Electric field Definition and 1000 Threads

An electric field (sometimes E-field) is the physical field that surrounds electrically-charged particles and exerts force on all other charged particles in the field, either attracting or repelling them. It also refers to the physical field for a system of charged particles. Electric fields originate from electric charges, or from time-varying magnetic fields. Electric fields and magnetic fields are both manifestations of the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces (or interactions) of nature.
Electric fields are important in many areas of physics, and are exploited practically in electrical technology. In atomic physics and chemistry, for instance, the electric field is the attractive force holding the atomic nucleus and electrons together in atoms. It is also the force responsible for chemical bonding between atoms that result in molecules.
Other applications of electric fields include motion detection via electric field proximity sensing and an increasing number of diagnostic and therapeutic medical uses.
The electric field is defined mathematically as a vector field that associates to each point in space the (electrostatic or Coulomb) force per unit of charge exerted on an infinitesimal positive test charge at rest at that point. The derived SI units for the electric field are volts per meter (V/m), exactly equivalent to newtons per coulomb (N/C).

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  1. RoboNerd

    How Does Electric Field Direction Affect Work on a Negative Charge?

    1. Homework Statement Hi everyone, I am having trouble solving this question. I know that the right answer is d. Homework Equations No equations here, only conceptual stuff. The Attempt at a Solution Say I have the following points: A and B A...
  2. A

    Electric field acting on a negative test charge due to semicircular rod

    Homework Statement A thin semicircular rod is broken into two halves. The top half has a total charge +Q uniformly distributed along it, and the bottom half has a total charge -Q uniformly distributed along it. A negative test charge is placed at points A, B, and C. *Image attached* Consider...
  3. A

    Electric field at a point (point charge and semi-circle rod)

    Homework Statement A thin semicircular rod has a total charge +Q uniformly distributed along it. A negative point charge -Q is placed as shown. (Point C is equidistant from -Q and from all points on the rod.) *Image Attached* Let Ep and Er represent the electric fields at point C due to the...
  4. RoboNerd

    Resistor made from two materials

    Hi everyone, I am having problems figuring out how to solve a particular problem. Because I was not able to access PhysicsForums recently, I typed everything about my issues into a pdf file that I have attached below. I am grateful for your help in advance, and make it a great day...
  5. ORF

    A How the emission spectra can be affected by E/M field?

    Hello A friend of mine asked me if he could improve the (amateur) characterization of minerals by studying the absorption spectra during the application of a magnetic field. I thought that maybe the electron cyclotron resonance could work, but then I noticed that very low temperatures are...
  6. S

    Is the direction of electric field the direction of current?

    Is the direction of electric field save as the direction of (conventional) current?
  7. T

    2008 us physics olympiad pendulum in electric field

    1. Homework Statement i was solving the 2008 semi final us physics olympiad paper when i got stuck on question B2 in part 2 http://www.aapt.org/Programs/contests/upload/olympiad_2008_semi-final_soln.pdf the link takes you a pdf with questions and solution however i don't understand the soution...
  8. Tanmay Gupta

    Electric field question -- Charges....

    When a charge placed at anywhere,then it produces a powerful field around itself,is called electric field. It is exist whenever charge exist.And charge takes very very small time in propagate electric field.
  9. J

    Electric field inside a cavity

    It is a simple arrangement. Imagine that we have an empty cubic box. Outside the box the electric potential is infinite. Imagine that you put an electric charge at the geomectric center of the box. What is the field around this charge? In other words, the tool I have to calculate the field...
  10. D

    Angle of electron in an electric field

    Homework Statement https://imgur.com/zEoCpc0 I am trying to figure put the angle and my attempt is tanx=sy/sx (I have calculated a value for the distances) But my book is saying: tanx =vy/vx I don't understand why my way of solving it is wrong... I don't get the same answer for x :/
  11. L

    Net electric force and Net electric field

    Homework Statement a) Find the net force on charge 1. b) What is the net electric field acting on charge 1? Please see the attached files to view the image that goes with the questions above. Homework Equations I'm having trouble with this unit in general and I'm not to confident in these...
  12. J

    How Does Melting Affect the Polarizability and Dielectric Constant of a Medium?

