Effects of fields

Magnetism, electricity and gravity are all examples of a non-contact forces. Masses and charges that experience non-contact forces have a region around them called a field. Fields can be compared by their directions, shapes and the attractive/repulsive effects through the existence of dipoles and monopoles. Fields can be used to model magnetic phenomena which include shapes and directions of fields produced by bar magnets, current-carrying wires and solenoids.

Electric fields produce a force on both positively and negatively charged particles. This force is either attractive or repulsive. The magnitude and direction of this force can be calculated using Coulomb’s Law.

Magnetic fields produce a force on charged objects that are moving in the field. This force is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the object and the direction of the field.

Gravitational fields produce forces on any mass within the field. It is always an attractive force.

This resource revises effects of fields and within effects of fields there are 3 key concepts:

• Effects of electric fields
• Effects of magnetic fields
• Effects of gravitational fields

To determine if this resource will benefit you, start by answering the following questions.

• How do you determine the direction of the force on a charge from magnetic or electric fields?
• How do you calculate the magnitude of these forces?
• How do you calculate the magnitude and direction of gravitational fields on a mass?
• Does a field always produce a force on a charge on a mass?

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