Grade 12 · Physics
Electric fields
Why it matters
Charges and forces.
Advanced20m readingPrerequisite: None
What is an electric field?
Short answer
An electric field is the region around a charged object where it exerts a force on other charges. Its strength at a point is the force per unit positive charge, E = F/q, measured in newtons per coulomb. Field lines point away from positive charges and toward negative ones, and their density shows the field’s strength.
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Frequently asked questions
- Which way do electric field lines point?
- Away from positive charges and toward negative charges — the direction of the force on a positive test charge.
- What does the spacing of field lines show?
- Closer lines mean a stronger field; wider spacing means a weaker field.