Electric Charge & Its Nature-Electric Field Intensity

Introduction

An electric field is a space effect that causes a charge to experience a force. The electric field intensity can be very powerful, very low, not there, or very much there. Let’s look into the electric field intensity definition, which states that electric field intensity experienced by a charged particle placed at a given site is used to examine the strength of that spot. Two elements determine the strength of this force: 

1. The force will increase as the particles’ charge increases. This means that the force is directly related to the electric field’s intensity. 
2. If force is equal to one unit, then the electric field’s intensity is equal to force.

What is an electric field?

An electric field is linked with each spot in the area if the charge is present in any form. The value of E, also known as electric field strength, electric field intensity, or simply the electric field, shows the magnitude and direction of the electric field. To determine what will happen to electric charges close to a point, all that is required is knowledge of the value of the electric field at that point, without any precise information of what caused the field. 

Despite taking into consideration, the electric force as a direct interaction between two electric charges at a distance, one charge is thought of as the source of an electric field that extends outward into the surrounding space, and the force exerted on a second charge in this space is thought of as a direct interaction between the electric field and the second charge.

Types of the electric field

Generally, there are two types of electric fields:

Uniform electric field: Uniform electric field is a state where the electric field is constant at every single point. Two conductors are kept parallel to each other, and the constant field is determined by that.

Non-Uniform electric field: Non-uniform electric field is a state wherein the fields are irregular at each point. This field has a variety of magnitude and directions.

Properties of an electric field

• The main property of field lines is that they never cross each other. 
• The second property is perpendicular to the charge on the surface.
• In the case of a charge-free region, the line curves are constant.
• When the field lines move away, they are weak, and when it is closed, it is strong.
• The electric field lines begin from a positive charge and end at a negative charge.
• Field lines are directly related to the magnitude of the charge.

What is electric field intensity?

The electric field intensity definition states that its electric field strength is measured at any point. It is the electric force per unit charge that a test charge placed at that position experiences. A force would be exerted on the other charged particles or objects in a zone around a charged particle or item within a force. The electric field intensity between two points is determined by the vector sum of all-electric fields acting at any point. By this definition, it would be easy for you to understand what electric field intensity is. 

• The vector quantity is said to be the electric field intensity.
• The letter ‘E’ stands for electric field intensity.
• Formula: E = F/q.
• N/C  is the unit of E.

A positive charge’s electric field intensity is always directed away from the charge, while a negative charge’s intensity is always directed towards the charge.

The intensity of the electric field at a point d unit distant from a point charge q is given by the expression:

Electric Field Intensity (E) = F/q, here F is Coulomb force and q is the charge.

The vector sum of the intensities generated by the individual charges equals the intensity of the electric field at any position because of several charges.

The force produced by a charge is determined as F = qE in an electric field. Wherein E is the electric field intensity.

What are electric field lines?

With the use of electric field lines, the electric field can be determined. Electric field lines have arrows that show the direction of the electric field because it is a vector.

Properties of electric field lines

• Charge lines begin with a positive charge and end with a negative charge.
• In the case of a sole charged electric field, lines finish at infinity.
• Electric field lines are constant and seamless in the free region.
• Two electric field lines will never cross or intersect.
• Electric field lines cannot create a tight loop since the electromagnetic field is conservative. 

Conclusion

An electric field is a space effect that causes a charge to experience a force. It is the electric force per unit charge that a test charge placed at that position experiences. There are two types of electric fields: uniform electric field and non-uniform electric field. An electromagnetic field is formed when there is a combination of electric and magnetic fields. Electric field intensity is important due to the calculations involved in it.