attenuation of E-field

Apteronotus

Do electric fields attenuate in space?

If so what causes the attenuation?

mathman

I am not sure what you are looking for. In general fields spread out and therefore attenuate, following an inverse square law.

the_emi_guy

When I move away from a planet farther into space, its gravitational pull on me decreases right?

Would you say that the gravitational field is attenuated in space?
What would be causing this attenation?

mathman

Inverse square law.

Drakkith

We can visualize the strength of a field by thinking of field lines. Near the source of the field the field lines are all very dense. As the distance from the object increases the density of the field lines falls off in accordance with the inverse square law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law

Apteronotus

Thank you for your responses.