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If the given point charge is of positive one then the field points away from the charge. This is because we define the field at a point as the FORCE acting on unit POSITIVE charge. Like charges have to repel and hence the direction.

If, other wise, the point charge is negative then electric field due to this negative charge would be towards the negative and not away from it.

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Q: The electric field of a point charge always points away from the charge?
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What is true about an object pulled inward in an electric field does it have negative charge object has charge of different field object has neutral charge or object has a charge same field?

Negitive


When determining an electric field must a positive test charge be used or would a negative one do as well?

We could just as well use a negative test charge to determine an electric field, but then the Electric field vector would point opposite the direction of the force on the test charge.


What is the Difference between line charge density and surface charge density?

The electric field of an infinite line charge with a uniform linear charge density can be obtained by a using Gauss' law. Considering a Gaussian surface in the form of a cylinder at radius r, the electric field has the same magnitude at every point of the cylinder and is directed outward. The electric flux is then just the electric field times the area of the cylinder.


Why dipole moment is avector?

Since there is charge separation in a polar covalent bond, there is also resultant electric field from partial positive charge to partial negative charge.hence due to electric field in one direction and also magnitude of equal and opposite charge.....it is a vector.


What type of charge is produced when an electric field separated positive and negative charges?

In a way, you have answered your own question! All objects that have an electric charge at all have a charge which is either positive or negative. In either case, the charge can be large or small. The charge of the object has a particular value corresponding to a positive number for positive charges and a negative number for negative charges. Objects with no charge, or neutral objects, can be thought of as having an electric charge of zero. So it is easiest to think of the charge of an object as a number of charge units, where that number can be positive, negative or zero. So let's ask a slightly different version of your question: I've heard of positive and negative charges separating in an electric field. What is an example of this happening? Here is an example: A neutral atom of gas, like argon, is sitting in an electric field, and one of its electrons gets knocked off by a charged particle which comes flying by very close to it. The flying charged particle continues on, leaving the knocked off electron behind in the electric field. Now, the argon atom has been separated into two pieces: an argon ion with positive charge, +1 unit, and the knocked-off electron with negative charge, -1 unit. These two oppositely charged objects will separate further in the electric field if that field is strong enough. In fact, several of the particle detectors at Jefferson Lab work via this exact physical process.

Related questions

Electric field is positive or negative?

Did you mean "The strength of electric field is positive or negative"? Anyway, there is your answer.. The strength of an electric field E at any point is defined as the electric force F exerted per unit positive electric charge q at that point, or E = F/q.You can say that it is positive.


If the electric field due to the excess charge on the Earth points downward what type of charge does the Earth carry?

negative


How are the lines of force drawn around a single charge electric field?

always towards the charge


What are three facts about electric field lines?

1. Electric field lines of force originate from the positive charge and terminate at the negative charge. 2. Electric field lines of force can never intersect each other. 3. Electric field lines of force are not present inside the conductor, it is because electric field inside the conductor is always zero. 4. Electric field lines of force are always perpendicular to the surface of conductor. 5. Curved electric field lines are always non-uniform in nature.


Which of the following is true about the electric field around an electric charge?

The electric field around an electric charge varies inversely as the square of the distance to the charge.


Gets stronger as you get closer to an electric charge?

The electric field gets stronger as you get closer to an electric charge.


Is electric field scalar or vector?

The strength of the electric field is a scalar quantity. But it's the magnitude of thecomplete electric field vector.At any point in space, the electric field vector is the strength of the force, and thedirection in which it points, that would be felt by a tiny positive charge located there.


Do electric fields point outward or inward?

We define the "direction"of an electric field to be the direction of the force it exerts on a positive test charge placed in the field. So if there is some charge inside a shell, the field outside the shell points outward if the charge inside is positive, and inward if the charge inside is negative.


Is electric field dependent of magnitude of charge?

Electric field is dependent on the magnitude of the electric charge, E = qzc/r2


Is electric field strength scalar or vector?

The strength of the electric field is a scalar quantity. But it's the magnitude of thecomplete electric field vector.At any point in space, the electric field vector is the strength of the force, and thedirection in which it points, that would be felt by a tiny positive charge located there.


Moving electric charges will interact with?

Moving electric charges will interact with an electric field. Moving electric charges will also interact with a magnetic field.


What is true about an electric field around a positive charge?

It will be directed away from the positive charge. It will attract any other negative charge and repel any positive charge. Its magnitude is given by E= KQ/R where K = 9x 109 C2m-2N-1 Q is the charge producing field R is the point where electric field is to be calculated