What is the Direction of the Electric Field?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the electric field, including its definition, direction, and the conventions associated with positive and negative charges. Participants explore foundational aspects of the electric field and its implications in practical scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the fundamental nature of the electric field, seeking a clear definition.
  • Another participant provides a link to an external resource for further reading on the electric field.
  • A participant inquires about the convention that power lines begin at a positive charge and end at a negative charge.
  • It is noted that the direction of the electric field is defined as the direction of force on a positive test charge, indicating that the field points away from positive charges and towards negative charges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and curiosity about the electric field, but there is no consensus on the foundational questions raised, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not clarify certain assumptions about the electric field, such as the specific conditions under which the conventions apply or the implications of these conventions in different contexts.

aloshi
Messages
79
Reaction score
0
what is the electric field? I have read that there is a certain point where the electric field. but what is the electric field?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
why must every power line begins at a posetiv charge and end on a negative charge.
http://www.ladda-upp.com/bilder-a/f_C3_A4lt-420.jpg
 
It starts and ends on positive and negative charges by convention. The direction of the electric field is defined as the direction of force that the field applies on a positive test charge. Hence, the field points away from areas of net positive charge and towards areas of net negative charge.
 

Similar threads

High School Electric Field Direction: Are We Assuming a Universal Positive Frame?
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
High School Electric Field Created by 2 Infinite Plates
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Electric Field Created by a Finite Plate
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Does a time varying magnetic field in vacuum produce electric field or not?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Discontinuity of Electric field
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Electric field in two dimensions in an electromagnetic wave
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Electric Field of Uniformly Charged Infinite Plane
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
946
High School Electric Field Inside a Hollow Sphere
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School Curious about the uniform electric field between metal plates
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad Electrical breakdown in air in the presence of a single charge
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K