Explore electric fields visually with interactive simulations. Learn about electric field lines, Coulomb's law, electric potential, Gauss's law, and applications through hands-on examples with real data.
An electric field is a vector field that associates to each point in space the force per unit of charge exerted on an infinitesimal positive test charge at rest at that point. Electric fields are produced by electric charges and time-varying magnetic fields.
Electric fields are fundamental to many areas of physics and are exploited in electrical technology. They are used in applications ranging from simple household appliances to advanced technologies like particle accelerators.
Key characteristics and behaviors of electric fields
Electric fields are vector quantities with both magnitude and direction. The direction of the field at any point is the direction of the force that would be exerted on a positive test charge placed at that point.
Electric field lines are imaginary lines that represent the electric field direction and strength. Their properties include:
Electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a unit positive charge from a reference point to a specific point inside the field without producing any acceleration.
Electric flux measures the number of electric field lines passing through a given surface. Gauss's law relates flux through a closed surface to the enclosed charge.
Mathematical principles governing electric fields
The force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
F = k × (q₁ × q₂) / r²
Where k is Coulomb's constant (8.988 × 10⁹ N⋅m²/C²)
The electric flux through any closed surface is proportional to the total electric charge enclosed by the surface.
Φ = ∮E · dA = Q_enclosed / ε₀
Where ε₀ is the permittivity of free space (8.854 × 10⁻¹² C²/N⋅m²)
The electric potential at a point is the work done per unit charge in bringing a positive test charge from infinity to that point.
V = k × q / r
For a point charge, with potential difference ΔV = W/q
The electric field at a point is defined as the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge placed at that point.
E = F / q₀
For continuous charge distributions: E = ∫(k × dq) / r²
Experience electric fields through hands-on visualizations
Total Charges: 2
Net Charge: 0 μC
Field Lines: 30
Max Field Strength: 0 N/C
Avg Field Strength: 0 N/C
Flux Through Surface: 0 N⋅m²/C
How electric fields impact our daily lives and technology
Electric fields control electron flow in semiconductors, enabling transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits in all electronic devices.
Electric fields are essential for power generation, transmission, and distribution in electrical grids and household wiring.
Precision measurement devices utilize controlled electric fields for analysis and experimentation.
Controlled electric fields enable manufacturing techniques and material processing applications.
Electric fields play crucial roles in diagnostic equipment and therapeutic treatments.
Electric field applications enhance vehicle performance and safety systems.
Understanding how electric fields relate to and differ from other physics domains
| Aspect | Electric Fields | Magnetic Fields | Gravitational Fields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Electric charges (positive/negative) | Moving charges/currents | Mass-energy |
| Field Lines | Begin/end on charges | Continuous loops | Radially inward |
| Force Direction | Parallel/antiparallel to field | Perpendicular (Lorentz force) | Always attractive |
| Shielding | Perfect conductor shielding | Mu-metal/magnetic materials | No practical shielding |
| Relative Strength | 1 (reference) | 10⁻³ (weaker) | 10⁻³⁶ (much weaker) |
| Propagation | All travel at speed of light (c = 3×10⁸ m/s) | ||
Electric fields are part of the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature:
Electric fields have both classical and quantum mechanical descriptions:
Continue your learning journey with these interconnected concepts