Gauss' law. One property seemed to "mathematical" to me. It says that the whole charge of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is located at the surface. The proof is at follows. Since the...
  22. A

    Electrostatic forces and the principle of superposition

    1. Explain what is meant by statement that electrostatic forces obey the principle of superposition? 2. what does it mean to say that physical quantityis (a) quantized or (b) conserved.
  23. U

    Net Force Exerted on 4.0*10-9 C Charge at Origin

    Homework Statement A 1.4*10-9 C charge is on the x-axis at x = -2.0 m, a 7.0*10-9 C charge is on the x-axis at x = 2.5 m. Find the net force exerted on a 4.0*10-9 C charge located at the origin. Homework Equations F=k(q1*q2) / (r^2) k= 9*10^9 The Attempt at a Solution I simply...
  24. A

    Electrostatic Experiments: Why Not Work on Humid Days?

    Why do electrostatic experiments not work well on humid days?
  25. Z

    Calculating Electrostatic Pressure on a Charged Metallic Sphere

    Homework Statement We are told to consider a thin uniform metallic sphere carrying a charge Q. First we found the electrostatic energy of the electric field E and now we are told to find the electrostatic pressure on the sphere from this.Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution We are told...
  26. J

    Electrostatic induction with planes -

    Homework Statement Two large plane parallel conducting plates are connected by a wire and are a distance D apart in a vacuum. A point charge +q is placed in the space between them and a disstance b (<D) from one of them. What proportion of the charge +q is induced on each of the two plates...
  27. E

    Photoelectric Effect and electrostatic potential

    Homework Statement A silver ball is suspended by an insulating string in a vacuum chamber and light of wavelength 200nm is directed at it. The ball and the chamber are both initially at zero electrostatic potential. Electrons ejected from the ball causes the electrostatic potential to change...
  28. G

    Electrostatic Force of water molecule

    [SOLVED] Electrostatic Force Homework Statement The dipole moment of the water molecule H2O is 6.17x10^-30 Cm. Consider a water molecule located at the origin whose dipole moment p_vec points in the positive x direction. A chlorine ion (Cl-), of charge -1.60x10^-19 C, is located at...
  29. 7

    Micro/macro collection between electrostatic

    i have question, if A 2.00 mm-diameter copper ball is charged to + 70.0 nC. What fraction of its electrons have been removed? I know i have to use the relation, q = (Nprotons - Neletrons)e, but i can't figure out the answer. what does e stand for. please help thankyou
  30. D

    Create High Voltage Zero Current Pure Electrostatic Device

    Dear Alls, I need your advice regarding my experiment in producing the High Voltage Zero Current, Pure Electrostatic device. The Input Power/Voltage: 5 Watt/220 Volt The Output Voltage shall be 20.000 Volt The Output Current shall be 0 Micro Ampere. Please assist me in step by step...
  31. J

    Net electrostatic force on charge between parallel plates

    I am having some trouble getting started with this problem. Do I want to use kq/r^2 at all or should I be doing something else? The problem is: Two point charges, Q1=-6.7 microCoulombs and Q2= 1.3 microcoulombs, are located between two oppositely charged plates. (The positively charged...
  32. M

    Electrostatic Force of Water on a Chlorine Ion

    The dipole moment of the water molecule ({\rm H}_{2}{\rm O}) is 6.17 \times 10^{-30}\;{\rm C \cdot m}. Consider a water molecule located at the origin whose dipole moment p_vec points in the positive x direction. A chlorine ion ({\rm Cl}^{-}), of charge -1.60 \times 10^{-19}\;{\rm C}, is located...
  33. M

    Electrostatic Force of a hydrogen atom

    [SOLVED] Electrostatic Force Homework Statement One model of the structure of the hydrogen atom consists of a stationary proton with an electron moving in a circular path around it.The orbital path has a radius of 5.3x10^-11m. The masses of a proton and an electron are 1.67x10^-27kg and...
  34. M

    Electrostatic force between more than 2 charges

    hi i don't know if this has been posted or not but i am sort fo stuck on this one What is the force F_vec on the 1 nC charge at the bottom? View Figure Write your answer as two vector components, separated by a comma. Express each component numerically, in Newtons, to three significant...
  35. K

    Electrostatic Potential in Electric Fields

    Homework Statement 1. Four charged particles are held fixed at the corners of a square of side s. All the charges have the same magnitude Q, but two are positive and two are negative. In Arrangement 1, shown below, charges of the same sign are at opposite corners. Express your answers to...
  36. G

    Solving electrostatic, rotationally symmetric 3D problem with conformal mapping?

