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johns120
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Edit: This is my first post. This question isn't related to any homework problems but was inspired by my physics book. I apologize if this is the wrong forum but It seemed the right place based on the other posts.
So my physics textbook briefly mentions
What I don't understand is: If the paper is put between the charges, those charges would induce a dipole, right? Since there are charges on both sides and "like-charged" which way would the dipole point. The book says the tape is attracted to the paper (which your left to infer creates a force pulling each piece of tape in towards the paper) I just can't visualize how this is possible and I certainly don't understand what the superposition principle has to do with it.
So my physics textbook briefly mentions
The fact that an electric field acts through intervening matter is another example of the superposition principle. It is true that the
repulsion between two like-charged pieces of tape is weaker when a piece of paper is in the way (Experiment 15.EXP.22), but when
viewed in terms of the superposition principle this reduction is not due to the paper partially “blocking” the field of the other tape.
Rather, we say that the net field is due to the superposition of two fields: the same field that you would have had without the paper
intervening, plus another field due to the induced dipoles in the paper.
What I don't understand is: If the paper is put between the charges, those charges would induce a dipole, right? Since there are charges on both sides and "like-charged" which way would the dipole point. The book says the tape is attracted to the paper (which your left to infer creates a force pulling each piece of tape in towards the paper) I just can't visualize how this is possible and I certainly don't understand what the superposition principle has to do with it.
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