An electric field is an invisible region around a charged object where other charges will feel a force. If you place a small electric charge near another charge, it will either be pulled toward it or pushed away. That invisible push or pull is caused by the electric field.
What Creates an Electric Field?
Any object that has an electric charge—whether positive or negative—produces an electric field around it. This field is strongest close to the charged object and gets weaker as you move farther away.
How Does the Electric Field Work?
The electric field affects other electric charges placed near it. If the field is from a positive charge, it will push other positive charges away and pull negative charges toward it. If the field is from a negative charge, it will pull positive charges toward it and push negative charges away.
This is because like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
How Do We Represent an Electric Field?
Electric fields are usually shown using arrows. These arrows are called field lines.
If the source is a positive charge, the arrows point outward, away from the charge.
If the source is a negative charge, the arrows point inward, toward the charge.
The direction of the arrows shows the direction that a positive test charge would move if placed in the field.
Strength of the Electric Field
The strength of the electric field depends on two things:
How strong the source charge is – Bigger charges make stronger fields.
How far you are from the source – The field gets weaker as you go farther away.
Formula for Electric Field
The electric field (E) at a point in space is defined as the force (F) experienced by a small positive test charge divided by the size of the charge (q):
E = F / q
This means the electric field tells us how much force a single unit of charge would feel at that point.
Real-Life Examples
Static electricity: When you rub a balloon on your hair and it stands up, that’s because of electric fields.
Lightning: Electric fields between clouds and the ground cause the sudden discharge of lightning.
Electric circuits: Batteries create electric fields that move charges through wires, making electricity flow.
Summary
An electric field is a way of describing how electric charges affect the space around them. It is invisible, but it has real effects—moving other charges, creating sparks, or powering electronic devices. Understanding electric fields is a key part of understanding electricity and how many everyday things work.
