Electric Field
The electric field is a region of space around a charged particle or object in
which another charged particle experiences a force. It is a vector quantity,
meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
Electric Field due to Point charge: Electric field Intensity
1. Definition:
• The electric field E at a point is defined as the force F experienced by a
positive test charge q0 placed at that point, divided by the magnitude of the
test charge.
• Mathematically: E=F/ q0, where q0 is the test charge (assumed to be small
enough not to alter the field).
2. Unit:
• The SI unit of the electric field is newtons per coulomb (N/C) or equivalently
volts per meter (V/m).
3. Direction:
• The direction of the electric field is the direction of the force that a positive
test charge would experience if placed in the field.
• It points away from positive charges and toward negative charges.
4. Magnitude of Electric Field for Point Charge:
• For a point charge Q, the magnitude of the electric field at a distance r is given
by Coulomb's law: E=(k∣Q)/r2where k is Coulomb's constant (k≈8.99×109N\
cm2/C2).
• As, Q remains constant. We found E is inversely proportional to r2.
5. Superposition Principle:
• The net electric field at a point due to multiple charges is the vector sum of the
fields created by each charge.
The electric field is an essential concept in electromagnetism, influencing phenomena such as
the behavior of charges, electric potential, and electromagnetic waves.
What is Electric Field Line? Or Electric line of force
Electric field lines are an excellent way of visualizing electric fields. They were first
introduced by Michael Faraday himself.
A field line is drawn tangential to the net at a point. Thus at any point, the tangent to the
electric field line matches the direction of the electric field at that point. Secondly, the
relative density of field lines around a point corresponds to the relative strength (magnitude)
of the electric field at that point. In other words, if you see more electric field lines in the
vicinity of point A as compared to point B, then the electric field is stronger at point A.
, Properties of Electric Field Lines
• The field lines never intersect each other.
• The field lines are perpendicular to the surface of the charge.
• The magnitude of charge and the number of field lines, both are proportional to each
other.
• The start point of the field lines is at the positive charge and end at the negative
charge.
• For the field lines to either start or end at infinity, a single charge must be used.
•
Lines of force due to an isolated Positive charge and Negative charge
Electric Lines of force due Electric Dipole
The electric field is a region of space around a charged particle or object in
which another charged particle experiences a force. It is a vector quantity,
meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
Electric Field due to Point charge: Electric field Intensity
1. Definition:
• The electric field E at a point is defined as the force F experienced by a
positive test charge q0 placed at that point, divided by the magnitude of the
test charge.
• Mathematically: E=F/ q0, where q0 is the test charge (assumed to be small
enough not to alter the field).
2. Unit:
• The SI unit of the electric field is newtons per coulomb (N/C) or equivalently
volts per meter (V/m).
3. Direction:
• The direction of the electric field is the direction of the force that a positive
test charge would experience if placed in the field.
• It points away from positive charges and toward negative charges.
4. Magnitude of Electric Field for Point Charge:
• For a point charge Q, the magnitude of the electric field at a distance r is given
by Coulomb's law: E=(k∣Q)/r2where k is Coulomb's constant (k≈8.99×109N\
cm2/C2).
• As, Q remains constant. We found E is inversely proportional to r2.
5. Superposition Principle:
• The net electric field at a point due to multiple charges is the vector sum of the
fields created by each charge.
The electric field is an essential concept in electromagnetism, influencing phenomena such as
the behavior of charges, electric potential, and electromagnetic waves.
What is Electric Field Line? Or Electric line of force
Electric field lines are an excellent way of visualizing electric fields. They were first
introduced by Michael Faraday himself.
A field line is drawn tangential to the net at a point. Thus at any point, the tangent to the
electric field line matches the direction of the electric field at that point. Secondly, the
relative density of field lines around a point corresponds to the relative strength (magnitude)
of the electric field at that point. In other words, if you see more electric field lines in the
vicinity of point A as compared to point B, then the electric field is stronger at point A.
, Properties of Electric Field Lines
• The field lines never intersect each other.
• The field lines are perpendicular to the surface of the charge.
• The magnitude of charge and the number of field lines, both are proportional to each
other.
• The start point of the field lines is at the positive charge and end at the negative
charge.
• For the field lines to either start or end at infinity, a single charge must be used.
•
Lines of force due to an isolated Positive charge and Negative charge
Electric Lines of force due Electric Dipole
