Electric field intensity, abbreviated as \(E_i\), also called electric field strength, is a vector quantity that represents the amount of electric force experienced by a unit positive charge placed at a point in an electric field. It is the space around an electrically charge body in which a charge experiences a force of attraction or repulsion. The electric field intensity due to a positive charge is always directed away from the charge, and the intensity due to a negative charge is always directed towards the charge.
For a system of multiple charges, the total electric field at a point is the vector sum of the individual electric fields produced by each charge. The intensity of the electric field at any point due to a number of charges is equal to the vector sum of the intensities produced by the separate charges.
Electric field Intensity formula |
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\( E_i \;=\; \dfrac{ F }{ Q }\) (Electric Field Intensity) \( F \;=\; E_i \cdot Q \) \( Q \;=\; \dfrac{ F }{ E_i }\) |
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| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \(E_i \) = Electric Field Intensity | - | \(V\;/\;m\) |
| \( Q \) = Electric Charge | \( C \) | \(A-s\) |
| \( F_e \) = Electrostatic Force | \( lbf \) | \(N\) |
