Intuitions for divergence and curl, and where they come up in physics.

To get humans on Mars we're going to need some innovative tech that can move lots of things at high speed. Luckily, we might already have something that can do the job.

In this video Paul Andersen explains how electric permittivity of a material resists the formation of electric fields. Capacitors store energy be preventing the formation of electric fields in dielectric material. The electric...

In the early 1800s, Michael Faraday showed us how a changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force, or emf, resulting in an electric current. He also found that electric fields sometimes act like magnetic fields, and developed...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how the average value of the electric field can be determined by dividing the potential difference by the displacement. Equipotential lines can be used to determine the potential in an electric field...

Apparently some species of spiders can fly… and it turns out they don’t even need the wind to do it.

In this video Paul Andersen explains how the electric field strength decreases as the square of the radius as you move away from a point charge, or a uniform distribution of charge on a sphere. This is a direct application of Coulomb's...

Divergence, curl, and their relation to fluid flow and electromagnetism

As we learn more about electricity, we have to talk about fields. Electric fields may seem complicated, but they're really fascinating and a crucial part of physics. In this episode of Crash Course Physics, Shini chats about capacitors,...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how vector addition can be used to determine the electric field of a dipole.

In this video Paul Andersen explains how equipotential lines show equal electric potential in an electric field. Equipotential lines can be created from scalar values or by observing the electric field lines. An charged object can move...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how the electric field strength is directly related to the amount of charge that generates the field.

Today we’re looking at silicon, and how introducing small amounts of other elements allow silicon layers to conduct currents, turning them into semiconductors. We’ll explore how putting two different types – N and P semiconductors –...

Ever wonder how lightning works? Scientists are still figuring it out, but what we do know is fascinating. Learn about positive and negative lightning, red sprites, blue jets, and ball lightning in this episode of SciShow!

In this video Paul Andersen details the characteristics of electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that can move through both mediums and vacuums. The electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to...

In 2010, South Korea experienced a particularly cold winter. People couldn't activate their smartphones while wearing gloves, so they began wielding snack sausages— causing one company to see a 40% rise in sausage sales. So, what could...

Forces are pushes or pulls on an object. Forces can be determined by measuring the motion of an object. If an object accelerates then a force is present.

Light is everywhere … but it’s not as predictable as you might think. It’s a wave that travels in straight lines, yet it also reflects off of surfaces, refracts through various materials, and generally changes direction all the time!...

So, how do those defibrillators you see on TV actually work? Surprise! Physics can explain! Okay buckle up, everyone! Today, Shini has the task of breaking down Electrical Potential Energy, Electric Potential, Voltage, Capacitors, Energy...

New ReviewIn this lesson, we explore the electric potential difference between two locations in the electric field of a point charge — one of the most essential concepts in AP Physics and introductory electrostatics. Using a positive point charge...

New ReviewIn this lesson, we compare electric potential energy and gravitational potential energy for a proton moving between parallel plates in a uniform electric field, and we plug in realistic values to show just how small the gravitational...

New ReviewThis lesson explains the difference between the ideal electric field assumed in most physics problems and the real, nonideal electric field that forms between two finite, conducting parallel plates. Using clear illustrations, I break...

New ReviewIn this video, we build directly on electric potential energy and electric potential to develop a clear, conceptual understanding of electric potential difference. Using parallel plates and a uniform electric field, you will see where...

New ReviewIn this lesson we derive the change in gravitational potential energy for an object moving in a uniform gravitational field and then use that result as a direct analogy to determine the change in electric potential energy for a charge...