UY1: Electric Field Lines



An electric field line is an imaginary line or curve drawn through a region of space so that its tangent at any point is in the direction of the electric field vector at that point.

To find the field caused by a charge distribution, imagine the distribution to be made up of many point charges, $q_{1}$, $q_{2}$, $q_{3}$, …

At any given point $P_{1}$, each point charge produces its own electric field $\vec{E}_{1}$, $\vec{E}_{2}$, $\vec{E}_{3}$, …

A test charge $q_{0}$ placed at P will experience a total force of:

$$\vec{F}_{0} = q_{0}\vec{E}_{1} + q_{0}\vec{E}_{2} + q_{0}\vec{E}_{3} + …$$

The total electric field at point P will then be:

$$\vec{E} = \frac{\vec{F}_{0}}{q_{0}} = \vec{E}_{1} + \vec{E}_{2} + \vec{E}_{3} + …$$

This is the principle of superposition of electric fields.

 

Next: Electric Field Of An Electric Dipole

Previous: Electric Dipole

Back To Electromagnetism

Back To University Year 1 Physics Notes



Mini Physics

As the Administrator of Mini Physics, I possess a BSc. (Hons) in Physics. I am committed to ensuring the accuracy and quality of the content on this site. If you encounter any inaccuracies or have suggestions for enhancements, I encourage you to contact us. Your support and feedback are invaluable to us. If you appreciate the resources available on this site, kindly consider recommending Mini Physics to your friends. Together, we can foster a community passionate about Physics and continuous learning.



Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.