1. What is the Electric Field Equation?

The electric field equation describes the electric force per unit charge at any point in space due to a point charge. It's a fundamental concept in electromagnetism that helps understand how charges interact with each other.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electric field equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Electric field (N/C)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (8.988×10⁹ N·m²/C²)
• \( Q \) — Source charge (C)
• \( r \) — Distance from charge (m)

Explanation: The equation shows that electric field strength decreases with the square of distance from the charge (inverse square law).

3. Importance of Electric Field Calculation

Details: Calculating electric fields is essential for understanding electromagnetic phenomena, designing electrical systems, and analyzing charge distributions in physics and engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter charge in Coulombs (can be positive or negative) and distance in meters. Distance must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the direction of the electric field?
A: The field points away from positive charges and toward negative charges. This calculator gives magnitude only.

Q2: What are typical electric field values?
A: Near small charged objects: 10³-10⁶ N/C. Breakdown field of air: ~3×10⁶ N/C. Inside atoms: ~10¹¹ N/C.

Q3: How does multiple charges affect the field?
A: For multiple charges, calculate each field separately then vector sum them (superposition principle).

Q4: What if the charge is distributed?
A: For continuous distributions, integration is needed. This calculator is for point charges only.

Q5: Why absolute value of charge?
A: The equation gives field magnitude. Direction depends on charge sign (positive: outward, negative: inward).