Electric Field Direction: How to Determine Left or Right Orientation

[PetetheGreek]

When finding the magnitude and direction of an electric field, how do you know if the direction is left or right?

 

[Gear300]

It depends on the convention you're using. If you take right as positive and left as negative, then that is how you know if it is left or right.

 

[berkeman]

When finding the magnitude and direction of an electric field, how do you know if the direction is left or right?

The E field points in the direction that a positive charge will be accelerated in via F=QE.

Since "opposites attract" and "likes repel", if you have a +Q on the left and a -Q on the right, with some test charge +q between them, which way will the test charge +q be pushed? Which direction is the Electric field pointing in this case?

 

[PetetheGreek]

The E field points in the direction that a positive charge will be accelerated in via F=QE.

Since "opposites attract" and "likes repel", if you have a +Q on the left and a -Q on the right, with some test charge +q between them, which way will the test charge +q be pushed? Which direction is the Electric field pointing in this case?

test charge will be pushed right, electric field is pointing to the right

right...?

 

[berkeman]

Yep!