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physics / Electricity / free

Electric Fields

Move charges and read the direction of the field around them.

Follow the mechanism1 / 3

A source charge changes nearby space. The source establishes a force-per-charge pattern around itself.

field around a source chargefield · points away
Focus the idea
Electric field strength changes with charge and distanceA source charge of 4 units creates a field of 1.00 at a test distance of 2 units. A positive test charge experiences a force of 1.00 in the away direction.++r = 2
source charge4 q
distance2 m
field strength1.00
force on test q1.00
Test charge

The source field points away from the source; the positive test charge feels a force away from the source.

The field belongs to the source configuration. The force depends on both that field and the test charge placed inside it.

04 / PRACTICE

Make the idea yours.

0 / 3 checked

Use the model, then answer without looking back. Each check isolates one decision a learner should be able to make after this lesson.

CHECK 1 / 3

The test point moves from 1 m to 2 m from a point charge. How does the field strength change?