BRAINCAKE

Point Charges

AQA A-level PhysicsElectric FieldsLesson 15 of 17

A point charge is a hypothetical object of negligible size. A 'test' charge is a point charge that does not affect the field it is in i.e. does not itself produce a force.

Diagram

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Key terms in this lesson

Equipotential
A surface or line joining points of equal potential, along which no work is done in moving a test mass or charge.
Electric field strength
The electric force per unit charge acting on a small positive test charge placed at a point in an electric field.

More in Electric Fields

All 17 lessons in Electric Fields · All AQA A-level Physics topics