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I understand that a positive charge experiences an electric field pointing away

ID: 1488472 • Letter: I

Question

I understand that a positive charge experiences an electric field pointing away from it while a negative charge experiences an electric field pointing toward it, the force is in the direction of the electric field for the positive charge and opposite the direction of the field for the negative charge. However this would mean that the force vectors on the positive and negative charge would be in the same direction which I don't understand why. Likewise if I were to make the forces in opposite directions on the positive and negative charge then the electric field would also be in the same direction. Please explain I understand that a positive charge experiences an electric field pointing away from it while a negative charge experiences an electric field pointing toward it, the force is in the direction of the electric field for the positive charge and opposite the direction of the field for the negative charge. However this would mean that the force vectors on the positive and negative charge would be in the same direction which I don't understand why. Likewise if I were to make the forces in opposite directions on the positive and negative charge then the electric field would also be in the same direction. Please explain Likewise if I were to make the forces in opposite directions on the positive and negative charge then the electric field would also be in the same direction. Please explain

Explanation / Answer

electric field is the force experienced by unit +ve charge at that point .

Suppose we want to find field due to a +ve charge at some distance.

so we put a unit +ve charge at that point so +ve charge wiill repel +ve charge.

thus direction of field is always away from the +ve charge.

but if we put -ve charge at that poiint.

+ve charge will attract -ve charge so force is towards the +ve charge but field is always away from charge.

Similarly in case of -ve charge.

We want to find field due to -ve charge so we will put a +ve charge at some distance , force will be towards -ve charge as opposite charge attract each other,

thus direction of field is always towards -ve charge.

when we piut a -ve charge near that -ve charge then same charge will repel each other.

so force will be away from charge but field direction is alway towards the -ve charge.

Or in simply we can say that direction of force on +ve charge and direction of field is always in same direction,

and direction of force in negative charge and direction of field is always iin opposite direction.