The Electric Field
Back to Electricity_and_Magnetism
Textbook
University Physics Volume 2: Chapter 5.4
Electric Fields Videos
Theory
Electric Field
The electric field acts as a shortcut for calculating the electric force on a test charge , similar to how the gravitational field simplifies calculations for gravitational force. Instead of recalculating the force based on Coulomb's Law (and adding the forces of multiple source charges), we can use the electric field, where:
In the same way that gives the gravitational force per kilogram, gives the electric force per coulomb.
Electric Field Lines
Typical Problems with the Electric Field
Other Videos
MIT Physics Demo -- Faraday's Cage
Simulations
- PhET Simulation: Electric Field of Dreams
- PhET Simulation: Charges and Fields
- PhET Simulation: Electric Field Hockey
- PhET Simulation: Radio Waves & Electromagnetic Fields
- PhET Simulation: Microwaves
Other Links
Back to Electricity_and_Magnetism