:Electric field

File:VFPt image charge plane horizontal.svg suspended over an infinite sheet of conducting material. The field is depicted by electric field lines, lines which follow the direction of the electric field in space. The induced charge distribution in the sheet is not shown.]]

The electric field is defined at each point in space as the force that would be experienced by an infinitesimally small stationary test charge at that point divided by the charge.{{citation| first = Francis | last = Sears| title = University Physics |edition=6th| publisher = Addison Wesley| year = 1982| isbn = 0-201-07199-1|display-authors=etal}}{{rp|469–70}} The electric field is defined in terms of force, and force is a vector (i.e. having both magnitude and direction), so it follows that an electric field may be described by a vector field.{{rp|469–70}} The electric field acts between two charges similarly to the way that the gravitational field acts between two masses, as they both obey an inverse-square law with distance.{{citation| first = Korada | last = Umashankar| title = Introduction to Engineering Electromagnetic Fields| pages = 77–79| year = 1989| publisher = World Scientific| isbn = 9971-5-0921-0}} This is the basis for Coulomb's law, which states that, for stationary charges, the electric field varies with the source charge and varies inversely with the square of the distance from the source. This means that if the source charge were doubled, the electric field would double, and if you move twice as far away from the source, the field at that point would be only one-quarter its original strength.

The electric field can be visualized with a set of lines whose direction at each point is the same as those of the field, a concept introduced by Michael Faraday,{{citation |last = Morely & Hughes |title = Principles of Electricity |edition=5th |year = 1970 |page = 73 |publisher = Longman |isbn = 0-582-42629-4 }} whose term 'lines of force' is still sometimes used. This illustration has the useful property that, when drawn so that each line represents the same amount of flux, the strength of the field is proportional to the density of the lines.{{cite book |last1 = Tou |first1 = Stephen |title = Visualization of Fields and Applications in Engineering |publisher = John Wiley and Sons |date = 2011 |pages = 64 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4kjP1ALPTfUC&q=%22field+line%22+vector+field+tangent&pg=PT64 |isbn = 9780470978467 }} Field lines due to stationary charges have several important properties, including that they always originate from positive charges and terminate at negative charges, they enter all good conductors at right angles, and they never cross or close in on themselves.{{rp|479}} The field lines are a representative concept; the field actually permeates all the intervening space between the lines. More or fewer lines may be drawn depending on the precision to which it is desired to represent the field. The study of electric fields created by stationary charges is called electrostatics.

Faraday's law describes the relationship between a time-varying magnetic field and the electric field. One way of stating Faraday's law is that the curl of the electric field is equal to the negative time derivative of the magnetic field.{{cite book| last=Griffiths| first=David J. |title=Introduction to electrodynamics |date=1999 |publisher=Prentice Hall |isbn=0-13-805326-X |edition=3rd |location=Upper Saddle River, NJ |oclc=40251748 }}{{rp|327}} In the absence of time-varying magnetic field, the electric field is therefore called conservative (i.e. curl-free).{{rp|24,90–91}} This implies there are two kinds of electric fields: electrostatic fields and fields arising from time-varying magnetic fields.{{rp|305–307}} While the curl-free nature of the static electric field allows for a simpler treatment using electrostatics, time-varying magnetic fields are generally treated as a component of a unified electromagnetic field. The study of magnetic and electric fields that change over time is called electrodynamics.

{{main|Mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic field}}

Electric fields are caused by electric charges, described by Gauss's law,Purcell, p. 25: "Gauss's Law: the flux of the electric field E through any closed surface ... equals 1/e times the total charge enclosed by the surface." and time varying magnetic fields, described by Faraday's law of induction.Purcell, p 356: "Faraday's Law of Induction." Together, these laws are enough to define the behavior of the electric field. However, since the magnetic field is described as a function of electric field, the equations of both fields are coupled and together form Maxwell's equations that describe both fields as a function of charges and currents.

