Does a Single Charge Create an Electric Field?

[donaldson1967]

Does a single isolated charge have an electric field?

 

[Dale]

Yes.

 

[donaldson1967]

if so - in terms of classical EMF definitions where do the "field lines" go?

 

[Born2bwire]

Out. The electric field is given by Coulomb's law.

\mathbf{E} = \frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r^2} \hat{r}

 

[jtbell]

Out.

Or in.

(depending on whether the charge is + or -, of course)

 

[donaldson1967]

so charge DOES have energy? even in the absence for example a voltage gradient?

 

[Born2bwire]

A charge creates its own potential field.