
Electric field intensity, a vector quantity, is the force experienced by a unit-charged particle when placed in an electric field. It is a measure of the strength or magnitude of the electric field at a particular point. The unit of electric field intensity in the SI system is volts per meter (V/m) or, in base units, Newton per Coulomb (N/C). The CGS unit is dyne/stat coulomb. Electric field intensity is also known as electric field strength and is calculated using Coulomb's law, which describes the relationship between particle charges and the distance between them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The amount of force experienced by a unit-charged particle when it is placed in an electric field |
| Formula | E = F/q |
| Unit | SI units: volts per meter (V/m), Newton per coulombs |
| C.G.S. unit | dyne/stat coulomb |
| Dimensional Formula | MLT-3A-1 |
| Vector | Yes |
| Direction | Depends on the charge of the test charge particle |
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What You'll Learn
- Electric field intensity is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction
- The unit of electric intensity in the SI system is watts per square meter (W/m2)
- The C.G.S unit of electric intensity is dyne/stat coulomb
- Electric field intensity is calculated as force per charge on the test charge
- Electric field intensity is independent of the amount of charge on the test charge particle

Electric field intensity is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction
Electric field intensity, often referred to as electric field strength, is a fundamental concept in physics. It is defined as the force experienced by a unit-charged particle when placed in an electric field. This force is a result of the interaction between the electric field and the charge of the particle.
Electric field intensity is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the electric field intensity refers to the strength or force of the electric field at a particular point. This force can be attractive or repulsive, depending on the charge of the particle. The direction of the electric field intensity is determined by the charge of the test charge particle. If the test charge is positive, the electric field intensity will be directed away from the source charge, as like charges repel each other. On the other hand, if the test charge is negative, the electric field intensity will be directed towards the source charge, as opposite charges attract.
The electric field intensity is independent of the mass and velocity of the test charge particle. It solely depends on the amount of charge present on the test charge particle. The electric field intensity can be calculated using the formula E = F/q, where E is the electric field intensity, F is the force, and q is the charge. The SI units of electric field intensity are Newton per Coulomb.
Furthermore, the electric field intensity is location-dependent and has an inverse relationship with the distance between the source and test charges. As the distance between the charges increases, the electric field intensity decreases. This relationship is described by Coulomb's law, which states that the electric force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
In conclusion, electric field intensity is a vector quantity that describes the strength and direction of an electric field at a particular point. It is an essential concept in understanding the behaviour of charged particles in electric fields and plays a crucial role in various scientific and engineering applications.
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The unit of electric intensity in the SI system is watts per square meter (W/m2)
Electric field intensity is a fundamental concept in physics, and it plays a crucial role in understanding the behaviour of charged particles. When a unit-charged particle is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force, and this force per unit charge is defined as electric field intensity. This concept is particularly important in the context of electric circuits and the interactions between charged particles.
In the SI system, the unit of electric intensity is watts per square meter (W/m^2). This unit is used to quantify the power transferred per unit area by an electric field. The SI unit of electric intensity provides a standardised measure, allowing scientists and engineers to calculate, compare, and predict the behaviour of electric fields and charged particles in a consistent manner.
The choice of watts per square meter as the SI unit is derived from the underlying physics of electric fields. Electric fields are vector fields, meaning they have both magnitude and direction. The unit of electric intensity, watts per square meter, reflects this vector nature by incorporating the concept of area, which inherently accounts for both magnitude and direction.
It is important to distinguish between electric field intensity and other related terms, such as electric field strength. While they are closely related, electric field strength refers specifically to the force experienced by a unit-charged particle in the electric field, whereas electric field intensity encompasses the broader concept of power transfer per unit area.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the unit of electric intensity in the SI system, watts per square meter, is applicable beyond just electric fields. The concept of intensity or flux is used in various scientific and engineering disciplines, including acoustics, electron microscopy, optics, and astronomy. In these diverse fields, intensity plays a crucial role in understanding and quantifying the behaviour of waves, particles, and energy propagation.
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The C.G.S unit of electric intensity is dyne/stat coulomb
Electric field intensity is the strength or magnitude of the electric field at a particular point in an electrostatic region. When a unit-charged particle is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force, and the amount of this force is referred to as the electric field intensity. This force has both magnitude and direction.
