Electric Field

Define electric field, understand its physical significance, and calculate field due to a point charge and system of charges.

7dab5eae...
content

Concept of Electric Field

Defines electric field and its relation to force.

How do electric forces act across an empty space? To answer this, early scientists introduced the concept of a field.

A charge QQ produces an electric field everywhere in its surrounding space. When a second charge qq (the test charge) is brought nearby, this field acts on it to produce a force.

1 / 3
adad8a26...
IMAGE

Electric Field Vectors

Visual of electric field vectors around positive and negative charges.

rich vibrant illustration, Kurzgesagt-inspired, bold shapes with subtle texturing, saturated but harmonious color palette, strong composition, professional science museum display quality. Two separate scenarios: On the left, a positive point charge with straight arrows radiating radially outwards in all directions. On the right, a negative point charge with straight arrows pointing radially inwards toward the center.
Click to zoom

Electric field lines point radially outward from a positive charge and inward toward a negative charge.

3de2d618...
html

Electric Field Formula

Formula for E-field of a point charge.

Electric Field of a Point Charge

A point charge creates an electric field around it, directed along .

Symbol Meaning
— electric field at a point, measured in
— source charge that creates the field, measured in
— distance from the source charge to the point
— unit vector showing the direction of the field
— permittivity of free space
Key Idea

The electric field is produced by the source charge . When a test charge is placed in this field, it experiences a force given by .

For a positive source charge, the field points away from the charge. For a negative source charge, the field points towards the charge.
7607e568...
39071393...
Worked Example

Field from Two Charges

Calculates net electric field at three points.

Problem

Two point charges q1q_1 and q2q_2, of magnitude +108 C+10^{-8}\text{ C} and 108 C-10^{-8}\text{ C}, respectively, are placed 0.1 m0.1\text{ m} apart. Calculate the electric fields at points A, B, and C shown in Fig. 1.11.

(Note: Point A is the midpoint between the charges. Point B is 0.05 m0.05\text{ m} to the left of q1q_1. Point C is 0.1 m0.1\text{ m} from both charges, forming an equilateral triangle.)

1 / 5
c6f5f97e...
Worksheet

Electron Fall in Uniform Field

Calculate time of fall in an electric field.

0 of 3 blanks filled

Consider an electron falling from rest through a distance of 1.5 cm1.5\text{ cm} in a uniform electric field of magnitude 2.0×104 N/C2.0 \times 10^4\text{ N/C}.

(Take e=1.6×1019 Ce = 1.6 \times 10^{-19}\text{ C} and me=9.1×1031 kgm_e = 9.1 \times 10^{-31}\text{ kg})

The field exerts a downward force on the electron with a magnitude of F=A×1015 NF = A \times 10^{-15}\text{ N}, where A=A = .

Using Newton's second law, the magnitude of the acceleration of the electron is ae=B×1015 m/s2a_e = B \times 10^{15}\text{ m/s}^2, where B=B = (round to one decimal place).

Using the kinematic equation for a body starting from rest, the time required for the electron to fall this distance is te=C nst_e = C\text{ ns}, where C=C = (round to one decimal place).

b6020071...
quiz

Test Charge Independence

MCQ testing that E is independent of q.

1 / 5

If the test charge qq used to measure an electric field E\vec{E} at a specific point is doubled, what happens to the magnitude of the electric field at that point?