File:Cat demonstrating static cling with styrofoam peanuts.jpgs clinging to a cat's fur due to static electricity. The triboelectric effect causes an electrostatic charge to build up on the fur due to the cat's motions. The electric field of the charge causes polarization of the molecules of the styrofoam due to electrostatic induction, resulting in a slight attraction of the light plastic pieces to the charged fur. This effect is also the cause of static cling in clothes.]]

{{main|Coulomb's law}}

In the special case of a steady state (stationary charges and currents), the Maxwell-Faraday inductive effect disappears. The resulting two equations (Gauss's law $\backslash nabla\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; \backslash frac\{\backslash rho\}\{\backslash varepsilon\_0\}$ and Faraday's law with no induction term $\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; 0$), taken together, are equivalent to Coulomb's law, which states that a particle with electric charge $q\_1$ at position $\backslash mathbf\; r\_1$ exerts a force on a particle with charge $q\_0$ at position $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$ of:Purcell, p7: "... the interaction between electric charges at rest is described by Coulomb's Law: two stationary electric charges repel or attract each other with a force proportional to the product of the magnitude of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

$$\backslash mathbf\{F\}\_\{01\}\; =\; \backslash frac\{q\_1q\_0\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \{\backslash hat\backslash mathbf\; r\_\{01\}\backslash over$$

where

• $\backslash mathbf\{F\}\_\{01\}$ is the force on charged particle $q\_0$ caused by charged particle $q\_1$.
• {{math|ε{{sub|0}}}} is the permittivity of free space.
• $\backslash hat\; \backslash mathbf\{r\}\_\{01\}$ is a unit vector directed from $\backslash mathbf\; r\_1$ to $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$.
• $\backslash mathbf\{r\}\_\{01\}$ is the displacement vector from $\backslash mathbf\; r\_1$ to $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$.

Note that $\backslash varepsilon\_0$ must be replaced with $\backslash varepsilon$, permittivity, when charges are in non-empty media.

When the charges $q\_0$ and $q\_1$ have the same sign this force is positive, directed away from the other charge, indicating the particles repel each other. When the charges have unlike signs the force is negative, indicating the particles attract.

To make it easy to calculate the Coulomb force on any charge at position $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$ this expression can be divided by $q\_0$ leaving an expression that only depends on the other charge (the source charge){{cite book | last1 = Purcell | first1 = Edward | title = Electricity and Magnetism | edition = 2nd | publisher = Cambridge University Press | date = 2011 | pages = 8–9 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Z3bkNh6h4WEC&pg=PA8 | isbn = 978-1139503556 }}{{cite book | last1 = Serway | first1 = Raymond A. | last2 = Vuille | first2 = Chris | title = College Physics | edition = 10th | publisher = Cengage Learning | date = 2014 | pages = 532–533 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xETAAgAAQBAJ&q=work+energy+capacitor&pg=PA522 | isbn = 978-1305142824 }}

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}\_\{1\}\; (\backslash mathbf\; r\_0)\; =\; \backslash frac\{\; \backslash mathbf\{F\}\_\{01\}\; \}\; \{q\_0\}\; =\; \backslash frac\{q\_1\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \{\backslash hat\backslash mathbf\; r\_\{01\}\backslash over$$

where:

• $\backslash mathbf\{E\}\_\{1\}\; (\backslash mathbf\; r\_0)$ is the component of the electric field at $q\_0$ due to $q\_1$.

This is the electric field at point $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$ due to the point charge $q\_1$; it is a vector-valued function equal to the Coulomb force per unit charge that a positive point charge would experience at the position $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$.

Since this formula gives the electric field magnitude and direction at any point $\backslash mathbf\; r\_0$ in space (except at the location of the charge itself, $\backslash mathbf\; r\_1$, where it becomes infinite) it defines a vector field.

From the above formula it can be seen that the electric field due to a point charge is everywhere directed away from the charge if it is positive, and toward the charge if it is negative, and its magnitude decreases with the inverse square of the distance from the charge.

