How to imagine an electric field?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the dimensionality of electric fields, confirming that electric fields are inherently three-dimensional due to the nature of space. A key point raised is the mathematical representation of field strength, which diminishes with distance according to the inverse square law (1/r²) in three dimensions, as opposed to the inverse law (1/r) that would apply in a hypothetical two-dimensional scenario. This distinction is crucial for understanding the behavior of electric fields in physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of three-dimensional space
  • Basic knowledge of electric fields and their properties
  • Familiarity with inverse square law in physics
  • Concepts from introductory physics courses, particularly Physics 2
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the mathematical derivation of the inverse square law for electric fields
  • Explore Maxwell's equations and their implications for electric fields
  • Investigate the differences between two-dimensional and three-dimensional fields in physics
  • Review concepts from Physics 2, focusing on electromagnetic theory
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching electromagnetism, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of electric fields.

SELFMADE
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Is it 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional?
 
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Hi SELFMADE! :smile:
SELFMADE said:
Is it 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional?

Space is 3 dimensional, so any field is 3 dimensional.

Did you have a specific electric field in mind?

EDIT: just occurred to me …

if a field was 2 dimensional, it would fall off as 1/r instead of 1/r2, since it would spread out over a circle (~ r) instead of a sphere (~ r2) :wink:​
 
Last edited:
thanks, I was just going over physics 2 material which I'll take next semester.
 

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