Key Terms

Key Terms

electric dipole

system of two equal but opposite charges a fixed distance apart

electric dipole moment

quantity defined as $\overrightarrow{\text{p}}=q\overrightarrow{\text{d}}$ for all dipoles, where the vector points from the negative to positive charge

electric potential

potential energy per unit charge

electric potential difference

the change in potential energy of a charge q moved between two points, divided by the charge.

electric potential energy

potential energy stored in a system of charged objects due to the charges

electron-volt

energy given to a fundamental charge accelerated through a potential difference of one volt

electrostatic precipitators

filters that apply charges to particles in the air, then attract those charges to a filter, removing them from the airstream

equipotential line

two-dimensional representation of an equipotential surface

equipotential surface

surface (usually in three dimensions) on which all points are at the same potential

grounding

process of attaching a conductor to the earth to ensure that there is no potential difference between it and Earth

ink jet printer

small ink droplets sprayed with an electric charge are controlled by electrostatic plates to create images on paper

photoconductor

substance that is an insulator until it is exposed to light, when it becomes a conductor

Van de Graaff generator

machine that produces a large amount of excess charge, used for experiments with high voltage

voltage

change in potential energy of a charge moved from one point to another, divided by the charge; units of potential difference are joules per coulomb, known as volt

xerography

dry copying process based on electrostatics