Redistribution of Charge Between Conductors - AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism

1. How does charge distribute on a conductor's surface?

   Uniformly if shape is symmetrical, otherwise varies. Charge density higher at points, lower at flat surfaces.

2. What is the electric field just outside a charged conductor's surface?

   Perpendicular to the surface. Tangential field components would cause charge motion.

3. Define conductor.

   Material with free electrons that allow charge flow. Electrons move freely, allowing redistribution of charge.

4. Calculate the total charge after connecting conductors with $Q_1 = 3\text{C}$ and $Q_2 = -1\text{C}$.

   Total charge is $2\text{C}$. Charge conservation: total equals sum of initial charges.

5. Describe the charge distribution on a hollow conductor.

   Charge resides only on the outer surface. Interior charge would create internal field, violating equilibrium.

6. Identify the effect of bringing a charged object near a conductor.

   Induces opposite charge on the nearest surface. Polarization occurs through electrostatic attraction and repulsion.

7. How do charges distribute on irregularly shaped conductors?

   Concentrated at points of smallest radius curvature. Higher curvature creates stronger local electric fields.

8. What occurs to charges when a conductor is grounded?

   Excess charge is neutralized. Earth acts as infinite reservoir, absorbing excess charge.

9. What is the role of a Faraday cage?

   Blocks external static and non-static electric fields. Conductor shell redistributes to cancel internal fields completely.

10. What is the electric potential inside a conductor?

    Constant. No potential difference exists between any two internal points.

11. Identify the principle that explains why charge resides on the surface of conductors.

    Electrostatic repulsion. Like charges repel, forcing charges to conductor surface.

12. What happens to the potential difference when two conductors are connected?

    It becomes equal across both conductors. Charge flows until potentials equalize at intermediate value.

13. How does charge transfer affect potential energy?

    Redistribution lowers potential energy. System moves toward minimum energy configuration naturally.

14. What condition must be met for charge redistribution to cease?

    Conductors must reach the same electric potential. Equilibrium requires equal potential throughout connected system.

15. What is electrostatic induction?

    Redistribution of charge in a conductor by nearby charge. External charge causes charge separation without direct contact.

16. Define electric potential.

    Work done per unit charge to move a charge from infinity. Energy per unit charge required to bring charge from infinite distance.

17. Describe the effect of charge redistribution on potential difference.

    Potential difference becomes zero. Equilibrium reached when no potential gradient exists.

18. What does Gauss's Law relate to?

    Electric flux through a closed surface to charge enclosed. Fundamental relationship between electric field and charge distribution.

19. Identify the effect of grounding a conductor.

    Excess charge is transferred to or from Earth. Conductor reaches zero potential by charge exchange with Earth.

20. State the relationship between charge and electric field direction.

    Electric field points from positive to negative charge. Field lines originate on positive charges and terminate on negative.

21. Identify the effect of electrostatic shielding.

    Prevents external electric fields from affecting the interior. Conductor surface blocks field penetration into protected region.

22. What is the formula for the electric field due to a point charge?

    $E = k \frac{|q|}{r^2}$. Field strength decreases with square of distance from charge.

23. Which factor affects the distribution of charge on a conductor?

    The shape of the conductor. Sharp edges concentrate charge; flat surfaces spread charge uniformly.

24. Define insulator.

    Material that resists the flow of electric charge. Bound electrons prevent free charge movement through material.

25. What is the effect of a charged sphere on another neutral sphere upon contact?

    Charge equalizes between the spheres. Charge transfers until both spheres reach same potential.

26. State Coulomb's Law formula.

    $F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}$. Force is proportional to product of charges, inversely proportional to distance squared.

27. What is the effect of connecting two conductors of different sizes?

    Charge redistributes to equalize surface potential. Larger conductor gets more charge but same final potential.

28. What is the result of connecting two conductors with different initial potentials?

    Final potential difference is zero. Charge flows until both reach common potential value.

29. What is the principle of charge conservation?

    Total charge in an isolated system is constant. Charge can neither be created nor destroyed in isolation.

30. What happens when two conductors touch?

    Charge redistributes to equalize potential. Charge flows until both conductors reach the same potential.

31. Describe the process of charging by contact.

    Transfer of charge through direct contact. Physical touching allows direct electron transfer between objects.

32. What is the formula for capacitance?

    $C = \frac{Q}{V}$. Ratio of stored charge to potential difference.

33. What happens to charge on a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium?

    Charge resides on the surface. Internal charges would create fields, violating electrostatic equilibrium.

34. What is electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium?

    Zero. Free electrons rearrange to cancel any internal field.

Study these flashcards