How is the direction of an electric field determined?

The direction of an electric field is determined by the direction of the force on a positive test charge.

Electric fields are created by charged particles, such as electrons and protons. The direction of the electric field at any point is defined as the direction of the force that would be experienced by a positive test charge placed at that point. This means that the direction of the electric field is always away from positive charges and towards negative charges.

The strength of the electric field is determined by the magnitude of the charge creating the field and the distance from the charge. The electric field strength decreases with distance from the charge, following an inverse square law.

The direction of the electric field can be represented by electric field lines. Electric field lines are drawn to show the direction of the electric field at different points in space. The lines always point away from positive charges and towards negative charges. The density of the lines represents the strength of the electric field, with denser lines indicating a stronger field.

In summary, the direction of an electric field is determined by the direction of the force on a positive test charge. The strength of the electric field is determined by the magnitude of the charge creating the field and the distance from the charge. Electric field lines can be used to represent the direction and strength of the electric field.