Electric field intensity measures the force per unit charge in an electric field, with field lines visualizing the field's direction and strength. The strength of an electric field is calculated using the formula E = F/Q, and for point charges, Coulomb's law applies. Uniform electric fields, idealized by parallel charged plates, exhibit constant field strength and influence the motion of charged particles, crucial for understanding electromagnetism.
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Electric field intensity is a measure of the force per unit charge exerted on a small positive test charge within an electric field
Unlike gravitational fields, electric fields can exert both attractive and repulsive forces due to the presence of electric charges
Electric fields are characterized by both magnitude and direction and are produced by both stationary and moving charges
The intensity of an electric field is directly proportional to the density of electric field lines at a given point
Electric field lines originate from positive charges and terminate on negative charges, providing a visual representation of the field's direction and strength
The pattern of field lines around multiple charges reveals the complex interactions between the charges and the resultant field configuration
The strength of an electric field can be calculated using the equation E = F/Q, where F is the electric force and Q is the magnitude of the charge
For point charges, the electric field strength can be derived from Coulomb's law, which states that E = k * Q/r^2, where k is the Coulomb constant, Q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge
The inverse square relationship in Coulomb's law indicates that the electric field strength decreases as the distance from the charge increases
A uniform electric field is an idealized situation where the field strength is the same at every point, typically represented by two large, parallel, oppositely charged plates
The magnitude of a uniform electric field is given by E = V/d, where V is the potential difference between the plates and d is the distance between them
Charged particles in a uniform electric field will experience a constant force and acceleration, with positively charged particles accelerating in the direction of the field lines and negatively charged particles accelerating in the opposite direction
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In electromagnetism, the ______ per unit charge measures the force on a small positive test charge within an electric field.
electric field intensity
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Purpose of electric field lines
Visualize electric fields and indicate trajectory of positive test charge.
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Origin and termination of electric field lines
Begin at positive charges, end at negative charges.
