What is Electric Field

Strength?

Electric Field Strength

it is a vector quantity.
the magnitude of the electric field strength is
defined in terms of how it is measured.
the symbol Q in the electric field strength
denotes the source charge.
the symbol q denotes the test charge.
the symbol F denoted as the force.
the standard unit is Newton/Coulomb -1
formula: E= F/q

Example101
A point charge of +6.0 * 10 to the power of -9 C experiences a
force of 2.4 times 10 to the power of -5 N when placed at a point
in an electric field. What is the magnitude and direction of the
electric field?
*Using this formula: E= F/ q
the direction of the electric field is the direction which is shown
below
+
6.0 * 10 -9 C

E = 4.0 * 10 3 NC -1

If the test charge used had been negative

then the magnitude of the electric field
would be calculated in the same way but
the direction of the electric field would be
opposite to the direction of the electric
force exerted on the test charge.
the magnitude of the electric field is
given by this:

Example
A Q is a charge of 4.0 * 10 -6 C. What is the
electric field strength at a point A, 20 cm to the left
of Q?
A
Q
E = 9.0 * 10 5 NC
* 10 -6 C
E = kQ/ r2

4.0

Two charges, X and Y, of 40uC and 30uC respectively, are

placed 20cm apart. What is the electric field strength at (i)
A, the midpoint between X and Y, and (ii) B, which is 20
cm from both X and Y?

B
20 cm

20 cm

40uC X

Y 30uC
20 cm

The magnitude of the electric filed strength at A due to

charge X is:
E1 = (9.0 * 10 9) ( 4.0 * 10 -5)
( 10 -1) 2
= 3.6 * 10 7 N C
The direction of E1 is to the right.
The magnitude of the electric filed strength at A due to charge
Y is:
E2 = (9.0 * 10 9) ( 3.0 * 10 -5)
( 10 -1) 2
= 2.7 * 10 7 N C
The direction of E2 is to the left.

The magnitude of the electric filed strength at B due

to charge X is:
E3 = (9.0 * 10 9) (4.0 * 10 -5)
( 2.0 * 10-1) 2
= 9.0 * 10 6 N C
The magnitude of the electric field strength at B due
to charge Y is;
E4 = (9.0 * 10 9) ( 3.0 * 10 -5)
( 2.0 * 10 -1) 2
= 6.75 * 10 6 N C

WHAT IS ELECTRIC
POTENTIAL?

Consider a mass, m, at a height, h, above the

earths surface. At this height the mass, will have a
gravitational potential energy given by Ug = m g h,
where g = the strength of the gravitational strength
field, assumed to be uniform. If released the mass
will fall towards the earth. As it falls the mass loses
gravitational potential energy and gains kinetic
energy. It could be said that the mass moves from a
point of higher gravitational potential to a point of
lower gravitational potential .

Remember :the force

Electric Potential = work

required to move an electric
charge: it brings a unit of
positive electric charge
from infinity to a specific
point in an electric field.