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written by John Belcher designer: Michael Danziger
This is an animation of the creation of an electric field through charge separation. It begins with five negative and five positive charges, all at the same point in space (no electric field). One by one, the five positive charges are moved at constant velocity to the same position L along the horizontal axis. The strength of the electric field grows as each positive charge is moved into place.
EDITOR'S NOTE: We suggest using this animation with a closely related model by the same authors showing the opposite phenomenon: destruction of an electric field. See Related Materials for a link to MIT 8.02: Destroying an Electric Field. For lecture notes that accompany this specific animation, click below: MIT Open Courseware: Capacitance and Dielectrics Lecture Notes (pdf) Please note that this resource requires Quicktime.
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=9952">Belcher, John. MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field. May 24, 2008.</a>
![]() J. Belcher, (2004), WWW Document, (http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm).
![]() J. Belcher, MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field (2004), <http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm>.
![]() Belcher, J. (2008, May 24). MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field. Retrieved February 13, 2025, from http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm
![]() Belcher, John. MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field. May 24, 2008. http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm (accessed 13 February 2025).
![]() Belcher, John. MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field. 2004. 24 May 2008. National Science Foundation. 13 Feb. 2025 <http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm>.
![]() @misc{
Author = "John Belcher",
Title = {MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {13 February 2025},
Month = {May 24, 2008},
Year = {2004}
}
![]() %A John Belcher %T MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field %D May 24, 2008 %U http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm %O video/quicktime ![]() %0 Electronic Source %A Belcher, John %D May 24, 2008 %T MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field %V 2025 %N 13 February 2025 %8 May 24, 2008 %9 video/quicktime %U http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/electrostatics/CreateField/createField.htm Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in 7 shared folders. You must login to access shared folders. MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creating an Electric Field:
Covers the Same Topic As
MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creation of an Electric Dipole
This related animation by the same authors shows the separation of one positive and one negative charge of equal magnitudes, resulting in the classic electric dipole field pattern. relation by Caroline Hall
Accompanies
MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Destroying an Electric Field
A companion animation by the same authors that depicts the opposite phenomenon: the destruction of an electric field. It begins with five positive and five negative electric charges separated by a distance L in space. One-by-one, the positive charges are moved to the position of the negative charges, with strength of field decreasing as each charge is moved into place. relation by Caroline HallKnow of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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Covers the Same Topic As
MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Creation of an Electric Dipole AccompaniesMIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Destroying an Electric Field Similar Materials |