How does the strength of an electric field relate to its direction?

[samcoelho]

I understand that negative charges create electric fields pointing inwards, and positive charges create electric fields pointing outwards, but what does this have to do with field stength? What is the relationship between field strength (flux?) and direction?

 

[Andrew Mason]

Field direction at a particular point is the direction of the force on a positive unit charge located at that point. If there is a charge distribution that creates the field at that point, the relative magnitudes of the charges in that charge distribution will determine the direction of the field. If the electric field is from a single point charge, the direction of the field will not be affected by the magnitude of the charge - only the sign (positive or negative). The direction will be radial from the centre of the charge.

AM

 

[Herman Trivilino]

I understand that negative charges create electric fields pointing inwards, and positive charges create electric fields pointing outwards, but what does this have to do with field stength?

If you draw the field lines in the vicinity of one of these charged particles you will notice that the lines are closer together nearer the charged particle. These are places where the field strength is greater.