What is Electrical field: Definition and 58 Discussions

An electric field (sometimes E-field) is the physical field that surrounds electrically-charged particles and exerts force on all other charged particles in the field, either attracting or repelling them. It also refers to the physical field for a system of charged particles. Electric fields originate from electric charges, or from time-varying magnetic fields. Electric fields and magnetic fields are both manifestations of the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces (or interactions) of nature.
Electric fields are important in many areas of physics, and are exploited practically in electrical technology. In atomic physics and chemistry, for instance, the electric field is the attractive force holding the atomic nucleus and electrons together in atoms. It is also the force responsible for chemical bonding between atoms that result in molecules.
Other applications of electric fields include motion detection via electric field proximity sensing and an increasing number of diagnostic and therapeutic medical uses.
The electric field is defined mathematically as a vector field that associates to each point in space the (electrostatic or Coulomb) force per unit of charge exerted on an infinitesimal positive test charge at rest at that point. The derived SI units for the electric field are volts per meter (V/m), exactly equivalent to newtons per coulomb (N/C).

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  1. M

    Magnetic field and an electrical field

    Hi all, We know that if we have a current, we create a magnetic field and an electrical field. By the right hand rule, we can find the direction of the B, and E field. (ExB should give us the direction of the current). Now suppose we have electromagnetic induction. The B and E from...
  2. M

    Double checking charges and electrical field problems

    Hello everyone, I've done a series of physics problems, but I have no way of seeing if they are right or wrong, So I'm going to copy and paste them, and then show you what I did to come up with the answer, I don't expect 1 person to double check all my problems, but if somtime when one or 2 of...
  3. A

    Need help on Electrical Field problem

    Four charges are at the corners of a square of side a as show in the figure. a) Determine the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the location of charge q. b) What is the resultant force on q? http://east.ilrn.com/graphing/bca/user/appletImage?dbid=1131113015 I made E1 equal...
  4. O

    Solving a 3-Charge Electrical Field Inside an Insulator Ball

    please help given insulator ball with radius R that charged with uniformed density p<0. the ball is charged with -3Q 3 colon charges with Q>0 each one, are found inside the ball (look at the draw) the charges found at triangle that it's sides are equal (each side length = d) and d<=2R...
  5. C

    Finding Electrical Field Around a Charge

    Can someone let me know if I'm going in the right direction. The electrical force on a 2-columb charge is 60 Newtons, What iis the magnitude of the electric field? E =f/q E= 60/2 E=30 If a charge of +3 x 10 -6columbs sets up an electrical field, find: a. The magnitude of...
  6. U

    Calculate Magnitude of Electrical Field | Electron Acceleration

    An electron is accelerated from rest for a time of 10R-9 seconds by a uniform electrical field that exerts a force of 8E-15 N on the electron. What is the magnitude of the electrical field? What equations should I use? There's E=F/q and E=kQ/r^2 They both don't work. The speed id the...
  7. STAii

    Electrical Field Inside a Charged Metallic Conductor

    Please read this topic first. I have recently seen a proof (using Gauss' law) showing that there is no electrical field inside a charged metallic conductor (due to the carge on its surface). (i can provide this proof if needed) If that proof was right, then this must mean that the inner sphere...
  8. meister

    Electrical Field of a Parallel Plate Capacitor

    Just going through some review questions and wanted to clear up some questions I had. I figure you guys like showing off how smart you are. First Question: Consider the parallel plate capacitor classroom demonstration. A. Write a mathematical expression for Gauss' Law. Describe the meaning...
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