Electric Field Due to a Point Charge

Remember that the electric force is given by Coulomb's Law,

This electric force F can also be described in terms of the electric field E,

 

The electric field E due to a point charge Q is given by

Remember, the electric field E is still a vector!

What is the electric field a distance of 1 m from a positive charge of 1 C?

Electric Field			Electric Fields: a Numerical Example
Return to Ch 17, Electrostatics & Electric Energy

(c) Doug Davis, 2002; all rights reserved