I Electric field vector takes into account the field's radial direction?

AI Thread Summary
The electric field vector does account for the radial direction, as it points straight away from a positive charge towards a point P. When calculating the electric field using the formula, it assumes a single charge scenario, resulting in straight radial lines. Curved electric field lines occur only when multiple charges are present, as their interactions cause the field to bend. Therefore, the confusion arises from considering the total electric field rather than the field from a single charge. Understanding this distinction clarifies why the electric field lines appear straight in a single charge context.
annamal
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Does the electric field vector takes into account the field's radial direction? Usually when we calculate the electric field, we use ##\vec E = \frac{kq}{r^2}\vec j##, which is a straight line vector of a positive charge q's electric field. This electric field points from a positive charge q to a point P. But I am confused because the electric field of q is also radially outwards pointing towards P, which means it will have a curved line to point P. The electric field vector doesn't seem to account for that and only points in the ##\vec j## direction. See image.
Screen Shot 2022-04-21 at 7.26.40 PM.png
 
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annamal said:
the electric field of q is also radially outwards pointing towards P, which means it will have a curved line to point P.
What makes you think that it will have a curved line? If q is the only charge in the system and is positive, all electric field lines point radially away from q and those radial lines are straight, There will be no curved field lines.
 
andrewkirk said:
What makes you think that it will have a curved line? If q is the only charge in the system and is positive, all electric field lines point radially away from q and those radial lines are straight, There will be no curved field lines.
See attached image. See how the electric field lines are curved?
Screen Shot 2022-04-21 at 10.06.38 PM.png

Source: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/cl... never cross,are perpendicular to the surface.
 
That's because there is more than one charge. As I said in my post, if there's only one charge they will not curve.
The formula you used in the OP is either for the case where there's only one charge or where you are only calculating the electric field attributable to the charge q, not the total electric field. The total field will curve if there are multiple charges but the field attributable to any single charge will not. The curvature arises from the interaction of the fields.
 
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