Electric field (E)
Definition
The electric field is a vector quantity that describes the force experienced by a charged particle at any point in space. It is created by other charged particles and can exert forces on other charges placed within its influence.
Analogy
Think of an electric field as invisible hands pushing or pulling objects with charges, just like magnets attract or repel each other. The strength and direction of these "hands" depend on the properties and positions of the charges involved.
Related terms
Electric potential energy (PE): This term refers to the potential energy associated with an object due to its position in an electric field.
Coulomb's Law: This law states that there is an attractive or repulsive force between two charged objects, which depends on their magnitudes and separation distance.
Gauss's Law: This law relates the distribution of electric charges to properties of an enclosing surface, providing insights into calculating electric fields.
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