B, C and F Blocks took time to discuss electric fields. Electric forces are generated when charges enter another charge's electric field. To measure fields, we use a tiny positive test charge and watch the effects. We looked at how to determine the direction of an electric field and what to do when multiple charges contribute to an electric field. Time was also taken to address the influence of an object's shape on its electric field. Sharp points have stronger electric fields and that explained why certain things are more prone to get struck by lightning that others. B and C Blocks will start electric potential and electric potential energy tomorrow, but F Block will have to wait until Monday, since they won't be in class due to the half-day release schedule.
E Block worked on their Discharge Rate lab during the long block. When scientists make observations, they have to find ways to describe them quantitatively and there may be more than one way, depending on the information they have. You looked at several ways of calculating the size of the electric force acting on a particle and then how to use that information to calculate a particle's charge. As objects lose charge to the environment, we would expect the size of their electric field and force would diminish and that, for this lab, meant the charged spheres would draw closer together. The discharge rate documents how quickly or slowly an object loses its charge and an analysis of your graphs and equations gave you that information. We'll discuss the lab on Monday before jumping into the idea of electric fields.
