Mechanism of charge interaction?

AI Thread Summary
Charges interact through electric fields, where positive charges repel and negative charges attract. The official view suggests that charges do not directly sense one another but rather respond to the electric field and its gradient created by other charges. This interaction mechanism allows one charge to "feel" the presence of another without direct contact. The nature of this field and its effects on charge behavior is a fundamental aspect of electric field theory. Understanding this interaction is crucial for grasping the principles of electromagnetism.
Sharky
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One of the core concepts in electric field theory is that charges exert a force on one another: a positive charge "pushes out," and a negative charges "pulls in."

What is the mechanism by which charges interact with one another? How does one charge "feel" the presence of another?
 
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Sharky said:
What is the mechanism by which charges interact with one another? How does one charge "feel" the presence of another?

Hi Sharky! :smile:

I think the official view is that charges only feel the field, and its gradient … they don't know what's causing the field.
 

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