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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 ยท 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 test charge of positive 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 creates a field away; the positive test charge feels a force away the source.

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