Electric field is a _______a)Scalar quantityb)Vector quantityc)Tensor ...
Electric field is a Vector quantity.
Explanation:
- The electric field is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the influence a charged particle exerts on other charged particles in its vicinity. It is defined as the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge placed at a given point in space.
- The electric field is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. It is represented by an arrow, where the length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the field, and the direction of the arrow represents the direction of the field.
- The magnitude of the electric field is given by the equation E = F/q, where E is the electric field, F is the force experienced by the test charge, and q is the magnitude of the test charge. The direction of the electric field is the same as the direction of the force experienced by a positive test charge placed at that point.
- Since the electric field has both magnitude and direction, it satisfies the properties of a vector quantity. It can be added or subtracted using vector addition rules and can be resolved into components along different axes.
- Additionally, the electric field obeys the principle of superposition, which means that the total electric field at a point due to multiple charges is the vector sum of the electric fields due to each individual charge.
- Scalar quantities, on the other hand, only have magnitude and no direction. Examples of scalar quantities include temperature, mass, and time. Tensor quantities are more complex and involve multiple components and directions, and do not apply to the electric field.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option B, the electric field is a vector quantity.
Electric field is a _______a)Scalar quantityb)Vector quantityc)Tensor ...
A scalar quantity is a quantity with magnitude only but no direction. But a vector quantity possesses both magnitude and direction. An electric field has a very specific direction (away from a positive charge or towards a negative charge). Hence electric field is a vector quantity. Moreover, we have to use a vector addition for adding two electric fields.