MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics

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MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges

supported by the National Science Foundation
educational validator: John Belcher
technical implementer: Andrew McKinney
published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This interactive Java simulation illustrates the field pattern created by two point charges with opposite signs of charge. Users can change the position and magnitude of charge and the field configuration will update automatically. Three field visualizations can be applied to the simulation: vector field, electric potential lines, and "grass seeds".

This item is part of a collection of visualizations developed by the MIT TEAL project to supplement an introductory course in calculus-based electricity and magnetism.
Lecture notes, labs, and presentations are also available as part of MIT's Open Courseware Repository:
MIT Open Courseware: Electricity and Magnetism

Please note that this resource requires Java Applet Plug-in.

http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostati...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Electricity & Magnetism - Electric Fields and Potential = Electrostatic Potential and Potential Energy - Electrostatics = Coulomb's Law	- Lower Undergraduate - High School - Middle School	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners - Educators	- application/java - text/html	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access
License:: This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:: MIT Open Courseware (OCW): http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/terms/terms/index.htm
Keywords:: dipole, electric dipole, electric field, electric potential, interactive simulations, point charges, representations, vector field, vector field simulation, vectors, visualization
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created April 14, 2010 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: September 3, 2012 by Bruce Mason
Last Update when Cataloged:: May 2, 2008
Other Collections:: The Physics Front

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=9961">National Science Foundation. MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, May 2, 2008.</a>

AIP Format

(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 2004), WWW Document, (http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm).

AJP/PRST-PER

MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 2004), <http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm>.

APA Format

MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. (2008, May 2). Retrieved May 1, 2025, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology: http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm

Chicago Format

National Science Foundation. MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, May 2, 2008. http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm (accessed 1 May 2025).

MLA Format

MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. 2 May 2008. National Science Foundation. 1 May 2025 <http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges}, Publisher = {Massachusetts Institute of Technology}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {1 May 2025}, Month = {May 2, 2008}, Year = {2004} }

Refer Export Format

%T MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges %D May 2, 2008 %I Massachusetts Institute of Technology %C Cambridge %U http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D May 2, 2008 %T MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges %I Massachusetts Institute of Technology %V 2025 %N 1 May 2025 %8 May 2, 2008 %9 application/java %U http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm

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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges:

Covers the Same Topic As MIT Phyics 8.02: Vector Fields - Mapping Fields Applet

This simulation is designed for learners who have mastered the basics of point charge interaction. It allows them to map their own electric fields, given choices of two-point charges, dipole in constant or no field, two-line currents, radiating dipole, and more.

relation by Caroline Hall

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