An electric field is a region in space where an electrically charged particle experiences a force. It is created by an electric charge and can either attract or repel other charges.
Electric fields are measured in units of volts per meter (V/m). To measure an electric field, a device called a voltmeter is used to measure the voltage difference between two points in the field.
The strength of an electric field is affected by the distance from the source charge, the magnitude of the source charge, and the medium in which the electric field exists. The electric field decreases with distance and increases with the magnitude of the charge.
The direction of an electric field is determined by the direction a positive test charge would move if placed in the field. The direction of the electric field is always away from positive charges and towards negative charges.
Electric fields have numerous real-life applications, such as in powering electronic devices, electric motors, and generators. They are also used in medical equipment, such as MRI machines, and in the production of lightning rods to protect buildings from lightning strikes.