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Electrostatics

Electrostatics is around 15%–25% of your AP test. This unit focuses on electric charges, fields, and forces at rest. Understanding electric charge, Coulomb's law, and electric fields helps solve problems involving charged particles and conductors.

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Electrostatics Diagram
Electrostatics is the study of electric charges at rest and the forces they exert on each other. In AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, this unit introduces electric charge, Coulomb's law, electric fields, and electric potential. It focuses on how charged particles interact through electric forces and how electric fields are created and influenced by charge distributions. Mastery of electrostatics helps understand electric forces, field lines, and potential energy in charged systems.
Electric Field Lines

Relevant Formulas On Equation Sheet:

Electrostatics Formulas

Concept 1: Electric Charge and Coulomb's Law

Key Topic 1: Electric Charge and Conservation

Key Topic 2: Coulomb's Law and Electric Force

Concept 2: Electric Fields

Key Topic 1: Electric Field Definition and Direction

Key Topic 2: Electric Field Calculations

Key Topic 3: Electric Field Lines and Patterns

Concept 3: Electric Potential

Key Topic 1: Electric Potential Energy

Key Topic 2: Electric Potential and Voltage

Key Topic 3: Equipotential Surfaces

Concept 4: Electric Flux

Key Topic 1: Electric Flux

Key Topic 2: Gauss's Law

Key Topic 3: Gauss's Law Applications

Practice Tests

Practice Test 1: Electrostatics

Practice Test 2: Electrostatics

⚡ Electrostatics: Check for Understanding