    I understand that as a solid melts, it increases can increase in polarizability of the medium, and increase the Dielectric constant (K). -ex. like dissolving NaCl and having ions in solution. Why does Thermal motion reduce the polarizability of the medium, thus decreasing the dielectric...
  13. Schaus

    Electric fields - Finding Net force acting on Q2

    Homework Statement What is the Net force (include direction) acting on charge Q2 due to Q1 and q? (ans: Fnet = 174N right) Homework Equations F=kQ1Q2/r2 E=F/QThe Attempt at a Solution I've figured out a) and b). It's just c) that's giving me trouble. I tried using the first equation - (9.0 x...
  14. Schaus

    Electric potential at a point due to two charges

    Homework Statement What is the electric potential at P due to charges Q1 and Q2...
  15. B

    Ionization energy of an electric field

    Hi, If I had a charged parallel plate capacitor which was not connected to a circuit (so the charges stay on the plates) creating an electric field strong enough to cause ionization, and I then fired a neutral atom between the charged plates (the charge starts outside of the electric field)...
  16. garylau

    How to integrate the electric field of the square sheet

    Sorry i have one question to ask how to integrate the electric field of the square sheet( see the pink circle below) it looks hard for me thank you very much
  17. J

    Electric field inside a sphere

    I'm confused with the electric field inside a sphere. The book said that E=keQr/a^3 While one of the properities of electrostatic equilibrium mentioned that the E-field is zero everywhere inside the conductor. Are there any exceptional cases? Thanks in advance.
  18. iochoa2016

    Electric Field Strength-conceptual question

    Electric Field Strength is defined in many books as F/Q, where F is force and Q is the test charge. but why is that? why not F/(2Q)? or F/Q^2?, is this word "strength" related to stress-strength as in mechanics?
  19. W

    What is the amplitude of the electric field (laser reflection)

    Problem we are looking at :A laser beam has diameter 1.30 mm . The beam exerts a force of 3.7×10−9 N on a totally reflecting surface. What is the amplitude of the electric field of the electromagnetic radiation in this beam? (Emax) Relevant Formulas...etc.: I have the formula...
  20. K

    Grounded conductor and Electric field potential question ?

    Homework Statement [/B]Homework Equations V= kq/r.[/B]The Attempt at a Solution For 8-8, I do not really know how to approach it. For 8-14 , I think that q2=-q1 and q3=q1+q2. I can now use V=kq/r and then find the equations for r>R3 , r=R3 , R2<r<R3 , r=R2 and R1<r<R2 and then graph...
  21. D

    Calculating Emax in concentric cylinder

    The general formula to calculate maximim electric, Emax in concetric cylinder is Emax= V/a ln (b/a). But how does the formula differentiate if there are 3 inner cylindrical electrode?
  22. Rod Alexei

    Direction of Electric field (EM induction)

    Homework Statement In which direction would the electric field in the wire point if the wire were pulled to the right? Homework Equations Right hand rule F=qvXB The Attempt at a Solution My answer is downward. I am confused whether I should take the moving charges as positive or negative...
  23. sliperyfrog

    The maximum magnitude of the electric field of a sphere

    Homework Statement A non-conducting sphere of radius a carries a non-uniform charge density. The electrostatic field inside the sphere is a distance b from is center and is given by E = (b/a)4E0 (E0 being the maximum magnitude of the field.) a. Find an expression for E0 in terms of the...
  24. O

    Sunlight, Intensity, electric field RMS

    Homework Statement Estimate the rms electric field in the sunlight that hits Uranus, knowing that the Earth receives about 1350 W/m2 and that Uranus is 19.2 times farther away from the Sun (on average) than is the Earth. Homework Equations I=cεoErms2 E=V/d The Attempt at a Solution Eearth=V/d...
  25. K

    What is the Electric Field inside this charged sphere?

    Homework Statement Let me just put this here: http://i.imgur.com/dgcWAC3.png . Homework Equations E_flux=EA=(q_encl)/(permittivity) Area=4pir^2 The Attempt at a Solution Whenever I manipulate the above equations, I get a term of the form R/r, which implies, R being 5 cm, and r being the...
  26. SunRay-dvsh

    Oscillating Electron Beam potential between metal plates

    Take the case where the electron-beam is oscillating between two parallel metal plates, there will be alternating potential developed between the plates as metal tries to negate all external electric fields. My query is, (1) How to calculate the potential developed and possible way to simulate...
  27. Vitani11

    Electric field everywhere for a hollow cylindrical conductor?

