Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment
What is the study of stationary electric charge called?
Electrodynamics
Electromagnetism
Electrostatics
Electrochemistry
The correct answer is: Electrostatics
The study of stationary electric charge is known as electrostatics. This branch of physics focuses on the behavior of electric charges that are at rest and the forces between them. It examines concepts such as electric fields, electric potential, and the interaction of charged particles when they are not in motion. Electrostatics is fundamental in understanding how charges influence one another and how materials respond to electric fields. For example, it explains phenomena such as static electricity, where a buildup of charge on an object leads to familiar effects like attracting small pieces of paper or causing hair to stand on end after being combed. The other fields mentioned, while related to electricity, do not focus solely on stationary charges. Electrodynamics deals with electric charges in motion, including current flowing through conductors and the associated magnetic fields. Electromagnetism encompasses both electric charges (moving and stationary) and their interactions with magnetic fields, while electrochemistry involves the chemical processes that occur at the interface of an electrode and an electrolyte, which often includes moving charges in chemical reactions.