SUBJECT: Creating Electric Fields
DESCRIPTION: The animation shows a hypothetical mechanical device that separates electric charge to produce an electric dipole. Initially, we have a negative and postive charge on top of each other. There is no net charge and no electric field anywhere in space. Each charge is connected to a rod, and the rods are pulled apart. As the rods are pulled apart to their maximum extent, the charges are separated slightly. This separation takes place over a time T, after which the charges remain a fixed distance apart. This separation generates electric field. Initally we see a pulse of radiation of radial extent cT that propogates outward at the speed of light. Once that pulse disappears, we have left the classice static electric dipole field.
VISUALIZATION (MPG - 8.5 MB)