    Homework Statement An infinitely long, hollow, conducting cylinder has a inner radius a and outer radius b and carries a linear charge density λ along its length. What is the electric field everywhere? Homework Equations ∫E⋅dA = Qenc/∈ Variables ∈ = permittivity constant a = inner radius b =...
  28. franktherabbit

    Determining the capacitance of the two conductors

    Homework Statement For a given system, a conducting cylinder with radius ##r=a## with a linear charge density ##Q'## and a conducting surface at a distance ##z=h## from the cylinder, calculate the linear capacitance of the cylinder.Take that ##h>>a## ##C'=\frac{Q'}{U}## Homework Equations 3...
  29. Funner

    Electrostatic force on polymer particle in an electric field

    Hi there, in electrospinning, a positive charge of around 10.000Volt is applied to a needle, where a viscous polymer is extruded. There is a grounded collector in a distance of 15mm and the established electrical field generates electrostatic forces and draws a thin polymer jet to the...
  30. doktorwho

    Calculating the volume charge density

    Homework Statement [/B] Volume charge density in some space is given by a function ##ρ_v(x)=-ρ_0\frac{x}{a}e^{\frac{-x^2}{a^2}}## where ##ρ_0, a## are positive constants. Determine the electric field vector in arbitrarily chosen point in space. Homework Equations 3. The Attempt at a Solution...
  31. doktorwho

    Calculating the potential of a charged ring

    1. Homework Statement A flat ring, with radii ##b>a## like on the picture is charged with a surface charge density ##ρ_s=ρ_0\frac{b}{r}## where ##ρ_0=const.## Calculate the potential of the ring on the ##z-axis## by taking the reference point to be in the infinity. Picture below. 2. Homework...
  32. O

    How Do You Calculate Electric Energy Density Near a Copper Wire?

    Homework Statement Calculate the electric energy density at the surface of a 3.4 mm diameter copper wire carrying a 28 A current. Homework Equations u = (1/2) ε0 E2 The Attempt at a Solution With the electric energy density equation, I substituted in the equation for the electric field for an...
  33. G

    Intensity of EM wave independent of frequency?

    Hi. I'm a bit puzzled that the classical formula for the intensity of a monochromatic, linear EM wave $$I=\frac{1}{2}\cdot c\cdot \varepsilon_0\cdot E_0 ^2$$ seems to be independent of frequency whereas I find for the energy of a mechanical wave (e.g. on a string with total mass ##M##)...
  34. mkematt96

    Find expression for electric field given B(t)

    Homework Statement See picture above Homework Equations Int (E dot dl) = Int (B dot dA) The Attempt at a Solution Where did I go wrong? Is there a sign error possibly or am I off conceptually? [/B]
  35. M

    Electric field from a non-uniformly charged disk

    Homework Statement We are given a disk with negligible thickness, a radius of 1m, and a surface charge density of σ(x,y) = 1 + cos(π√x2+y2). The disk is centered at the origin of the xy plane. We are also given the location of a point charge in Cartesian coordinates, for example [0.5,0.5,2]. We...
  36. GhostLoveScore

    Visualization of electric field around dipole antenna

    I came across these videos that show how electric field looks around the dipole antenna at three different distances Far field Near field Something between far and near field That got me thinking - there is a point when the field is reversing and the electric field closes into a loop and...
  37. PhanicKnight

    [College Physics] Electric field and point charge

    Homework Statement Around a point charge there are three points: A, B and C. Determine the electric field vector for those points. Also, determine the force vector for q0 if it was in point B. Q = 10 µC, a = 1 m, b = sqrt(3) m, q0 = 10 pC 2. The attempt at a solution Here is the attempt at a...
  38. Mausam

    Electric Field Lines: Does Positive Test Charge Follow?

