How does one define an electric field?

In summary: The Maxwell Equations are a set of equations that describe the behavior of electric fields.Via the Maxwell Equations.
  • #1
ashutosha
7
0
How does one define an electric field??

How does one define an electric field??
 
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  • #2


ashutosha said:
How does one define an electric field??

Via the Maxwell Equations.

{ambiguous questions get ambiguous answers}

Zz.
 
  • #3


ZapperZ said:
Via the Maxwell Equations.

{ambiguous questions get ambiguous answers}

Zz.

What are the maxwell equations??
 
  • #4


I think the simplest way to define an electric field is mathematically. That equation is E=kQ/r^2

E is electric field in Newtons per coulomb
k is the coulombs constant which is 9E9 (the units are Nm^2/C^2)
Q is the present charge in C
r is the distance away from the charge in meters

That's the simplest way to define an electric field I think.

The other way to define an electric field is by using this equation

F/q=E

F is the force between 2 electric particles in Newtons
q is the charge measured in coulombs

hope this helps
 
  • #5


The force per unit charge that a positive charge would experience if it were to be inserted into a region of space, where the force is caused by the existence of one or more other charges.

Hover said: E=kQ/r^2
But it wasn't part of the question to assume that the field is caused by one point charge. For example, between two charged parallel plates the electric field is close to being a set of parallel lines with constant magnitude.
 
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  • #6


Checkout the attached PDF...those are the parts of my notes.
 

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  • Electrostatics (with understanding for Electric fields).pdf
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  • #7


An electric field is an area of space where something experiences a force due to its charge
 
  • #8


nooma said:
An electric field is an area of space where something experiences a force due to its charge

True, but the same can be said about a magnetic field too in the case of moving charges.
 
  • #9


This may be true, but that is the formal definiton of an electric field
 

1. What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical field that surrounds electrically charged particles and exerts force on other charged particles within its vicinity. It is created by the presence of electrically charged objects and can be described as the region in which an electric force can be detected.

2. How is an electric field defined mathematically?

An electric field is defined mathematically as the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge placed at a certain point in the electric field. It is represented by the equation E = F/q, where E is the electric field, F is the force exerted, and q is the test charge.

3. What is the difference between an electric field and an electric potential?

An electric field and an electric potential are related but distinct concepts. An electric field is a physical field that exerts force on charged particles, while an electric potential describes the potential energy per unit charge of a charged particle in an electric field. In other words, the electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a charged particle from one point to another in an electric field.

4. How is the direction of an electric field determined?

The direction of an electric field is determined by the direction in which a positive test charge would move if placed within the field. The direction of the electric field is always perpendicular to the equipotential lines, which are imaginary lines that connect points of equal electric potential.

5. What are some real-world applications of electric fields?

Electric fields have various real-world applications, including in electronics, where they are used in devices such as capacitors, transistors, and diodes. They are also essential in technologies such as particle accelerators, mass spectrometers, and x-ray machines. Additionally, electric fields play a crucial role in everyday objects like batteries and power lines.

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