LESSON 3:

ELECTRIC FIELD
ELECTRIC FIELD
An electric field is a region of space in which an electric
charge experiences a force

The electric field produced by a point charge is directed

radially away from or toward the charge.
ELECTRIC FIELD
The electric field is stronger
closer to the charge (the
electric field lines are closer
together) and weaker further
from the charge (the electric
field lines are further apart).
ELECTRIC FIELD
Electric field ES, a vector quantity, is
the force per unit charge exerted on
a test charge at any point.

The magnitude of the electric field at

a point as the force per unit charge is
given by:
EXAMPLE #1
1.a. A charge of 8 C experiences a force
of 200 N. What is the electric field
strength present?

1.b. Calculate the electric field strength

30 cm from a 5 nC charge
ELECTRIC FLUX
Electric flux is a measure of the
“flow” of electric field through a
surface. Electric flux (Φ) is the
product of the magnitude of the
electric field (E) and the surface
area (A) perpendicular to the
field.
GAUSS'S LAW

"The total of the electric flux out of

a closed surface is equal to the
charge enclosed divided by the
permittivity".

CARL FRIEDRICH GAUSS

EXAMPLE #2
An 8000 N/C uniform electric field is passing
perpendicular through a 10-m^2 flat square
area. What is the electric flux?
Try it Out!
1. A charge of 12uC when placed in electric field
experiences a force of 648N. What is the
magnitude of the electric field strength?
2. What is the electric flux through a sphere that
has a radius of 1.00m and carries a charge of
+1.00 uC at its center?