Electric Field

• The space in the neighborhood of a charged particle is called an

electric field. Electric field, an electric property associated with
each point in space when charge is present in any form. The
magnitude and direction of the electric field are expressed by
the value of E, called electric field strength or electric field
intensity or simply the electric field. Knowledge of the value of
the electric field at a point, without any specific knowledge of
what produced the field, is all that is needed to determine what
will happen to electric charges close to that particular point.
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► If we know the electric field at a point, then we can find the force
on any other charge placed at that point simply by multiplying the
charge by the electric field strength.
►   F = qE
► If the charge happens to be negative, the direction of the force on
the negative charge is opposite to the direction of the field.
Sample Problem

► 1. A uniform electric field is directed downward and has a magnitude of

5N/C. Find the magnitude and direction of the force experienced by a charge
of -6 C placed in this field.
► Solution
► Given: E = 5 N/C, directed downward q = -6 C
► F = qE
► = (-6 C) (5 N/C)
► F = - 30 N
► Since the charge is negative, the direction of the force is opposite of the
field. Hence, the force on the charge must be directed upward.
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Electric Potential

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Sample Problem
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Sample Problem
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