2 years, 3 months ago
How does a electrostatic potential accelerate ions to the center of a EM containment field?
The electrostatic potential has been proven to work, but how does it work?
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M$1 Answer
An electrostatic field is simply the result of a difference in electrical potential between different locations. This can be the result of a single charged particle, or of a more complex system such as shaped electrodes with different potential levels asserted by a battery or other power source.
Ions are charged particles, so they have a net positive or negative charge. This charge interacts with the charges generating the electrostatic field (i.e. the excess negative and/or positive charges causing the field). Negative ions are attracted to excess positive charges and repelled by excess negative charges. Similarly, positive ions are attracted to excess negative charges and repelled by excess positive charges.
The "how" of this can be explained at various levels. The equations governing these interactions are Maxwell's EM equations. You can also describe it using quantum mechanical equations if you have complete enough knowledge of the system and it is simple enough to be mathematically solvable.
Ions are charged particles, so they have a net positive or negative charge. This charge interacts with the charges generating the electrostatic field (i.e. the excess negative and/or positive charges causing the field). Negative ions are attracted to excess positive charges and repelled by excess negative charges. Similarly, positive ions are attracted to excess negative charges and repelled by excess positive charges.
The "how" of this can be explained at various levels. The equations governing these interactions are Maxwell's EM equations. You can also describe it using quantum mechanical equations if you have complete enough knowledge of the system and it is simple enough to be mathematically solvable.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Can you create an imaginary analogy of how the electron and the electrostatic field interact?
What is an electrical potential?
What effects does the electrostatic field have on electrons?
Is the electrostatic field identifiable when electron potentials exist?
Here's a gravitational analogy. Think of the electron like a ball, and the field as a slanted surface. If you place the ball on the surface, it will begin accelerating along the path that has the maximal slant to it. Similarly, the direction in which the potential changes most rapidly in an electrical field determines the path the electron will be accelerated along.
An electrical potential is the field description expression of the electromagnetic interaction's electrical aspect, caused by one or more charged particles, in the space around them.
An electrostatic field accelerates electrons (as well as any other charged particle) along the direction of the field, increasing their kinetic energy (unless the electron was moving in the opposite direction, in which case it is first slowed down, i.e. kinetic energy is reduced, then accelerated in the field direction, increasing the kinetic energy).
You can identify an electrostatic field by its effects on a charged particle. In a macroscopic case you can charge up a light-weight (e.g. Styrofoam) non-conductive ball and see that it is being pulled/pushed by the field.