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.
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
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/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>
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 2004), WWW Document, (http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm).
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>.
MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. (2008, May 2). Retrieved September 14, 2024, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology: http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm
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 14 September 2024).
MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. 2 May 2008. National Science Foundation. 14 Sep. 2024 <http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/pcharges/pcharges.htm>.
@misc{
Title = {MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges},
Publisher = {Massachusetts Institute of Technology},
Volume = {2024},
Number = {14 September 2024},
Month = {May 2, 2008},
Year = {2004}
}
%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
%0 Electronic Source %D May 2, 2008 %T MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges %I Massachusetts Institute of Technology %V 2024 %N 14 September 2024 %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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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.
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