Charged bodies can influence at each other without contact through electric field. The field which is created by motionless electric particles is called electrostatic.
Instruction
1. If to place one more charge of Q0 in the electric field created by Q charge, then it will influence it with a certain force. Characteristic is called strength of electric field of E. It represents the relation of force of F about which the field affects positive electric charge of Q0 in a certain point of space, to value of this charge: E = F/Q0.
2. Depending on a concrete point of space, the value of tension of field E can change that is expressed by formula E = E (x, y, z, t). Therefore the electric field strength belongs to vector physical quantities.
3. As tension of the field depends from force operating on a dot charge, the vector of strength of electric field of E is identical with F force vector. According to Coulomb's law, force with which two charged particles in a vacuum interact is directed in a straight line which connects these charges.
4. Michael Faraday suggested to represent visually tension of the field of electric charge by means of lines of tension. These lines coincide with a tension vector in all points on a tangent. On drawings they can be designated by shooters.
5. In case electric field is uniform and the vector of his tension is constant on the module and the direction, then lines of tension are parallel with it. If electric field is created by a positively charged body, lines of tension are directed from it, and in a case with a negatively charged particle - towards it.