Questions tagged [electric-fields]
For questions that utilize the concept of electric fields (commonly denoted by the letter E), or for questions whose answers likely involve electric fields. More specific than the [electricity] tag, as questions about the phenomenon & theory of electricity do not necessarily involve the discussion of fields.
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Why can't electrostatic field lines form closed loops?
My physics textbook says "Electrostatic field lines do not form closed loops. This is a consequence of the conservative nature of electric field." But I can't quite understand this. Can anyone ...
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How is the curl of the electric field possible?
Taking the curl of the electric field must be possible, because Faraday's law involves it:
$$\nabla \times \mathbf{E} = - \partial \mathbf{B} / \partial t$$
But I've just looked on Wikipedia, where it ...
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Does a Faraday cage block magnetic field?
I want to block the magnetic field of a very strong magnet, can I put it inside a Faraday cage to block its magnetic field?
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Reduction of Maxwell's equations to classical circuit theory
Can classical circuit theory based on lumped element models be obtained from Maxwell's equations as a limiting case in an appropriate sense?
If this is the case, what exactly are all the assumptions ...
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What is the physical meaning of the energy density of an electrostatic field?
I understand the physical meaning of electrostatic energy of a system of charges (or a distribution with given density) as the energy stored in the system while working to carry the charges from ...
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Why do electric field lines curve at the edges of a uniform electric field?
I see a lot of images, including one in my textbook, like this one, where at the ends of a uniform field, field lines curve.
However, I know that field lines are perpendicular to the surface. The ...
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Why can two (or more) electric field lines never cross?
The the title is self explanatory, I guess.
Why can two (or more) electric field lines never cross?
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How can electric field be defined as force per charge, if the charge makes its own, singular electric field?
The electric field $\bf{E}$ represents how much force would act on a particle at a certain position per unit charge.
However, if we actually place a particle in that position, the electric field will ...
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What is the difference between an electric and a magnetic field? [closed]
This question is a consequence of another question of mine which is about spin.
Here is my spin question.
What is the difference between these two fields? How do they occur? Am I right if I say that ...
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What does the complex electric field show?
We have a complex electric field. Is there any definition for absolute and imaginary part of a complex electric field? What do they stand for?
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Can the magnetic lines of force of two or more magnets intersect each other?
Basic property of magnetic lines of force is that, they can never intersect each other. Among the two points given below, which one is correct?
Magnetic lines of force of same magnet can't intersect ...
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Electric Field inside a regular polygon with corner charges
If we have equal charges located at the corners of a regular polygon, then the electric field at its center is zero. Are there other points inside a polygon where the field vanishes?
The simplest ...
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Why is the conductor an equipotential surface in electrostatics?
Since the electric field inside a conductor is zero that means the potential is constant inside a conductor, which means the "inside" of a conductor is an equal potential region.
Why do books also ...
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Influence of charged particle's own electric field on itself
I read this in my textbook: A charged particle or object is not affected by its own electric field.
Since I find this completely unintuitive and my mind is yelling "wrong! wrong! how could a particle ...
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Is force due to electric field instantaneous? If not then why?
Suppose a charge $q$ is experiencing a force due to charge $Q$. Suppose we move the charge $Q$ very slowly (no acceleration) what's the instantaneous impact on the charge $q$? How will the $q$ react?