The Coulomb force on a charge of magnitude $q$ at any point in space is equal to the product of the charge and the electric field at that point

$$\backslash mathbf\{F\}\; =\; q\backslash mathbf\{E\}\; .$$

The SI unit of the electric field is the newton per coulomb (N/C), or volt per meter (V/m); in terms of the SI base units it is kg⋅m⋅s⁻³⋅A⁻¹.

Due to the linearity of Maxwell's equations, electric fields satisfy the superposition principle, which states that the total electric field, at a point, due to a collection of charges is equal to the vector sum of the electric fields at that point due to the individual charges. This principle is useful in calculating the field created by multiple point charges. If charges $q\_1,\; q\_2,\; \backslash dots,\; q\_n$ are stationary in space at points $\backslash mathbf\; r\_1,\backslash mathbf\; r\_2,\backslash dots,\backslash mathbf\; r\_n$, in the absence of currents, the superposition principle says that the resulting field is the sum of fields generated by each particle as described by Coulomb's law:

$$\backslash begin\{align\}$$

\mathbf{E}(\mathbf{r}) = \mathbf{E}_1(\mathbf{r}) + \mathbf{E}_2(\mathbf{r}) + \dots + \mathbf{E}_n(\mathbf{r}) = {1\over4\pi\varepsilon_0} \sum_{i=1}^n q_i {\hat\mathbf r_i\over

\end{align}

where

• $\backslash hat\backslash mathbf\; r\_i$ is the unit vector in the direction from point $\backslash mathbf\; r\_i$ to point $\backslash mathbf\; r$
• $\backslash mathbf\; r\_i$ is the displacement vector from point $\backslash mathbf\; r\_i$ to point $\backslash mathbf\; r$.

The superposition principle allows for the calculation of the electric field due to a distribution of charge density $\backslash rho(\backslash mathbf\; r)$. By considering the charge $\backslash rho(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})dv$ in each small volume of space $dv$ at point $\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}$ as a point charge, the resulting electric field, $d\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\; r)$, at point $\backslash mathbf\; r$ can be calculated as

$$d\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\; r)\; =\; \backslash frac\{\backslash rho(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\{\backslash hat\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}\backslash over$$

where

• $\backslash hat\; \backslash mathbf\{r\}\text{'}$ is the unit vector pointing from $\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}$ to $\backslash mathbf\; r$.
• $\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}$ is the displacement vector from $\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}$ to $\backslash mathbf\; r$.

The total field is found by summing the contributions from all the increments of volume by integrating the charge density over the volume $V$:

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\; r)\; =\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \backslash iiint\_V\; \backslash ,\; \backslash rho(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})\; \{\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}\backslash over$$

Similar equations follow for a surface charge with surface charge density $\backslash sigma(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})$ on surface $S$

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\; r)\; =\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \backslash iint\_S\; \backslash ,\; \backslash sigma(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})\; \{\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}\backslash over$$

and for line charges with linear charge density $\backslash lambda(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})$ on line $L$

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\; r)\; =\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \backslash int\_L\; \backslash ,\backslash lambda(\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'})\; \{\backslash mathbf\; r\text{'}\backslash over$$

{{main|Electric potential}}

{{See also|Helmholtz decomposition|Conservative vector field#Irrotational vector fields}}

If a system is static, such that magnetic fields are not time-varying, then by Faraday's law, the electric field is curl-free. In this case, one can define an electric potential, that is, a function $\backslash varphi$ such that {{nowrap|$\backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; -\backslash nabla\; \backslash varphi$.}}{{cite web|url=http://physicspages.com/pdf/Griffiths%20EM/Griffiths%20Problems%2002.20.pdf|title=Curl & Potential in Electrostatics|last=gwrowe|date=8 October 2011| work=physicspages.com|access-date=2 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322101416/http://physicspages.com/pdf/Griffiths%20EM/Griffiths%20Problems%2002.20.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2019}} This is analogous to the gravitational potential. The difference between the electric potential at two points in space is called the potential difference (or voltage) between the two points.

