4.3.4

Electric Field Strength

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Electric field strength

Electric field strength is a way of displaying how the force from an object will act at a point far away, without any apparent connection.

Electric field strength

Electric field strength

  • The electric field strength is the force per unit charge felt by an object.
    • E=FQE=\frac{F}{Q}
  • Using Coulomb's law we can find EE
    • F=14πϵ0×Q1Q2r2F=\frac{1}{4{\pi}{{\epsilon}_0}}{\times}\frac{{Q_1}{Q_2}}{r^2}
    • E=14πϵ0×Qr2E=\frac{1}{4{\pi}{{\epsilon}_0}}{\times}\frac{Q}{r^2}
Field concepts

Field concepts

  • The field is the force experienced if we placed a positive point charge at a point.
  • The field will act in the same direction as the force, so if we are looking at the field from a positive charge the force and field will point away.
  • If we are looking at the field from a negative charge the field and the force will point towards the charge.

Radial Field Strength

The field from a charge is the force per unit charge. Field lines show the direction of motion of a positively charged particle.

Direction of the field

Direction of the field

  • From a positive charge, the field lines go radially outwards
  • From a negative charge, the field lines go radially inwards (towards the charge)
Position of the field

Position of the field

  • Radially outward means in straight lines from the centre, like spokes on a wheel.
  • The field lines from a charge are radial lines from the centre.
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1

Space, Time & Motion

1.1

Motion

1.1.1Motion Basics1.1.2Graphs of Motion1.1.3Uniform Acceleration Equations1.1.4Projectile Motion1.1.5Bouncing Ball Example
1.2

Forces

1.2.1Friction1.2.2Terminal Speed1.2.3Newton's Laws1.2.4Exam-Style Question - Forces1.2.5End of Topic Test - Newton's Third Law
1.3

Momentum & Impulse

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1.4

Work, Energy & Power

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2

The Particulate Nature of Matter

2.1

Thermal Concepts

2.1.1Molecular Kinetic Theory Model2.1.2Molecular Kinetic Theory Model 22.1.3Thermal Energy Transfer2.1.4Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments2.1.5Thermal Equilibrium2.1.6Thermal Conductivity2.1.7Heat Energy Transfer
2.2

Modelling a Gas

2.2.1Ideal Gases2.2.2Ideal Gases 22.2.3End of Topic Test - Thermal Energy & Ideal Gases2.2.4Exam-Style Question - Ideal Gases
3

Wave Behaviour

3.1

Oscillations

3.1.1Progressive Waves3.1.2Simple Harmonic Motion
3.2

Travelling Waves

3.2.1Wave Speed & Phase Difference3.2.2Longitudinal & Transverse Waves3.2.3Electromagnetic Waves3.2.4Electromagnetic Waves 23.2.5Sound Waves
3.3

Wave Characteristics

3.3.1Polarisation
3.4

Wave Behaviour

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3.5

Standing Waves

3.5.1Standing Waves3.5.2Standing Waves 23.5.3End of Topic Test - Standing Waves3.5.4IB Multiple Choice - Waves
3.6

Simple Harmonic Motion

3.6.1Simple Harmonic Motion3.6.2Simple Harmonic Systems3.6.3Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion3.6.4End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion3.6.5End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion
3.7

Single Slit Diffraction

3.7.1Diffraction
3.8

Interference

3.8.1Interference3.8.2Interference 23.8.3Diffraction Gratings3.8.4End of Topic Test - Diffraction
3.9

Doppler Effect

3.9.1Doppler Effect
4

Fields

4.1

Circular Motion

4.1.1Circular Motion4.1.2Centripetal Force4.1.3IB Multiple Choice - Circular Motion
4.2

Newton's Law of Gravitation

4.2.1Newton's Law4.2.2Orbits of Planets & Satellites4.2.3Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits4.2.4End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields
4.3

Fields

4.3.1Fields4.3.2Gravitational Field Strength4.3.3Gravitational Potential4.3.4Electric Field Strength4.3.5Electrostatic & Gravitational Forces4.3.6Electric Potential4.3.7IB Multiple Choice - Gravitational Fields
4.4

Fields at Work

4.4.1Radial Field Strength4.4.2Orbits of Planets & Satellites4.4.3Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits4.4.4End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields4.4.5Uniform Electric Fields4.4.6IB Multiple Choice - Electric Field & Potential
4.5

Electric Fields

4.5.1Electric Charge4.5.2Conservation of Charge4.5.3Coulomb's Law4.5.4Current4.5.5Potential Difference4.5.6IB Multiple Choice - Electric Charge
4.6

Magnetic Effect of Electric Currents

4.6.1Magnetism4.6.2Magnetic Field4.6.3Magnetic Force4.6.4Moving Charges in a Magnetic Field4.6.5IB Multiple Choice - Magnetism
4.7

Heating Effect of Currents

4.7.1Circuits4.7.2Resistance4.7.3Power and Conservation4.7.4IB Multiple Choice - DC Circuits
4.8

Electromagnetic Induction

4.8.1Electromagnetic Induction4.8.2Electromagnetic Induction 24.8.3Magnetic Flux & Flux Linkage4.8.4End of Topic Test - Electromagnetic Induction
4.9

Power Generation & Transmission

4.9.1Alternating Currents4.9.2Operation of a Transformer
4.10

Capacitance

4.10.1Capacitance4.10.2Parallel Plate Capacitor4.10.3Energy Stored by a Capacitor4.10.4Capacitor Discharge4.10.5Capacitor Charge4.10.6Magnetic Flux Density4.10.7End of Topic Test - Capacitance & Flux Density
5

Nuclear & Quantum Physics

5.1

Discrete Energy & Radioactivity

5.1.1Atomic Spectra5.1.2Atomic Structure5.1.3Photons5.1.4Discrete Energy Levels5.1.5Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation5.1.6Scientific Practices - Unstable Nuclei5.1.7Radioactive Decay5.1.8IB Multiple Choice - Atomic Physics
5.2

Nuclear Reactions

5.2.1Mass & Energy5.2.2Nuclear Fission
5.3

The Interaction of Matter with Radiation

5.3.1Particles, Antiparticles & Photons5.3.2Particle Interactions5.3.3Classification of Particles5.3.4Wave-Particle Duality5.3.5Wave Functions & Probability5.3.6IB Multiple Choice - Quantum Physics
5.4

Nuclear Physics

5.4.1Nuclear Instability & Radioactive Decay5.4.2Nuclear Radius5.4.3IB Multiple Choice - Nuclear Physics
6

Measurements

6.1

Measurements & Errors

6.1.1Fundamental Units6.1.2SI Prefixes, Standard Form & Converting Units6.1.3End of Topic Test - Units & Prefixes
6.2

Uncertainties & Errors

6.2.1Limitation of Physical Measurements6.2.2Uncertainty6.2.3Estimation6.2.4End of Topic Test - Measurements & Errors
6.3

Vectors & Scalars

6.3.1Scalars & Vectors6.3.2Vector Problems

Practice questions on Electric Field Strength

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  1. 1
    What is the correct equation for electric field strength?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What is the electric field strength?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What is a radial line from a charge?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What direction do the field lines from a positive charge go?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Radial fields:Fill in the list
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Gravitational Potential

Electrostatic & Gravitational Forces