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    Electric and Gravitational Fields

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    Win Lsw
    The document compares and contrasts electric fields and gravitational fields. Both are inverse square law fields whose strength depends on physical quantities and decreases with the inverse square of the distance. They are conservative forces described by Coulomb's law and Newton's law of gravitation, respectively. Both have corresponding fields, potentials, and potential energies that are defined analogously and follow similar mathematical relationships.

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    Electric and Gravitational Fields

    Uploaded by

    Win Lsw
    443 views2 pages
    The document compares and contrasts electric fields and gravitational fields. Both are inverse square law fields whose strength depends on physical quantities and decreases with the inverse square of the distance. They are conservative forces described by Coulomb's law and Newton's law of gravitation, respectively. Both have corresponding fields, potentials, and potential energies that are defined analogously and follow similar mathematical relationships.

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    The document compares and contrasts electric fields and gravitational fields. Both are inverse square law fields whose strength depends on physical quantities and decreases with the inverse square of the distance. They are conservative forces described by Coulomb's law and Newton's law of gravitation, respectively. Both have corresponding fields, potentials, and potential energies that are defined analogously and follow similar mathematical relationships.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    443 views2 pages

    Electric and Gravitational Fields

    Uploaded by

    Win Lsw
    The document compares and contrasts electric fields and gravitational fields. Both are inverse square law fields whose strength depends on physical quantities and decreases with the inverse square of the distance. They are conservative forces described by Coulomb's law and Newton's law of gravitation, respectively. Both have corresponding fields, potentials, and potential energies that are defined analogously and follow similar mathematical relationships.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Electric Field Gravitational Field

    Definition A region in space where an electric force is felt by a charge. A region in space where a gravitational force is felt by
    a mass.
    Nature of Field Depends on physical quantity of electric charge Depends on physical quantity of mass
    Can be attractive or repulsive Always attractive
    Variation of Field Both are inverse square law fields.
    with Distance
    Conservative Both electric force and gravitational force are conservative forces
    Fields
    => wd by an electric force or gravitational force is independent of path taken, and depends only on the initial and final
    positions
    Law of Forces Coulomb’s Law Newton’s Law of Gravitation

    The electric force acting between any two point charges in The gravitational force of attraction between any two
    the universe is directly proportional to the product of the point masses in the universe is directly proportional to
    charges, and inversely proportional to the square of their the product of their masses and inversely proportional
    distance apart. It acts along the line joining the two point to the square of their distance apart. It acts along the
    charges. line joining the two point masses.
    Force between Electric force between 2 point charges or between 2 Gravitational force between 2 point masses or
    two particles or
    uniformly charged spheres: between 2 uniform spheres:
    two uniform
    spheres q1q 2 G m1 m 2
    F= F=
    4π εo r 2 r2
    Relationship Electric force = negative electric potential energy gradient Gravitational force = negative gravitational potential energy
    between force dU gradient
    and potential F =− dU
    energy dr F =−
    dr
    Definition of Electric Field Gravitational Field Strength / Intensity
    Field Strength /
    Intensity
    Electric field strength at a point is defined as the electric The gravitational field strength / intensity at a point is
    force experienced per unit charge on a small positive test defined as the gravitational force experienced per unit
    charge placed at that point in the field. It acts in the direction mass by a small test mass placed at that point in the
    in which the positive test charge would move. gravitational field.
    Field of a particle Electric field of a point charge or uniformly charged sphere: Gravitational field of a point mass or uniform sphere:
    or uniform
    Q GM
    sphere E= g=
    4πεo r 2 r2
    F V F
    E= , E= g=
    q d m

    Unit: NC-1 or Vm-1 Unit: Nkg-1 or ms-2


    Relationship Electric field strength = negative electric potential gradient Gravitational field strength = negative gravitational
    between field and
    dV potential gradient
    potential E =− dφ
    dr g =−
    dr
    Definition of Electric Potential Energy Gravitational Potential Energy
    Potential Energy
    The electric potential energy of a system of charges is The gravitational potential energy of a system of
    defined as the work done by an external force to bring the masses is defined as the work done by an external
    charges from infinity to their respective positions in the agent to bring the masses from infinity to their
    system, without producing any acceleration of the charges. respective positions in the system, without producing
    any acceleration of the masses.
    Potential energy Electric potential energy of 2 point charges or 2 uniformly Gravitational potential energy of 2 point masses or 2
    of two particles
    charged spheres: uniform spheres:
    or two uniform
    spheres q 1q 2 G m1m 2
    U= U=
    4πεo r r
    Definition of Electric Potential Gravitational Potential
    Potential

    Esther Luar <[email protected]> Page 1 http://este.lu-c.net/


    The electric potential at a point is defined as the work done The gravitational potential at a point is defined as the
    per unit charge by an external agent in bringing a small work done per unit mass by an external agent in
    positive test charge from infinity to that point, without bringing a small test mass from infinity to that point,
    producing any acceleration of the charge. without producing any acceleration of the mass.
    Potential of a Electric potential of a point charge or uniformly charged Gravitational potential of a point mass or uniform
    particle or
    sphere: sphere:
    uniform sphere
    Q GM
    V= φ=−
    4πεo r r
    Unit: JC-1 or V (Scalar) Unit: Jkg-1 (Scalar)

    Esther Luar <[email protected]> Page 2 http://este.lu-c.net/

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