What is an electric field
The electric field is a spatial sector that has been modified by the electric charge that, when introduced into it, generates a certain response or reaction.
In other words, the electric field describes the interaction that exists between bodies with an electrical charge, which is understood as the level of electricity that the bodies contain.
This interaction can be manifested by attraction or repulsion between bodies, depending on the charge they possess.
All the particles that make up matter have as a fundamental property a certain electric charge, from which the electric field originates.
Electric charges can be positive (+) or negative (-). Two objects of the same charge repel each other, while objects of different charges attract each other.
The electric field is expressed in imaginary lines that we call vectors. These allow us to get an idea of the intensity and orientation of the electric field.
The electric field is a vector magnitudeof a vector, and not of a force, even though it is closely related to the electric force.
Electric field units
The elementary unit of the electric field is in the International System (SI) is Newton per Coulomb (N/A).
It is also expressed by the unit of volt per meter (V/m).
Finally, it can be represented in basic units as kg·m·s−3·A−1 and the dimensional equation is MLT-3I-1.
See also:
electric field lines
It refers to the drawing of imaginary lines whose function is to represent the electric field by expressing its intensity and orientation.
These lines are characterized by starting from positive charges towards negative charges without ever crossing. Likewise, the electric field vector E is tangent to the field line and is oriented in the same direction.
Electric field intensity
The intensity of the electric field, commonly simplified to the expression electric field, refers to the degree of force exerted on the unit of positive charge at a certain point.
The formula to calculate the intensity of the electric field is the following:
In that formula, the arrows represent the vectors. Meanwhile, the letters represent the following concepts:
AND: electric field.
F: electrical force.
q: electric charge.
See also: Electricity and Coulomb’s Law.