In general, however, the electric field cannot be described independently of the magnetic field. Given the magnetic vector potential, {{math|A}}, defined so that {{tmath|1= \mathbf{B} = \nabla \times \mathbf{A} }}, one can still define an electric potential $\backslash varphi$ such that:

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; -\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash varphi\; -\; \backslash frac\; \{\; \backslash partial\; \backslash mathbf\{A\}\; \}\; \{\; \backslash partial\; t\; \}\; ,$$

where $\backslash nabla\; \backslash varphi$ is the gradient of the electric potential and $\backslash frac\; \{\; \backslash partial\; \backslash mathbf\{A\}\; \}\; \{\; \backslash partial\; t\; \}$ is the partial derivative of {{math|A}} with respect to time.

Faraday's law of induction can be recovered by taking the curl of that equation {{cite book| title=Maxwell's Equations| first1=Paul G.| last1=Huray| publisher=Wiley-IEEE| year=2009| isbn=978-0-470-54276-7| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QsDgdd0MhMCp| page=205}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; -\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; (\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\{A\})\}\; \{\backslash partial\; t\}\; =\; -\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; \backslash mathbf\{B\}\}\; \{\backslash partial\; t\}\; ,$$

which justifies, a posteriori, the previous form for {{math|E}}.

{{Main|Charge density}}

The equations of electromagnetism are best described in a continuous description. However, charges are sometimes best described as discrete points; for example, some models may describe electrons as point sources where charge density is infinite on an infinitesimal section of space.

A charge $q$ located at $\backslash mathbf\{r\}\_0$ can be described mathematically as a charge density {{tmath|1= \rho(\mathbf{r}) = q\delta(\mathbf{r} - \mathbf{r}_0)}}, where the Dirac delta function (in three dimensions) is used. Conversely, a charge distribution can be approximated by many small point charges.

{{Main|Electrostatics}}

Image:VFPt charges plus minus thumb.svg

Electrostatic fields are electric fields that do not change with time. Such fields are present when systems of charged matter are stationary, or when electric currents are unchanging. In that case, Coulomb's law fully describes the field.Purcell, pp. 5–7.

{{See also|Gravitoelectromagnetism}}

Coulomb's law, which describes the interaction of electric charges:

$$\backslash mathbf\{F\}\; =\; q\; \backslash left(\backslash frac\{Q\}\{4\backslash pi\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \backslash frac\{\backslash mathbf\{\backslash hat\{r\}\}\}$$

This suggests similarities between the electric field {{math|E}} and the gravitational field {{math|g}}, or their associated potentials. Mass is sometimes called "gravitational charge".{{cite journal |last1=Salam |first1=Abdus |title=Quarks and leptons come out to play |journal=New Scientist |date=16 December 1976 |volume=72 |page=652 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIbyn2jxGhoC&pg=PA652 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Electrostatic and gravitational forces both are central, conservative and obey an inverse-square law.

Image:VFPt capacitor-square-plate.svg plates of finite size (known as a parallel plate capacitor). In the middle of the plates, far from any edges, the electric field is very nearly uniform.]]

A uniform field is one in which the electric field is constant at every point. It can be approximated by placing two conducting plates parallel to each other and maintaining a voltage (potential difference) between them; it is only an approximation because of boundary effects (near the edge of the planes, the electric field is distorted because the plane does not continue). Assuming infinite planes, the magnitude of the electric field {{math|E}} is:

$$E\; =\; -\; \backslash frac\{\backslash Delta\; V\}\{d\}\; ,$$

where {{math|ΔV}} is the potential difference between the plates and {{math|d}} is the distance separating the plates. The negative sign arises as positive charges repel, so a positive charge will experience a force away from the positively charged plate, in the opposite direction to that in which the voltage increases. In micro- and nano-applications, for instance in relation to semiconductors, a typical magnitude of an electric field is in the order of {{val|e=6|u=V⋅m⁻¹}}, achieved by applying a voltage of the order of 1 volt between conductors spaced 1 μm apart.

