Electric Field Strength Calculation: Understanding the Intensity of an Electric Field
What is Electric Field Strength?
Electric field strength can be defined as a quantitative expression of the intensity of an electric field at a particular location.
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field (in N/C), due to a small charged sphere (Q = +129 nC), at a point in space that is a distance 5.2 m away. Round to nearest whole number.
The electric field strength of this field on the charge molecule is 31358.5 N/C.
Electric Field Strength Calculation
The electric field strength, denoted by the symbol E, is a measure of the force exerted on a positive electric charge placed at a point in space. It is expressed in Newtons per Coulomb (N/C). In this scenario, we are calculating the electric field strength due to a small charged sphere with a charge of +129 nanocoulombs at a distance of 5.2 meters away.
Understanding the Calculation
To calculate the electric field strength, we can use the formula:
E = |q| / (4πε₀r²)
Where:
q = +129 nC (charge of the sphere)
r = 5.2m (distance from the sphere)
ε₀ = 8.99 x 10⁹ N m²/C² (vacuum permittivity)
Substitute the values into the formula:
E = 129 x 10⁻⁹ x 8.99 x 10⁹ / (5.2)²
E = 1159.71 x 27.04
E ≈ 31358.5 N/C
Therefore, the magnitude of the electric field due to the small charged sphere at a distance of 5.2 meters away is approximately 31358.5 N/C.
Further Exploration
To deepen your understanding of electric fields and their significance in physics, you can explore more about the concept of electric field strength and its applications in various scenarios. Understanding electric fields is essential in grasping the fundamentals of electromagnetism and the behavior of charged particles in different environments.