Electric field
High School
Definition
A region around a charged object in which another charge experiences a force. The field's strength and direction describe how a charge would be pushed or pulled, and field lines are used to picture it.
Worked examples
\(E = \frac{F}{q} = \frac{8.0 \times 10^{-3}\) N\(}{2.0 \times 10^{-6}\) C\(} = 4.0 \times 10^3\) N/C\(\)
Electric field strength equals the force per unit charge at that point.
A positive charge creates field lines pointing radially outward; a negative charge has lines pointing inward.
Field line direction shows which way a positive test charge would be pushed.
Common mistakes
- Electric field only exists when a second charge is present to feel the force → Electric field exists around any charged object, whether or not another charge is there The field is a property of the source charge; a test charge reveals it but doesn't create it.
- Field lines point toward a positive charge → Field lines point away from positive charges and toward negative charges The direction shows how a positive test charge would move in the field.
- \(E = F \times q\) → \(E = \frac{F}{q}\) Electric field is force per charge, so you divide force by charge, not multiply.
Where you'll use it next
Electric fields underpin circuits, capacitors, and electromagnetic waves in physics. You'll use them to analyze charge interactions, calculate forces on particles, and understand how electrical devices and wireless signals work.
Found in 1 StudyPug lesson
Electric field
11th Grade11thPhysics
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026