justacuriouskid
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- Do electric field directions assume a positively charged background? Just wondering if field lines are defined based on this assumption.
Hey! I'm a high school student trying to understand electric fields at a deeper, more conceptual level. I had a random thought I wanted to share to get your views on it.
So far, I've learnt that electric field lines of a positive charge run outward and that of a negative charge run inward.
But here's where I wondered:
Is this direction based on a positively charged background?
How can we assume a "Default" direction for a field line? What if the surroundings weren't always neutral or positive? Would that affect how we even define field lines?
Thanks in advance!
So far, I've learnt that electric field lines of a positive charge run outward and that of a negative charge run inward.
But here's where I wondered:
Is this direction based on a positively charged background?
How can we assume a "Default" direction for a field line? What if the surroundings weren't always neutral or positive? Would that affect how we even define field lines?
Thanks in advance!
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