Changes

An '''electric field''' is a [[vector field]] defined as the [[force]] per unit charge due to the [[Coulomb's Law|Coulomb force]].<ref>[http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefie.html Electric Fields on hyperphysics]</ref> When an [[charged particle|electrically charged particle]] is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force, the size and direction of which depends on the amount of charge on the particle. Mathematically this is F=qE. Electric fields are produced by objects with [[electric charge]] or by changing [[magnetic field]]s.

[[File:VFPt charges plus minus thumb.jpeg|thumb|alt=Electric field lines|right|290px|The attractive electric field between two charges of opposite sign. ]]An '''electric field''' is a [[vector field]] defined as the [[force]] per unit charge due to the [[Coulomb's Law|Coulomb force]].<ref>[http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefie.html Electric Fields on hyperphysics]</ref> When an [[charged particle|electrically charged particle]] is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force, the size and direction of which depends on the amount of charge on the particle. Mathematically this is F=qE. Electric fields are produced by objects with [[electric charge]] or by changing [[magnetic field]]s.

==Definition==

==Definition==

===Field Lines===

===Field Lines===

Field lines were developed by [[Michael Faraday]] as an intuitive way of understanding electric fields.<ref>[http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Electric-Field-Lines physicsclassroom.com]</ref> The lines show the direction in which a small positive charge would accelerate. The spacing between lines shows the magnitude of the electric field; areas where lines that are close together mean the electric field is strong in that region. Field lines start on positive charges and go to negative charges.<ref group=note>Technically, electric fields can also start and end at infinity</ref> In this way positive charges are often called "sources" and negative charges "sinks".

Field lines were developed by [[Michael Faraday]] as an intuitive way of understanding electric fields.<ref>[http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Electric-Field-Lines physicsclassroom.com]</ref> The lines show the direction in which a small positive charge would accelerate. The spacing between lines shows the magnitude of the electric field; areas where lines that are close together mean the electric field is strong in that region. Field lines start on positive charges and go to negative charges.<ref group=note>Technically, electric field lines can also start and end at infinity</ref> In this way positive charges are often called "sources" and negative charges "sinks".

==Electrostatic fields==

==Electrostatic fields==