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Electric field

To help visualize how a charge, or a collection of charges, influences the region around it, the
concept of an electric field is used. The electric field E is analogous to g, which we called the
acceleration due to gravity but which is really the gravitational field. Everything we learned
about gravity, and how masses respond to gravitational forces, can help us understand how
electric charges respond to electric forces.
The electric field a distance r away from a point charge Q is given by:
Electric field from a point charge : E = k Q / r2
The electric field from a positive charge points away from the charge; the electric field from a
negative charge points toward the charge. Like the electric force, the electric field E is a vector.
If the electric field at a particular point is known, the force a charge q experiences when it is
placed at that point is given by :
F = qE
If q is positive, the force is in the same direction as the field; if q is negative, the force is in the
opposite direction as the field.

Force Acting on a Charged Particle inside Electric Field


E=F/q
F=E.q where; F is the force acting on the charge inside the electric field E. Using this equation
we can say that;
If q is positive then F=+E.q and directions of Force and Electric Field are same

The electric force on a POSITIVE charge in an electric field is


____________________________________ of E.
If q is negative then F=-E.q and directions of Force and Electric Field are opposite

1. A test charge of 1.6 x 10-19 C experiences a force of 3.2 x 10-19 N. What is the electric
field strength?
E=

F
= 2 N C-1
q

2. A charged body shows an acceleration of 10 m s-2. What is the electric field


strength, assuming that it alone is responsible for the acceleration, if the body has
a mass of 1.0 x 10-15 kg and carries a charge of 1.6 x 10-19 C?
a = 10 m s-2
m = 1.0 x 10-15 kg
q = 1.6 x 10-19 C
F = ma
= 1.0 10-15 x 10
= 1.0 x 10-14 N
F
E=
q
=

1.0 x 1014
1.6 x 1019

E = 62.5 x 103 N C-1 parallel to force on + charge


3. In the absence of an electric field a charged sphere falls freely under gravity. The weight

of the sphere is 10-14 N. When the electric field is operational the sphere remains
stationary. What is the electric field strength if the charge on the sphere is 1.6 x 10-19 C?
Fg = 1.0 x 10-14 N
q = 1.6 x 10-19 C
As there is no net force Fg = FE
Fg = Eq
Fg

E=
q
=

1.0 x 10 14

1.6 x 10 19
E = 6.25 x 104 N C-1
direction of field will depend on sign of charge.

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