File:Electrostatic induction.svg.]]

{{main|Electromagnetic field}}

Electromagnetic fields are electric and magnetic fields, which may change with time, for instance when charges are in motion. Moving charges produce a magnetic field in accordance with Ampère's circuital law (with Maxwell's addition), which, along with Maxwell's other equations, defines the magnetic field, $\backslash mathbf\{B\}$, in terms of its curl:

$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\{B\}\; =\; \backslash mu\_0\backslash left(\backslash mathbf\{J\}\; +\; \backslash varepsilon\_0\; \backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; \backslash mathbf\{E\}\}\; \{\backslash partial\; t\}\; \backslash right)\; ,$$

where $\backslash mathbf\{J\}$ is the current density, $\backslash mu\_0$ is the vacuum permeability, and $\backslash varepsilon\_0$ is the vacuum permittivity.

Both the electric current density and the partial derivative of the electric field with respect to time, contribute to the curl of the magnetic field. In addition, the Maxwell–Faraday equation states

$$\backslash nabla\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; -\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; \backslash mathbf\{B\}\}\; \{\backslash partial\; t\}.$$

These represent two of Maxwell's four equations and they intricately link the electric and magnetic fields together, resulting in the electromagnetic field. The equations represent a set of four coupled multi-dimensional partial differential equations which, when solved for a system, describe the combined behavior of the electromagnetic fields. In general, the force experienced by a test charge in an electromagnetic field is given by the Lorentz force law:

$$\backslash mathbf\{F\}\; =\; q\backslash mathbf\{E\}\; +\; q\backslash mathbf\{v\}\; \backslash times\; \backslash mathbf\{B\}\; .$$

The total energy per unit volume stored by the electromagnetic field is{{cite book|title=Introduction to Electrodynamics|edition=3|first=D.J.|last=Griffiths|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date= 2017 |url=https://archive.org/details/introductiontoel0000grif/page/356/mode/2up |page=357, eq. 8.5 |isbn=9781108420419}}

$$u\_\backslash text\{EM\}\; =\; \backslash frac\{\backslash varepsilon\}\{2\}\; |\backslash mathbf\{E\}|^2\; +\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{2\backslash mu\}\; |\backslash mathbf\{B\}|^2$$

where {{mvar|ε}} is the permittivity of the medium in which the field exists, $\backslash mu$ its magnetic permeability, and {{math|E}} and {{math|B}} are the electric and magnetic field vectors.

As {{math|E}} and {{math|B}} fields are coupled, it would be misleading to split this expression into "electric" and "magnetic" contributions. In particular, an electrostatic field in any given frame of reference in general transforms into a field with a magnetic component in a relatively moving frame. Accordingly, decomposing the electromagnetic field into an electric and magnetic component is frame-specific, and similarly for the associated energy.

The total energy {{math|U{{sub|EM}}}} stored in the electromagnetic field in a given volume {{math|V}} is

$$U\_\backslash text\{EM\}\; =\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}\; \backslash int\_\{V\}\; \backslash left(\; \backslash varepsilon\; |\backslash mathbf\{E\}|^2\; +\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{\backslash mu\}\; |\backslash mathbf\{B\}|^2\; \backslash right)\; dV\; \backslash ,\; .$$

{{main|electric displacement field}}

{{See also|List of electromagnetism equations}}

In the presence of matter, it is helpful to extend the notion of the electric field into three vector fields:{{cite book|title=Electromagnetism|edition=2|first1=I.S.|last1=Grant|first2=W.R.|last2=Phillips|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2008|isbn=978-0-471-92712-9}}

$$\backslash mathbf\{D\}\; =\; \backslash varepsilon\_0\; \backslash mathbf\{E\}\; +\; \backslash mathbf\{P\}$$

where {{math|P}} is the electric polarization – the volume density of electric dipole moments, and {{math|D}} is the electric displacement field. Since {{math|E}} and {{math|P}} are defined separately, this equation can be used to define {{math|D}}. The physical interpretation of {{math|D}} is not as clear as {{math|E}} (effectively the field applied to the material) or {{math|P}} (induced field due to the dipoles in the material), but still serves as a convenient mathematical simplification, since Maxwell's equations can be simplified in terms of free charges and currents.

