When electric field resolve into components.

In summary, when finding the electric intensity at a point, the electric field is resolved into components because it is a vector field with direction and magnitude. This can be done in different coordinate systems. However, it is not necessary to resolve the components if the problem can be solved without it.
  • #1
vinzie
19
0
Hi,

Whenever I check a problem to find electric intensity at a point, it shows electricity at that particular point is resolved into components. Might be my question is a dumb one.
But seriously I wana know why does it resolved into components?
What happens if we do not care about the resolved components of electric field and go ahead and find the solution?

Thanks in advance!
Vinzie :)
 
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  • #2
E is a field, a vector field that has direction and magnitude. You have to have direction and direction can be separated into coordinate components. It can be xyz, r[itex]\phi[/itex] z, or Rθ[itex]\phi[/itex].
 
  • #3
vinzie said:
Hi,

Whenever I check a problem to find electric intensity at a point, it shows electricity at that particular point is resolved into components. Might be my question is a dumb one.
But seriously I wana know why does it resolved into components?
What happens if we do not care about the resolved components of electric field and go ahead and find the solution?

Thanks in advance!
Vinzie :)

You don't have to do it that way. It's just a very convenient way of working our some problems. If you can solve a particular problem without resolving, then go ahead and do it. No worries.
 

Related to When electric field resolve into components.

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the influence of an electric charge on other charges. It is a vector field, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and is typically represented by the symbol E.

How are electric fields resolved into components?

Electric fields can be resolved into components by using vector addition. This involves breaking down the electric field into its horizontal and vertical components, using trigonometric functions to determine their magnitudes, and then combining them using vector addition to get the resulting electric field.

Why is it important to resolve electric fields into components?

Resolving electric fields into components allows us to better understand and analyze the behavior of electric fields. It also allows us to calculate the effects of electric fields on charged particles in different directions and at different points in space.

Can electric fields have negative components?

Yes, electric fields can have negative components. The direction of the components depends on the direction of the electric field and the coordinate system being used.

How does the resolution of electric fields into components relate to Coulomb's law?

Coulomb's law states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The resolution of electric fields into components allows us to calculate the force between two charges in different directions and at different points in space using vector addition.

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