18.5 Electric Field Lines: Multiple Charges Drawings using lines to represent electric fields around charged objects are very useful in visualizing field strength and direction. Since the electric field has both magnitude and direction, it is a vector. Like all vectors, the electric field can be represented by an arrow that has length proportional to its magnitude and that points in the correct direction. (We have used arrows extensively to represent force vectors, for example.) Figure 18.22 shows two pictorial representations of the same electric field created by a positive point charge Q. Figure 18.22 (b) shows the standard representation using continuous lines. Figure 18.22 (b) shows numerous individual arrows with each arrow representing the force on a test charge q. Field lines are essentially a map of infinitesimal force vectors. ** (a) (b) Figure 18.22 Two equivalent representations of the electric field due to a positive charge Q - (a) Arrows representing the electric field's magnitude and direction. (b) In the standard representation, the arrows are replaced by continuous field lines having the same direction at any point as the electric field. The closeness of the lines is directly related to the strength of the electric field. A test charge placed anywhere will feel a force in the direction of the field line; this force will have a strength proportional to the density of the lines (being greater near the charge, for example).

Physics for Scientists and Engineers

10th Edition

ISBN:9781337553278

Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett

Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett

Chapter22: Electricity And Magnetism

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 6P: This afternoon, you have a physics symposium class, and you are the presenter. You will be...

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Electric Field Lines: Multiple Charges
• Calculate the total force (magnitude and direction) exerted on a test charge from more than one charge
• Describe an electric field diagram of a positive point charge; of a negative point charge with twice the magnitude of
positive charge
• Draw the electric field lines between two points of the same charge; between two points of opposite charge.

18.5 Electric Field Lines: Multiple Charges
Drawings using lines to represent electric fields around charged objects are very useful in visualizing field strength and
direction. Since the electric field has both magnitude and direction, it is a vector. Like all vectors, the electric field can be
represented by an arrow that has length proportional to its magnitude and that points in the correct direction. (We have used
arrows extensively to represent force vectors, for example.)
Figure 18.22 shows two pictorial representations of the same electric field created by a positive point charge Q. Figure 18.22
(b) shows the standard representation using continuous lines. Figure 18.22 (b) shows numerous individual arrows with each
arrow representing the force on a test charge q. Field lines are essentially a map of infinitesimal force vectors.
**
(a)
(b)
Figure 18.22 Two equivalent representations of the electric field due to a positive charge Q - (a) Arrows representing the electric field's magnitude
and direction. (b) In the standard representation, the arrows are replaced by continuous field lines having the same direction at any point as the electric
field. The closeness of the lines is directly related to the strength of the electric field. A test charge placed anywhere will feel a force in the direction of
the field line; this force will have a strength proportional to the density of the lines (being greater near the charge, for example).

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