Category 1: Electric Charges & Fields
What are the two types of electric charge?
Positive and negative
What is an object called when it has equal positive and negative charges?
Electrically neutral
What is a magnetic force?
This is a force that can act without touching an object.
What is the invisible area around a magnet where its force can be detected?
Magnetic field
What two types of energy make up mechanical energy?
Kinetic energy and potential energy
What happens when two opposite charges come near each other?
They attract
What is a material called when charges cannot easily move through it?
Insulator
What are magnetic poles (north and south)?
These are the two regions on a magnet where the force is strongest.
What happens to magnetic force as two magnets move farther apart?
It becomes weaker
What unit is used to measure all forms of energy?
Joules (J)
What is the invisible region surrounding a charged object called?
Electric field
What is the transfer of charged particles between two conductors called?
Conduction
What are ferromagnetic materials?
These elements—iron, nickel, and cobalt—are known for this property.
What happens to a compass needle when placed in a magnetic field?
It aligns with the magnetic field lines
At what point does a thrown ball have the most potential energy?
At its highest point
Name the two factors that affect the strength of the electric force between two objects.
Amount of charge and distance between them
What is charging an object without touching it called?
Induction
What is repulsion?
When two north poles are placed together, this happens.
What causes Earth to have a magnetic field?
Molten iron and nickel in its outer core
As a ball falls downward, what happens to its potential and kinetic energy?
Potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases
Why does hair stand up after being rubbed with a charged object?
Each hair gets the same charge and repels the other hairs
Explain why electric potential energy increases when opposite charges are moved farther apart.
A force must be used to separate them, adding stored energy to the system.
What happens to the poles of a magnet when it is broken into smaller pieces?
Each piece becomes a complete magnet with its own north and south poles.
Why is a steel nail not normally a magnet even though it is made of magnetic material?
Its magnetic domains point in different directions and cancel out.
Explain why the total mechanical energy of a moving golf ball stays the same as it rises and falls.
Energy changes between kinetic and potential, but total energy remains constant