1. What is Electric Field Intensity?

Electric field intensity (E) is a vector quantity that represents the force per unit charge experienced by a small positive test charge placed in the field. It's measured in newtons per coulomb (N/C).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electric field intensity equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Electric field intensity (N/C)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (8.98755×10⁹ N·m²/C²)
• \( Q \) — Source charge (C)
• \( r \) — Distance from the charge (m)

Explanation: The equation shows that electric field intensity is directly proportional to the source charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the charge.

3. Importance of Electric Field Calculation

Details: Calculating electric field intensity is fundamental in electromagnetism, helping understand forces on charges, designing electrical systems, and analyzing electromagnetic phenomena.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the charge in coulombs, distance in meters, and Coulomb's constant (default is provided). Distance must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if the charge is negative?
A: The calculator uses absolute value of charge since field intensity magnitude doesn't depend on charge sign (though direction does).

Q2: What are typical electric field values?
A: Near a point charge, fields can be very strong (thousands of N/C). Atmospheric fields are much weaker (100-200 N/C in storms).

Q3: Does this work for non-point charges?
A: This calculator is for point charges. For distributed charges, integration or other methods are needed.

Q4: What about in materials?
A: In materials, the effective field may differ due to polarization effects.

Q5: Why is distance squared in the equation?
A: This reflects the inverse-square law nature of electric fields, similar to gravity.