{{Main|Constitutive equation}}

The {{math|E}} and {{math|D}} fields are related by the permittivity of the material, {{math|ε}}.{{cite book|title=Electricity and Modern Physics|edition=2|first1=G.A.G.|last1=Bennet|first2=Edward|last2=Arnold|year=1974|publisher=Edward Arnold|isbn=0-7131-2459-8}}

For linear, homogeneous, isotropic materials {{math|E}} and {{math|D}} are proportional and constant throughout the region, there is no position dependence:

$$\backslash mathbf\{D\}(\backslash mathbf\{r\})\; =\; \backslash varepsilon\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\{r\})\; .$$

For inhomogeneous materials, there is a position dependence throughout the material:{{Cite book|last1=Landau|first1=Lev Davidovich|author-link1=Lev Landau|last2=Lifshitz|first2=Evgeny M.| author-link2= Evgeny Lifshitz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XX0xxgEACAAJ|title=Electrodynamics of Continuous Media|date=1963|series=Course of Theoretical Physics |volume=8 |publisher=Pergamon|isbn=978-0-7581-6499-5|page=285|language=en|section=68 the propagation of waves in an inhomogeneous medium |quote=In Maxwell's equations… ε is a function of the co-ordinates.}}

$$\backslash mathbf\{D\}(\backslash mathbf\{r\})\; =\; \backslash varepsilon\; (\backslash mathbf\{r\})\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\{r\})$$

For anisotropic materials the {{math|E}} and {{math|D}} fields are not parallel, and so {{math|E}} and {{math|D}} are related by the permittivity tensor (a 2nd order tensor field), in component form:

$$D\_i\; =\; \backslash varepsilon\_\{ij\}\; E\_j$$

For non-linear media, {{math|E}} and {{math|D}} are not proportional. Materials can have varying extents of linearity, homogeneity and isotropy.

The invariance of the form of Maxwell's equations under Lorentz transformation can be used to derive the electric field of a uniformly moving point charge. The charge of a particle is considered frame invariant, as supported by experimental evidence.{{Cite book |last1=Purcell |first1=Edward M. |url=https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/electricity-and-magnetism/0F97BB6C5D3A56F19B9835EDBEAB087C |title=Electricity and Magnetism |last2=Morin |first2=David J. |date=2013-01-21 |website=Higher Education from Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781139012973 |pages=241–251 |language=en |doi=10.1017/cbo9781139012973 |access-date=2022-07-04}} Alternatively the electric field of uniformly moving point charges can be derived from the Lorentz transformation of four-force experienced by test charges in the source's rest frame given by Coulomb's law and assigning electric field and magnetic field by their definition given by the form of Lorentz force.{{Cite book |last1=Rosser |first1=W. G. V. |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4899-6559-2 |title=Classical Electromagnetism via Relativity |year=1968 |isbn=978-1-4899-6258-4 |pages=29–42 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4899-6559-2}} However the following equation is only applicable when no acceleration is involved in the particle's history where Coulomb's law can be considered or symmetry arguments can be used for solving Maxwell's equations in a simple manner. The electric field of such a uniformly moving point charge is hence given by:{{Cite book |last=Heaviside |first=Oliver |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_effects_of_a_moving_charge |title=Electromagnetic waves, the propagation of potential, and the electromagnetic effects of a moving charge}}

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}\; =\; \backslash frac\; q\; \{4\; \backslash pi\; \backslash varepsilon\_0\; r^3\}\; \backslash frac\; \{1-\; \backslash beta^2\}\; \{(1-\; \backslash beta^2\; \backslash sin^2\; \backslash theta)^\{3/2\}\}\; \backslash mathbf\{r\}\; ,$$

where $q$ is the charge of the point source, $\backslash mathbf\{r\}$ is the position vector from the point source to the point in space, $\backslash beta$ is the ratio of observed speed of the charge particle to the speed of light and $\backslash theta$ is the angle between $\backslash mathbf\{r\}$ and the observed velocity of the charged particle.

