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 test charge placed in the field. It describes how strong and in what direction the electric field is at a point in space.

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 Coulomb's constant (default is 8.9875517873682×10⁹ N m²/C²), charge in Coulombs, and distance in meters. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Coulomb's constant?
A: Coulomb's constant (k) is approximately 8.98755×10⁹ N m²/C² and relates the electrostatic force between charges to their magnitudes and separation distance.

Q2: What are typical units for electric field intensity?
A: The SI unit is newtons per coulomb (N/C), which is equivalent to volts per meter (V/m).

Q3: Does the equation work for point charges only?
A: This specific equation is for point charges. Different charge distributions require different methods of calculation.

Q4: What if the charge is negative?
A: The calculator uses absolute values. The direction (sign) of the field would be toward a negative charge rather than away.

Q5: How does distance affect the electric field?
A: The field strength decreases with the square of the distance from the charge (inverse square law).