What is the Difference Between Electrostatic and Electromagnetic?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between electrostatic and electromagnetic forces lies in the motion of the charges involved. Here are the key differences:
- Electrostatic forces refer to the forces between static (not moving relative to each other) electric charges. These forces are either attractive or repulsive, depending on whether the charges are of opposite or similar types, respectively. Electrostatic forces can be described using Coulomb's Law.
- Electromagnetic forces are a broader category that includes electrostatic forces and other interactions due to photon exchange. These forces involve electric and magnetic fields and are created by both electric and magnetic fields for a particle moving relative to the fields. Electromagnetic forces are responsible for various phenomena, such as the force experienced by a charge moving in a magnetic field.
In summary, electrostatic forces are interactions between charges at rest, while electromagnetic forces include electrostatic forces and additional interactions due to the motion of charges in electric and magnetic fields.
Comparative Table: Electrostatic vs Electromagnetic
Here is a table summarizing the differences between electrostatic and electromagnetic forces:
Feature | Electrostatic | Electromagnetic |
---|---|---|
Branch of Physics | Studies electric charges at rest | Studies electromagnetic fields produced by charges in motion |
Field Generation | Electrostatic fields generated by charges at rest | Electromagnetic fields generated by charges in motion |
Force | Forces exist between static electric charges | Forces exist between charged particles in motion |
Unit | Unit of electrostatic force is Coulomb (C) | Electromagnetic forces include electrostatic forces and additional forces due to magnetic fields |
Interactions | Includes only electric fields | Includes both electric and magnetic fields, with one of them changing over time |
Electrostatic forces refer to forces between electric charges which are not moving relative to each other, and are derived from Coulomb's Law. On the other hand, electromagnetic forces are due to both electric and magnetic fields, and are created for a particle moving with velocity. Electromagnetic forces include electrostatic forces and additional forces due to magnetic fields.
- Electrostatics vs Magnetostatics
- Electromagnetism vs Magnetism
- Radiation vs Electromagnetic Radiation
- Mechanical vs Electromagnetic Waves
- Electromagnetic Radiation vs Electromagnetic Waves
- Electric Field vs Magnetic Field
- Electricity vs Magnetism
- Electromagnetic Radiation vs Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Magnetic Force vs Electric Force
- Electromagnetic Induction vs Magnetic Induction
- Electrostatic Force vs Gravitational Force
- Electromagnetic Waves vs Radio Waves
- Gravitational Field vs Electric Field
- Electromagnetic Wave vs Matter Wave
- Electromagnet vs Permanent Magnet
- Bar Magnet vs Electromagnet
- Ionic vs Electrostatic Interactions
- Electric Dipole vs Magnetic Dipole
- Electrophoresis vs Dielectrophoresis