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 Java simulation shows the field pattern created by two point charges with opposite charge. Students can change the position and magnitude of charge and watch the field configuration 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.
For lecture notes that accompany this specific animation, click below:
MIT Open Courseware: Coulomb's Law Lecture Notes (pdf)

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

Editor's Note: We recommend this simulation to help beginning students gain understanding of the Coulomb interaction between charges. It also helps them visualize electric force as a vector with both magnitude and direction.

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	- High School - Lower Undergraduate - Middle School	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
Formats:: application/java
text/html
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 Source

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This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: "Static" Electricity
Unit Title: Charge Interaction

An outstanding, yet simple, simulation to help students visualize electric force as a vector with magnitude and direction. It features two particles with opposite charge. Change the position and magnitude of either charge and watch the electric field respond. The field can be viewed as "grass seeds", electric potential lines, or vector field.

Link to Unit:

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/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 December 2, 2024, 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 2 December 2024).

MLA Format

MIT Physics 8.02: Electrostatics - Two Point Charges. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. 2 May 2008. National Science Foundation. 2 Dec. 2024 <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 = {2024}, Number = {2 December 2024}, 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 2024 %N 2 December 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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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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