AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Conservation Of Electric Charge And Charging

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Conservation Of Electric Charge And Charging, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the principle of charge quantization?

Answer: Charge exists in discrete packets, multiples of $e$. Charge comes in integer multiples of elementary charge.

Flashcard 2: What is the relationship between electric field and force?

Answer: $E = \frac{F}{q}$. Electric field is force per unit charge.

Flashcard 3: Describe the charge distribution in a charged conductor at equilibrium.

Answer: Charge resides on the surface. Electric field inside conductor is zero in equilibrium.

Flashcard 4: What is an insulator?

Answer: A material that resists the movement of electric charge. Electrons are tightly bound and cannot move freely.

Flashcard 5: What is the principle of charge quantization?

Answer: Charge exists in discrete packets, multiples of $e$. Charge comes in integer multiples of elementary charge.

Flashcard 6: Describe the direction of electric field lines towards a negative charge.

Answer: Inward. Negative charges create inward-pointing field lines.

Flashcard 7: State the unit of electric charge in the International System.

Answer: Coulomb (C). Named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.

Flashcard 8: Identify the process that results in a charged object without contact.

Answer: Charging by induction. Charges separate due to electric field influence without touching.

Flashcard 9: What is the net charge of an atom?

Answer: Zero. Equal numbers of protons and electrons cancel out.

Flashcard 10: What is the primary principle behind the operation of a Van de Graaff generator?

Answer: Charge transfer by contact. Continuously transfers charge through moving belt mechanism.

Flashcard 11: What is an insulator?

Answer: A material that resists the movement of electric charge. Electrons are tightly bound and cannot move freely.

Flashcard 12: Find the net charge of an object with 5 excess electrons.

Answer: -8.$0 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. Multiply 5 electrons by $-1.6 \times 10^{-19}$ C each.

Flashcard 13: What is the net charge on an isolated system after any internal charge redistribution?

Answer: Remains constant. Conservation of charge applies to all closed systems.

Flashcard 14: What is the primary factor affecting the force between two point charges?

Answer: Distance between the charges. Distance appears squared in denominator of Coulomb's law.

Flashcard 15: What is the effect of a charged object on a neutral insulator?

Answer: Induces polarization. Electric field aligns dipoles in the insulating material.

Flashcard 16: State the formula for electric potential energy.

Answer: $U = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r}$. Energy required to bring charges from infinity to distance $r$.

Flashcard 17: Identify the process that results in a charged object by contact.

Answer: Charging by conduction. Direct transfer of electrons through physical contact.

Flashcard 18: What is the net charge of an atom?

Answer: Zero. Equal numbers of protons and electrons cancel out.

Flashcard 19: Define a polarized object.

Answer: An object with separated positive and negative charges. Electric field causes charge separation within the object.

Flashcard 20: What is the primary factor affecting the force between two point charges?

Answer: Distance between the charges. Distance appears squared in denominator of Coulomb's law.

Flashcard 21: Define induced charge.

Answer: Charge redistribution in response to a nearby charge. External electric field causes internal charge separation.

Flashcard 22: What is the relationship between electric field and force?

Answer: $E = \frac{F}{q}$. Electric field is force per unit charge.

Flashcard 23: What is the value of the elementary charge $e$?

Answer: 1.$6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. The fundamental unit of electric charge in nature.

Flashcard 24: What happens to the net charge during charging by conduction?

Answer: Net charge is transferred between objects. Electrons move from one object to another through contact.

Flashcard 25: Describe the direction of electric field lines towards a negative charge.

Answer: Inward. Negative charges create inward-pointing field lines.

Flashcard 26: What is the charge of a proton?

Answer: +1.$6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. Equal in magnitude to elementary charge but positive.

Flashcard 27: What is a grounding process?

Answer: Process of neutralizing charge by connecting to Earth. Earth acts as an infinite charge reservoir.

Flashcard 28: What is the symbol for electric charge?

Answer: Q. Standard symbol used in physics equations and formulas.

Flashcard 29: What is the effect of charge quantization on macroscopic scales?

Answer: Negligible, charge appears continuous. Discrete nature becomes insignificant at large scales.

Flashcard 30: What is the charge of a proton?

Answer: +1.$6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. Equal in magnitude to elementary charge but positive.

Flashcard 31: What is a triboelectric series?

Answer: A list ranking materials based on their tendency to gain or lose electrons. Predicts which materials gain or lose electrons when rubbed.

Flashcard 32: What is the net charge on an isolated system after any internal charge redistribution?

Answer: Remains constant. Conservation of charge applies to all closed systems.

Flashcard 33: Describe the direction of electric field lines from a positive charge.

