13 Electric Field Flashcards
Define electric field.
An electric field is a region of space in which a charge placed in that region experiences an electric force.
Define electric field strength.
The electric field strength at a point is defined as the electric force exerted per unit positive charge placed at that point.
State the formula to calculate electric field strength and its SI unit.
E = F/q
SI Unit: N C^-1 or V m^-1
State the direction of the electric force on a charged particle.
The direction of the electric force on a charged particle depends on whether its charge is positive or negative. A positive charge will experience an electric force towards a region of lower electric potential while a negative charge will experience an electric force towards a region of higher electric potential.
State the direction of the electric field strength.
The direction of electric field strength is that of the electric force acting on a positive charge at that point.
State Coulomb’s law. State its formula and SI unit.
Coulomb’s law states that the force between two point charges is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Its formula is F = 1/4pie0 (Qq/r^2) where (4pie0)^-1 is the constant of proportionality where the permittivity of free space e0 = 8.85*10^-12 Fm^-1.
