- #1
Swapnil
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Here's is a quote from Electromagnetics by Richard H. Selfridge, David V. Arnold, and Karl F. Warnick:
I am still not sure where that 1/2 factor comes from...
I am still not sure where that 1/2 factor comes from...
The electric field energy density 3-form is
[tex]\omega_e = \frac{1}{2} E\wedge D [/tex]
where the factor of 1/2 arises from the way the electric field has been defined. (If two charges are near each other, stored potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy by allowing one charge to accelerate away. The energy of the field due to the second charge remains but cannot be extracted, so we exclude it from the definition of [itex]\omega_e[/itex])
Electric field energy density is a measure of the amount of energy stored in the electric field at a specific point in space. It is represented by the symbol u and is measured in joules per cubic meter (J/m^3).
Electric field energy density can be calculated using the equation u = 1/2 * ε * E^2, where ε is the permittivity of the medium and E is the electric field strength.
Electric field energy density is important in understanding the behavior of electric fields and their effects on charged particles. It also plays a crucial role in the conservation of energy in electromagnetic systems.
Electric potential energy is the energy that a charged particle possesses due to its position in an electric field. It can be calculated by multiplying the electric field energy density by the volume of the field. In other words, the potential energy is equal to the electric field energy density times the volume of the field.
No, electric field energy density cannot be negative. It is always a positive value as it represents the amount of energy stored in the electric field at a specific point in space.