Answer: Outward. Positive charges create outward-pointing field lines.

Flashcard 34: What is meant by conservation of electric charge?

Answer: Total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant. A fundamental law stating charge cannot be created or destroyed.

Flashcard 35: Identify the process that results in a charged object without contact.

Answer: Charging by induction. Charges separate due to electric field influence without touching.

Flashcard 36: What happens to the net charge during charging by induction?

Answer: Net charge redistributes within the object. Charges separate but total charge remains unchanged.

Flashcard 37: What is the result of bringing a charged rod near a neutral metal sphere?

Answer: The sphere becomes polarized. Electric field induces charge separation without contact.

Flashcard 38: What is the primary principle behind the operation of a Van de Graaff generator?

Answer: Charge transfer by contact. Continuously transfers charge through moving belt mechanism.

Flashcard 39: What is the symbol for electric charge?

Answer: Q. Standard symbol used in physics equations and formulas.

Flashcard 40: What is the electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium?

Answer: Zero. Free charges redistribute to cancel internal fields.

Flashcard 41: Describe the direction of electric field lines from a positive charge.

Answer: Outward. Positive charges create outward-pointing field lines.

Flashcard 42: What is the effect of charge quantization on macroscopic scales?

Answer: Negligible, charge appears continuous. Discrete nature becomes insignificant at large scales.

Flashcard 43: State Coulomb's Law.

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

Flashcard 44: What is the value of the elementary charge $e$?

Answer: 1.$6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. The fundamental unit of electric charge in nature.

Flashcard 45: What is the effect of increasing the distance between two charges on the force?

Answer: Force decreases. Force follows inverse square law with distance.

Flashcard 46: What is an electric field line?

Answer: A line that represents the direction of the electric field. Shows direction and relative strength of electric field.

Flashcard 47: What is an electric field line?

Answer: A line that represents the direction of the electric field. Shows direction and relative strength of electric field.

Flashcard 48: What is a Coulomb?

Answer: The quantity of charge transported by 1 ampere in 1 second. Defines the unit based on electric current and time.

Flashcard 49: State the formula for electric potential energy.

Answer: $U = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r}$. Energy required to bring charges from infinity to distance $r$.

Flashcard 50: What is the charge of an electron?

Answer: -1.$6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. Equal in magnitude to elementary charge but negative.

Flashcard 51: What is the effect of increasing the distance between two charges on the force?

Answer: Force decreases. Force follows inverse square law with distance.

Flashcard 52: What is meant by an electrically neutral object?

Answer: An object with equal numbers of protons and electrons. Net charge is zero due to equal positive and negative charges.

Flashcard 53: What is a grounding process?

Answer: Process of neutralizing charge by connecting to Earth. Earth acts as an infinite charge reservoir.

Flashcard 54: What happens to the net charge during charging by induction?

Answer: Net charge redistributes within the object. Charges separate but total charge remains unchanged.

Flashcard 55: What is meant by an electrically neutral object?

Answer: An object with equal numbers of protons and electrons. Net charge is zero due to equal positive and negative charges.

Flashcard 56: What is a triboelectric series?

Answer: A list ranking materials based on their tendency to gain or lose electrons. Predicts which materials gain or lose electrons when rubbed.

Flashcard 57: State Coulomb's Law.

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

Flashcard 58: What is a conductor?

Answer: A material that allows free movement of electric charge. Contains mobile charge carriers like free electrons.

Flashcard 59: What is a Coulomb?

Answer: The quantity of charge transported by 1 ampere in 1 second. Defines the unit based on electric current and time.

Flashcard 60: What is meant by conservation of electric charge?

Answer: Total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant. A fundamental law stating charge cannot be created or destroyed.

Flashcard 61: Define induced charge.

Answer: Charge redistribution in response to a nearby charge. External electric field causes internal charge separation.

Flashcard 62: Determine the force if the charge is doubled while distance remains constant.

Answer: Force doubles. Force is directly proportional to charge magnitude.

Flashcard 63: What is the effect of a charged object on a neutral insulator?

Answer: Induces polarization. Electric field aligns dipoles in the insulating material.

Flashcard 64: State the unit of electric charge in the International System.

Answer: Coulomb (C). Named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.

Flashcard 65: Find the net charge of an object with 5 excess electrons.

Answer: -8.$0 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}$. Multiply 5 electrons by $-1.6 \times 10^{-19}$ C each.

Flashcard 66: Determine the force if the charge is doubled while distance remains constant.

Answer: Force doubles. Force is directly proportional to charge magnitude.

Flashcard 67: What is the result of bringing a charged rod near a neutral metal sphere?

Answer: The sphere becomes polarized. Electric field induces charge separation without contact.