Force on a Free Charge

what happens when you release electric charge
- Matthew (age 13)
Wilson,NC

Hi Mathew,

I you release an electric charge and there is no electric field then it will just stay there not moving.  However if there is an electric field then there will be a force on it proportional to the field  E and the charge Q.  The charge is measured in Coulombs or in units of the charge on a single electron e = 1.6 x 10^-19 Coulombs.  The force will cause the electron to accelerate in the direction of the electric field.  

You can create an electric field for example by applying a battery voltage between two parallel plates.  The electron would move in the direction toward the positive plate,   If you want to know more about this subject go to the PhysicsVan web site and type charges into the search box. 

 

LeeH

(published on 12/11/2013)