The above equation reduces to that given by Coulomb's law for non-relativistic speeds of the point charge. Spherical symmetry is not satisfied due to breaking of symmetry in the problem by specification of direction of velocity for calculation of field. To illustrate this, field lines of moving charges are sometimes represented as unequally spaced radial lines which would appear equally spaced in a co-moving reference frame.

{{See also|Paradox of radiation of charged particles in a gravitational field}}

Special theory of relativity imposes the principle of locality, that requires cause and effect to be time-like separated events where the causal efficacy does not travel faster than the speed of light.{{Cite book |author=Naber, Gregory L. |title=The Geometry of Minkowski spacetime: an introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity |date=2012 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-4419-7837-0 |pages=4–5 |oclc=804823303}} Maxwell's laws are found to confirm to this view since the general solutions of fields are given in terms of retarded time which indicate that electromagnetic disturbances travel at the speed of light. Advanced time, which also provides a solution for Maxwell's law are ignored as an unphysical solution.File:Bremsstrahlung.gifFor the motion of a charged particle, considering for example the case of a moving particle with the above described electric field coming to an abrupt stop, the electric fields at points far from it do not immediately revert to that classically given for a stationary charge. On stopping, the field around the stationary points begin to revert to the expected state and this effect propagates outwards at the speed of light while the electric field lines far away from this will continue to point radially towards an assumed moving charge. This virtual particle will never be outside the range of propagation of the disturbance in electromagnetic field, since charged particles are restricted to have speeds slower than that of light, which makes it impossible to construct a Gaussian surface in this region that violates Gauss's law. Another technical difficulty that supports this is that charged particles travelling faster than or equal to speed of light no longer have a unique retarded time. Since electric field lines are continuous, an electromagnetic pulse of radiation is generated that connects at the boundary of this disturbance travelling outwards at the speed of light.{{Cite book |last=Purcell |first=Edward M. |title=Electricity and Magnetism |date=2013 |author2=David J. Morin |isbn=978-1-139-01297-3 |edition=Third |location=Cambridge |pages=251–255 |oclc=1105718330}} In general, any accelerating point charge radiates electromagnetic waves however, non-radiating acceleration is possible in a systems of charges.

{{See also|Jefimenko's equations#Heaviside–Feynman formula}}

For arbitrarily moving point charges, propagation of potential fields such as Lorenz gauge fields at the speed of light needs to be accounted for by using Liénard–Wiechert potential.{{Cite book |last=Griffiths |first=David J. |title=Introduction to electrodynamics |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-108-42041-9 |edition=4th |location=United Kingdom |pages=454 |language=en |oclc=1021068059}} Since the potentials satisfy Maxwell's equations, the fields derived for point charge also satisfy Maxwell's equations. The electric field is expressed as:{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=John David |title=Classical electrodynamics |date=1999 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=0-471-30932-X |edition=3rd |location=New York |pages=664–665 |oclc=38073290}}

