Field Magnitude and force question

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on how the electric field magnitude varies with distance and whether it remains constant along a line of force. It is clarified that the electric field magnitude is constant along equipotential surfaces, which are spherical for point charges, while the direction of the field changes. The field's magnitude is influenced by the distance from the charge, as described by Coulomb's law, indicating that it does not remain constant with distance. The participants emphasize the relationship between charge amount and field strength, noting that if charges remain unchanged, the field's magnitude will be consistent along a line of force. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping electric field behavior.
crh
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Homework Statement



I am needing help with just a conceptual question. I am wondering how the field magnitude varies with the distance between the field lines and if it remains constant along a line of force.

Homework Equations



I don't think I use an equation. Maybe Coulomb's equation.

The Attempt at a Solution



I am not for sure how to solve it so I don't know a solution I guess. I think though that the field magnitude is constant if the charges are kept the same. Am I on the right path?
 
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crh said:

Homework Statement



I am needing help with just a conceptual question. I am wondering how the field magnitude varies with the distance between the field lines and if it remains constant along a line of force.

Homework Equations



I don't think I use an equation. Maybe Coulomb's equation.

The Attempt at a Solution



I am not for sure how to solve it so I don't know a solution I guess. I think though that the field magnitude is constant if the charges are kept the same. Am I on the right path?

Welcome to PF.

The E-field in Coulomb's law is a vector field. I think you should examine the equation to understand how that magnitude calculation is affected by the principle variable r if you are holding q constant. Equipotential lines then refer to the equal magnitudes, but not necessarily the same identical direction at each point along an equipotential. For instance the equipotential lines of a point charge would be spherical concentric shells of equal magnitude in 3 space, with direction determined by the direction to the point charge.
 
I guess I am just not understanding. Can you help explain it to me. For one I didn't think that the magnitude changes with distance. I thought it all depended on the amount of charge on a point. This means that if the charges stay the same that it does remain constant along a line of force. Right? Can you explain if I am wrong. Thanks!
 
crh said:
I guess I am just not understanding. Can you help explain it to me. For one I didn't think that the magnitude changes with distance. I thought it all depended on the amount of charge on a point. This means that if the charges stay the same that it does remain constant along a line of force. Right? Can you explain if I am wrong. Thanks!

The magnitude of an electric field will remain the same along an equipotential surface, which for a point charge will be across the surface of a sphere or radius r. For the point charge, the vector direction is guaranteed to be different as it points toward the point charge. (The same as with the electric field having a vector associated with its magnitude.)

Here is a link to a discussion about vector fields:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_field
 
Thanks!:-p
 

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