Does a Single Charge Create an Electric Field?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter donaldson1967
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Charge Emf
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether a single isolated charge generates an electric field, exploring concepts from classical electromagnetism, including field lines and potential energy associated with charges.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if a single isolated charge has an electric field.
  • Another participant affirms that a single charge does create an electric field.
  • A participant inquires about the direction of "field lines" in relation to classical electromagnetic definitions.
  • One response states that the electric field is described by Coulomb's law, indicating it points outward from a positive charge and inward toward a negative charge.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the field direction could be interpreted as both outward and inward, depending on the charge's sign.
  • A question is raised regarding whether a charge possesses energy in the absence of a voltage gradient.
  • One participant asserts that a charge generates its own potential field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of a charge's electric field and its associated energy, indicating that multiple perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the definitions of electric fields and potential energy may not be explicitly stated, and the discussion does not resolve the implications of a charge's energy in various contexts.

donaldson1967
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Does a single isolated charge have an electric field?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
if so - in terms of classical EMF definitions where do the "field lines" go?
 
Out. The electric field is given by Coulomb's law.

[tex]\mathbf{E} = \frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r^2} \hat{r}[/tex]
 
Born2bwire said:
Out.

Or in. :smile:

(depending on whether the charge is + or -, of course)
 
so charge DOES have energy? even in the absence for example a voltage gradient?
 
A charge creates its own potential field.
 

Similar threads

High School Thought Experiment on Charge Carriers and Electrical Conduction
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
High School Electric Fields inside Conductors & Gauss' Law
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
High School Electric Field Direction: Are We Assuming a Universal Positive Frame?
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
High School Some Questions about Electric Current/Capacitors to help my understanding
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Electrical breakdown in air in the presence of a single charge
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad How is Potential Difference Created across a Resistor?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
High School Why doesn't a charged particle moving at a constant speed radiate?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Small question about constantly accelerating charges
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K
Undergrad Confused about work done on charge
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad Does a time varying magnetic field in vacuum produce electric field or not?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K