The C.G.S. unit of electric intensity is dyne/stat coulomb. Coulomb's law in the CGS-Gaussian system is defined as the force between two electric charges that are 1 cm apart. The statcoulomb is defined such that if two electric charges of 1 statC each are separated by 1 cm, the force of mutual electrical repulsion is 1 dyne.
The CGS system has been largely replaced by the MKS system, which is based on the metre, kilogram, and second. However, the CGS system is still prevalent in certain subfields of science and engineering. In the CGS-ESU variant of the CGS system, the unit of charge is the franklin (Fr), also known as the statcoulomb or esu charge. In this system, a franklin is defined as two equal point charges spaced 1 cm apart, with an electrostatic force of 1 dyne between them.
The CGS-EMU system is another variant of the CGS system, where electromagnetic units are used and current is defined via the force between two thin, parallel, infinitely long wires carrying it. The unit of current in this system is the biot (Bi), also known as the abampere or emu current. The biot is defined as the constant current that, when maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length and placed 1 cm apart in a vacuum, produces a force of two dynes per centimetre of length between the conductors.
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Electric field intensity is calculated as force per charge on the test charge
The unit of electric intensity is the electric field intensity, which is the strength or magnitude of the electric field at a particular point in an electrostatic region. It is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction. The electric field is the space around charged particles, such as electrons and protons, which have an electric charge.
When a unit test charge is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force. This force is referred to as the electric field intensity. The test charge can be positively or negatively charged. The direction of the electric field is determined by the charge of the test charge particle. If the test charge is positive, it will be repelled, and the electric field intensity will be directed away from the charge. Conversely, if the test charge is negative, the force will act against the electric field intensity.
The force experienced by a charge in an electric field can be calculated using the relationship between particle charges and the distance between them. Coulomb's law describes this relationship, and the electric force 'F' can be expressed as:
F = k * (q1*q2)/d^2
Where F is the force, q1 and q2 are the two charges, d is the distance between them, and k is the proportionality constant.
The electric field intensity 'E' is then calculated as force per charge on the test charge:
E = F/q
The electric field intensity is determined by the charge on the source charge and the distance between the source charge and the test charge. It is important to note that the electric field intensity diminishes as the distance between the charges increases.
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Electric field intensity is independent of the amount of charge on the test charge particle
The unit of electric field intensity in SI units is newton per coulomb. Electric field intensity, also known as electric field strength, is the force per unit charge exerted on a particle by an electric field. This force is experienced by a charged particle at rest or in motion when placed in an electric field. The electric field is the region around a charged particle in which another charged particle will experience an electrostatic force.
The electric field intensity is independent of the amount of charge on the test charge particle. This means that the amount of charge on the test charge particle does not affect the electric field intensity. Instead, the electric field intensity depends on the charge of the source charge particle and the distance between the source charge and the test charge. The force experienced by the test charge is greater when the distance between the source charge and the test charge is smaller.
The test charge is usually assumed to be a positive charge when determining the direction of electric field intensity. This means that if a positive test charge particle is introduced to the electric field, it will be repelled, and the electric field intensity will be directed away from the source charge. On the other hand, if a negative test charge particle is used, the direction of the force will be towards the source charge.
The concept of electric fields is similar to gravitational fields. Just as a gravitational field represents the force that would be experienced by another mass placed at a certain point within the field, an electric field represents the force that would be experienced by a charge placed within the field.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric field intensity is the strength or magnitude of the electric field at a particular point in the electrostatic region. It is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction.
The unit of electric field intensity is the Newton per Coulomb (N/C). In SI units, it is volts per meter (V/m). In base units, it is watts per square meter (W/m^2) or kg⋅s^-3. The C.G.S unit is dyne/stat coulomb.
Electric field intensity is calculated as the force per charge on the test charge. The formula for electric field intensity is obtained by substituting this equation for force in the equation for the force experienced by a charge under an electric field.
The formula for electric field intensity is:
Electric field intensity (E) = Force (F) / Charge (q)











































