1. What is the Electric Field Equation?

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electric field equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Electric field strength (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 strength decreases with the square of distance from the source charge and is proportional to the magnitude of the charge.

3. Importance of Electric Field Calculation

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

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: What are typical values for electric fields?
A: Near a point charge, fields can be very strong (thousands of N/C), while atmospheric fields are much weaker (about 100 N/C downward).

Q3: Does this work for multiple charges?
A: For multiple charges, you would calculate each field separately and vector sum them. This calculator handles single point charges only.

Q4: What if my charge is negative?
A: The equation uses absolute value of charge, so the sign doesn't affect the field magnitude (only direction, which isn't calculated here).

Q5: What are the units of electric field?
A: The SI unit is newtons per coulomb (N/C), which is equivalent to volts per meter (V/m).