Electric Field Calculator
Calculate the Electric Field ($E$) created by a Point Charge ($q$).
Calculation Input
The calculation uses Coulomb’s Law for electric fields:
Where $k = 8.988 \times 10^9 \, \text{N}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{C}^2$
Result:
Understanding the Electric Field ($E$)
The electric field, denoted by $E$, is a vector field that surrounds an electric charge and exerts force on other charges. It is an abstract concept used to describe the influence a charge has on the space around it.
For a simple, isolated point charge ($q$), the magnitude of the electric field at a distance ($r$) is calculated using Coulomb’s constant ($k$), as shown in the equation: $E=k \frac{|q|}{r^2}$.
The unit for the electric field is Newtons per Coulomb ($\text{N/C}$) or Volts per meter ($\text{V/m}$). In physics and engineering, electric fields are fundamental to understanding phenomena from the behavior of electrons in circuits to the functioning of capacitors and transformers. This calculator is useful for quick verification of magnitude calculations in electrostatics problems.
How to Use This Calculator
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Identify the Charge ($q$): Determine the magnitude of the point charge in Coulombs ($\text{C}$). The formula uses the absolute value of the charge, so simply input the numerical value (positive or negative).
Example: For an electron charge, enter $-1.602 \times 10^{-19}$ (or use scientific notation like `-1.602e-19`).
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Identify the Distance ($r$): Determine the distance in meters ($\text{m}$) from the center of the point charge to the location where you want to calculate the electric field.
Note: The distance $r$ must be greater than zero.
- Calculate: Click the “Calculate Electric Field ($E$)” button.
- View Result: The result will appear in the output box, displayed in proper LaTeX format, showing the magnitude of the electric field in $\text{N/C}$.
