Electric Field Strength

Definition

Electric field strength is a vector quantity that describes the force per unit charge exerted on a test charge placed in an electric field. It represents the magnitude and direction of the electric force acting on a charged particle within an electric field.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The electric field strength is defined as the force per unit charge, with the SI unit of newtons per coulomb (N/C).
2. The direction of the electric field strength vector is the same as the direction of the electric force on a positive test charge.
3. Electric field strength is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of the electric field, as described by Coulomb's law.
4. The electric field strength is used to calculate the electric potential difference between two points in an electric field.
5. The electric field strength is a fundamental concept in understanding the behavior of charged particles and the transfer of energy in electrical systems.

Review Questions

• Explain how the electric field strength is related to the electric force experienced by a charged particle in an electric field.
  • The electric field strength is defined as the electric force per unit charge. This means that the electric field strength at a particular point in space determines the magnitude and direction of the force that would be exerted on a test charge placed at that point. The electric field strength vector points in the direction of the electric force on a positive test charge, and the magnitude of the electric field strength is proportional to the magnitude of the electric force per unit charge.
• Describe how the electric field strength is used to calculate the electric potential difference between two points in an electric field.
  • The electric potential difference between two points in an electric field is equal to the work done per unit charge in moving a test charge from one point to the other. This work can be calculated by integrating the electric field strength along the path between the two points. The electric field strength, therefore, provides the necessary information to determine the change in electric potential between any two points in the electric field, which is a crucial concept in understanding the behavior of charged particles and the transfer of energy in electrical systems.
• Analyze how the inverse square relationship between electric field strength and distance from the source of the electric field, as described by Coulomb's law, affects the distribution and behavior of electric fields.
  • The inverse square relationship between electric field strength and distance from the source of the electric field, as described by Coulomb's law, has significant implications for the distribution and behavior of electric fields. This relationship means that as the distance from the source of the electric field increases, the electric field strength decreases rapidly. This has important consequences for the way electric fields interact with charged particles and the way energy is transferred in electrical systems. For example, this inverse square relationship explains why the electric field strength decreases rapidly with distance from a point charge, and why the electric potential energy of a charge in an electric field also decreases rapidly with distance from the source.

Related terms

Electric Field: The region surrounding a charged particle or object in which another charged particle experiences an electric force.

Electric Potential: The potential energy per unit charge at a given point in an electric field, which determines the work done in moving a charge to that point.

Electric Flux: The total electric field passing through a given surface, calculated as the surface integral of the electric field over the surface.