AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism delves into the principles of electricity and magnetism, exploring concepts such as electric fields, magnetic fields, and circuits.
An electric field is a region around a charged object where other charges experience a force. The electric field \( E \) at a point is defined as the force per unit charge.
\[ E = \frac{F}{q} \]
Electric fields are vector fields and can be represented with field lines that show the direction a positive charge would move.
Electric potential, measured in volts (V), describes the potential energy per unit charge at a point. Differences in electric potential (voltage) cause charges to move.
Electric fields and potential explain how charges interact at a distance and how electrical energy is transferred.
Lightning strikes when the electric potential between the cloud and the ground becomes large enough for electrons to jump.
The design of capacitors in electronics relies on controlling electric fields and potentials.
Electric fields and potential describe how charges influence each other and move in space.