How will changing the distance change the electric field strength for a given charge?
To understand how changing the distance affects the electric field strength for a given charge, we need to consider the equation for electric field strength. The electric field strength (E) is given by the formula:
E = k * Q / r^2
Where:
- E is the electric field strength
- k is the electrostatic constant (a constant value in physics)
- Q is the magnitude of the charge
- r is the distance between the charge and the point where the electric field is measured
Now, let's analyze the relationship between distance (r) and electric field strength (E) for a fixed charge (Q):
1. As the distance (r) increases:
- Since r is in the denominator of the equation, as it increases, the whole fraction (Q / r^2) decreases.
- As a result, the electric field strength (E) decreases.
2. As the distance (r) decreases:
- Conversely, when the distance decreases, the fraction (Q / r^2) increases, leading to an increase in electric field strength.
In summary, changing the distance for a given charge affects the electric field strength inversely. Specifically, as the distance increases, the electric field strength decreases, and as the distance decreases, the electric field strength increases.