$$\backslash mathbf\{E\}(\backslash mathbf\{r\},\; \backslash mathbf\{t\})\; =\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{4\; \backslash pi\; \backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \backslash left(\backslash frac\{q(\backslash mathbf\{n\}\_s\; -\; \backslash boldsymbol\{\backslash beta\}\_s)\}\{\backslash gamma^2\; (1\; -\; \backslash mathbf\{n\}\_s\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash boldsymbol\{\backslash beta\}\_s)^3\; |\backslash mathbf\{r\}\; -\; \backslash mathbf\{r\}\_s|^2\}\; +\; \backslash frac\{q\; \backslash mathbf\{n\}\_s\; \backslash times\; \backslash big((\backslash mathbf\{n\}\_s\; -\; \backslash boldsymbol\{\backslash beta\}\_s)\; \backslash times\; \backslash dot\{\backslash boldsymbol\{\backslash beta\}\_s\}\backslash big)\}\{c(1\; -\; \backslash mathbf\{n\}\_s\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash boldsymbol\{\backslash beta\}\_s)^3\; |\backslash mathbf\{r\}\; -\; \backslash mathbf\{r\}\_s|\}\; \backslash right)\_\{t\; =\; t\_r\}$$

where $q$ is the charge of the point source, $\{t\_r\}$ is retarded time or the time at which the source's contribution of the electric field originated, $\{r\}\_s(t)$ is the position vector of the particle, $\{n\}\_s(\backslash mathbf\{r\},t)$ is a unit vector pointing from charged particle to the point in space, $\backslash boldsymbol\{\backslash beta\}\_s(t)$ is the velocity of the particle divided by the speed of light, and $\backslash gamma(t)$ is the corresponding Lorentz factor. The retarded time is given as solution of:

$t\_r=\backslash mathbf\{t\}-\backslash frac$

The uniqueness of solution for $\{t\_r\}$ for given $\backslash mathbf\{t\}$, $\backslash mathbf\{r\}$ and $r\_s(t)$ is valid for charged particles moving slower than speed of light. Electromagnetic radiation of accelerating charges is known to be caused by the acceleration dependent term in the electric field from which relativistic correction for Larmor formula is obtained.

There exist yet another set of solutions for Maxwell's equation of the same form but for advanced time $\{t\_a\}$ instead of retarded time given as a solution of:

$t\_a=\backslash mathbf\{t\}+\backslash frac$

Since the physical interpretation of this indicates that the electric field at a point is governed by the particle's state at a point of time in the future, it is considered as an unphysical solution and hence neglected. However, there have been theories exploring the advanced time solutions of Maxwell's equations, such as Feynman Wheeler absorber theory.

The above equation, although consistent with that of uniformly moving point charges as well as its non-relativistic limit, are not corrected for quantum-mechanical effects.

Electric field infinitely close to a conducting surface in electrostatic equilibrium having charge density $\backslash sigma$ at that point is $\backslash frac\{\backslash sigma\}\{\backslash varepsilon\_0\}\; \backslash hat\backslash mathbf\; x$ since charges are only formed on the surface and the surface at the infinitesimal scale resembles an infinite 2D plane. In the absence of external fields, spherical conductors exhibit a uniform charge distribution on the surface and hence have the same electric field as that of uniform spherical surface distribution.

• Classical electromagnetism
• Relativistic electromagnetism
• Electricity
• History of electromagnetic theory
• Electromagnetic field
• Magnetism
• Teltron tube
• Teledeltos, a conductive paper that may be used as a simple analog computer for modelling fields

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |author1=Purcell, Edward |author2=Morin, David |title= Electricity and Magnetism| edition= 3rd | publisher=Cambridge University Press, New York |year= 2013 |isbn=978-1-107-01402-2}}
• {{cite book |author=Browne, Michael |title= Physics for Engineering and Science|edition= 2nd |publisher= McGraw-Hill, Schaum, New York | year= 2011|isbn=978-0-07-161399-6}}

{{Commons category|Electric field}}

• [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefie.html Electric field in "Electricity and Magnetism", R Nave] – Hyperphysics, Georgia State University
• [http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy122/Lecture_Notes/ Frank Wolfs's lectures] at University of Rochester, chapters 23 and 24
• [http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/0sn/ch10/ch10.html Fields] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527194640/http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/0sn/ch10/ch10.html |date=2010-05-27 }} – a chapter from an online textbook

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Electric Field}}

Category:Electrostatics

Category:Electromagnetic quantities

Category:Electromagnetism