Page 75 - Physics 10_Float

ELECTROSTATICS

a test charge) is brought near a charge q (call it a field charge)
placed in space, the charge q will experience a force. The
o
value of this force depends upon the distance between the
two charges. If the charge q is moved away from q, this force
0
would decrease till at a certain distance the force would be
q o
practically reduced to zero. The charge q is then out of the
o
influence of charge q.
The region of space surrounding the charge q in which it F r
exerts a force on the charge q is known as electric field of the +q
o
charge q. Thus, the electric field of a charge is defined as :
Fig. 13.11: A charge is placed q
o
The electric field is a region around a charge in which it exerts at a distance ‘r’ from charge +q
electrostatic force on another charges.

Electric Field Intensity: The strength of an electric field at any For your information
point in space is known as electric field intensity.
In order to find the value of electric intensity at a point in the
field, of charge +q, we place a test charge q at that point
o
(Fig. 13.11). If F is the force acting on the test charge q , the
o
electric field intensity would be given by
F
E =
q ........ (13.4)
Electric field lines for two
o
opposite and equal point
The electric field intensity at any point is defined as the force charges.
acting on a unit positive charge placed at that point.
-1
SI unit of electric intensity is N C .
If the electric field due to a given arrangement of charges is
known at some point, the force on any particle with charge q
placed at that point can be calculated by using the formula: Electric field lines for two
positive point charges.
F = qE ........ (13.5)
Electric intensity being a force is a vector quantity. Its
direction is the same as that of the force acting on the
positive test charge. If the test charge is free to move, it will
always move in the direction of electric intensity.
Electric field lines for two
Electric Field Lines negative point charges.

The direction of electric field intensity in an electric field can
also be represented by drawing lines. These lines are known

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