électrostatiques

Électrostatiques refers to the study of stationary electric charges and the forces they exert on each other. This branch of physics is fundamental to understanding many electrical phenomena. When objects have an imbalance of positive and negative charges, they create an electrostatic field. This field is the mechanism by which electric charges interact, either attracting or repelling one another according to Coulomb's Law. The strength of this force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Static electricity, the kind experienced when shuffling your feet on a carpet and then touching a doorknob, is a common manifestation of electrostatics. This occurs when charges transfer between objects through friction, leading to a buildup of static charge. Applications of electrostatic principles are widespread, including in photocopiers, air purifiers, and industrial dust collection systems. Understanding electrostatics is crucial for fields ranging from electrical engineering to material science.