Describing fields

Understandings:

• Gravitational fields
• Electrostatic fields
• Electric potential and gravitational potential
• Field lines
• Equipotential surfaces

Applications and skills:

• Representing sources of mass and charge, lines of electric and gravitational force, and field patterns using an appropriate symbolism
• Mapping fields using potential
• Describing the connection between equipotential surfaces and field lines

Guidance:

• Electrostatic fields are restricted to the radial fields around point or spherical charges, the field between two point charges and the uniform fields between charged parallel plates
• Gravitational fields are restricted to the radial fields around point or spherical masses and the (assumed) uniform field close to the surface of massive celestial bodies and planetary bodies
• Students should recognize that no work is done in moving charge or mass on an equipotential surface