    I heard that one can solve 2D problem with conformal mapping of complex numbers. Is it possible to use this method for 3D axial-rotationally symmetric problems (which are effectively 2D with a new term in the differential equation)?
  37. O

    Electrostatic Speed Experiments?

    Does anyone know of an experiment that shows that the electrostatic and/or magnetostatic forces have a finite speed, i.e. transmission time? I think I remember reading somewhere that Hertz devised experiments that showed that one or the other or both effects had a finite transmission time. In...
  38. Y

    Electrostatic force between two arbitrary shapes

    I am looking some help on applying the well known formula of the electrostatic force between two parallel capacitor plates on charged surfaces which have non usual shapes. My approach is to break apart the total surface into segments with common shapes and calculating the force between each two...
  39. A

    Calculate Electrostatic Force Between Two Plates

    Hello, first post here. I hope this is in the right section. I have spent an hour or so surfing the net and could not figure this out (i am bad at physics). How do you figure out the electrostatic force attracting two plates? The plates are 2sq/m, have a 0.006m spacing, and have 10000 volts...
  40. Reshma

    What is the Proportionality of Electrostatic Potential at a Distance?

    Homework Statement (Objective type question) Consider a square ABCD of side a, with charges +q, -q, +q, -q placed at the vertices, A, B, C, D in a clockwise manner. The electrostatic potential at some point located at distances r(r>>a) is proportional to? Homework Equations V...
  41. H

    Find electrostatic force between

    find electrostatic force problem: there's a long straight wire with a λ1 charge. at some distance from it there's a bar charged with a λ2 charge. the bar is not parallel to the straight wire, instead it's inclined with an angle "alpha" between the dotted line, parallel to the wire, passing...
  42. Labyrinth

    Exchange of photons/virtual photons and electrostatic or EM force

    How does the exchange of photons/virtual photons give rise to the electrostatic or electromagnetic force? Why do like charges repel and opposite charges attract?
  43. S

    Electrostatic Lab: Rub a Balloon for Styrofoam Repulsion

    Rub a balloon containing a few pieces of Styrofoam towards your sweater or a piece of wool/fur. What do you observe when you touch with your finger one of the piece through the balloon? Why does this happen? The Styrofoam repels within the balloon. You charge the balloon negative by rubbing...
  44. B

    Question about electrostatic forces

    Two identical conducting spheres, fixed in place, attract each other with an electrostatic force of 0.0864 N when their center-to-center separation is 70.6 cm. The spheres are then connected by a thin conducting wire. When the wire is removed, the spheres repel each other with an electrostatic...
  45. U

    Calculations in developing an Electrostatic Series

    Homework Statement Lab: rub each of a set of hard materials against a set of soft materials. Hold the hard materials near a suspended, negatively charged comb (wool rubbed) to determine the charge polarity and strength on the hard item. Create a list of the hard and soft items used in order...
  46. P

    Electrostatic force between charges.

    Hi! we did a lab where we charged a big sphere with 5kV, with this sphere we then charged another smaller sphere that was hanging loose from a string by touching it. We had to measure the distance the small sphere moved from its initial position and also the distance from the big sphere to the...
  47. H

    Electrostatic Self-energy of an arbitrary spherically symmetric charge density

    Homework Statement Find an expression for the electrostatic self-energy of an arbitrary spherically symmetric charge density distribution p(r). You may not assume that p(r) represents any point charge, or that it is constant, or that it is piecewise constant, or that it does or does not cut...
  48. H

    Electrostatic Self-Energy of a Uniform Density Sphere of Charge

    Find an expression for the electrostatic self-energy of an arbitrary spherically symmetric charge density distribution p(r). You may not assume that p(r) represents any point charge, or that it is constant, or that it is piecewise constant, or that it does or does not cut off at any finite...
  49. B

    Simple Electrostatic problem with conductor

    Hi Friends, I was thinking of having a either a point charge or some amount of charge at the center(let us say positive charge) and having a hollow concentric sphere( a conductor) around it. Now, there will be induced charge on the inside of hollow sphere and accordingly opposite charge...
  50. A

    Can Electrostatic Charge Attract Dust in a Household Environment?

    What a great forum. I'm prototyping a small hand-held 110V tool. I need to add an electrostatic discharge function to it. We have all seen the "Ionic filter" devices at Sharper Image, where the plates will charge and attract dust. This is the opposite functionality - I need to push dust...
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