    Does a positive test charge follows along the path of electric field lines if it is free to do so? I mean the trajectory of the charge is along the electric field lines and the field lines are not necessarily straight.
  39. doktorwho

    Calculate the electric potential of a sphere

    Homework Statement A metal sphere of radius ##a=1cm## is charged with ##Q_a=1nC##. Around a sphere is placed a spherical shell of inner radius ##b=2cm## and outer radius ##c=3cm##. The electrical potential of the shell in refenrence to a point in the infinity is ##V=150V##. The spheres are in...
  40. S

    Spatial derivative of Electric Field in Faraday's Law?

    According to Faraday's Law, Time-Changing magnetic field creates an induced current in a closed conducting loop. This is the equation: ##\nabla \times \mathbf{E} = -\frac{\partial \mathbf{B}} {\partial t}## 1-) Does this current (##\nabla \times \mathbf{E} ##) have to be an alternate...
  41. W

    How Do Metals Affect Electric Fields and EM Waves?

    hi, i want to ask explanation that if in front of electric fields lines comes a metal plate, than as far i know electric field does not pass through it, but how would i expalin as electric field can exert force on free electrons.
  42. J

    A Parity and time reversal on derivatives and electric field?

    I am trying to learn how parity and time reversal transform the electric field, ##A_\mu## and ##\partial_\mu##. In other words what: what are ##P \partial_\mu P##, ##T \partial_\mu T##, ##T A_\mu T## and ##P A_\mu P##? My first guess was that ##P A_\mu(t,\vec{x}) P = A_\mu(t,-\vec{x})##, ##T...
  43. ricky25j

    Electric field in a wire with same current as another wire

    Homework Statement For what electric field strength would the current in a 2.0-mm-diameter nichrome wire be the same as the current in a 1.0-mm-diameter gold wire in which the electric field strength is 0.0095 N/C? dn = .002m dg = .001m Eg = .0095 N/C ρn = 100 * 10-8 Ωm ρg = 2.44 * 10-8 Ωm...
  44. M

    A Quantized E field, Coulomb Gauge with Interactions

    The common presentation for free field quantization proceeds with the Lorentz and Coulomb (##\phi = 0, \,\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A} = 0 ##) constraints. Then ##A## can be defined $$\mathbf{A} \propto \iint \frac{d^3 p}{\sqrt{2\omega_p}}\sum_{\lambda} \Big(e^{i\mathbf{p}\cdot...
  45. GhostLoveScore

    Electron accelerated in electric field

    We have this situation an electron comes flying in electric field between two capacitor plates. Let's say that voltage is 12V and distance between plates is 1m. Electric field E=U/d=12V/m. Plates are connected to the battery just initially. The battery is later disconnected. If electron comes...
  46. 1

    Electric field of a charged dielectric sphere

    Homework Statement A dielectric sphere of radius R with uniform dielectric constant ε has an azimuthally symmetric density charge σ = σ0 cos θ placed on the surface. Outside the sphere is vacuum. (a) Obtain the electrostatic potential inside the sphere, φin. (b) Obtain the electrostatic...
  47. D

    Electromagnetic radiation effect on electric field?

    Hi, just trying to better understand this concept of electromagnetic radiation. My understanding thus far is that it is a traveling disturbance in the electric field. This picture here seems to help me see what is happening...
  48. M

    Electric field inside a conducting wire

    The electric field in a 2.5mm×2.5mm square aluminum wire is 2.1×10−2 V/m . What is the current in the wire? The answer is I=4.65A. But my question is according to Gauss law, the electric field inside the conductor is zero. then how come this question says "The electric field in a 2.5mm×2.5mm...
  49. G

    I Differential form of Gauss' law: All three terms the same value?

    Hi. Is the Maxwell equation $$\nabla\cdot\vec{E}=\frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}$$ even true in the stronger form $$\frac{\partial E_i}{\partial x_i}=\frac{\rho}{3\cdot\varepsilon_0}\enspace ?$$ I guess not, since I haven't found a source suggesting this. But shouldn't the isotropic electric field...
  50. D

    Calculate the electric field using superposition

    Homework Statement Find the expression for the electric field at point M(a,a,0) if the linear charge density is known ( ##Q'## ) Homework Equations 3. The Attempt at a Solution [/B] I tried something like this and would like your feedback on it. I separated the triangle into three parts...
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