A-Level Physics Revision — Electric Fields

Revise Electric Fields for A-Level Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.

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Topic explanation

What is Electric Fields?

This topic introduces electric fields, which are created by charged objects and exert forces on other charges. It runs parallel to the study of gravitational fields, introducing Coulomb's Law (an inverse square law for the force between point charges), electric field strength, and electric potential. You will learn to analyse both uniform electric fields (between parallel plates) and radial fields (around point charges).

Board notes: Electric fields are a major A-Level topic for all exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR), with strong parallels to the gravitational fields topic. All boards cover Coulomb's Law, field strength, potential, and the motion of charged particles in uniform and radial fields. The comparison between electric and gravitational fields is a common theme.

Step-by-step explanation

Worked examples

Worked example

Two point charges of +2.0 nC and -3.0 nC are separated by a distance of 4.0 cm. To find the electrostatic force between them, use Coulomb's Law: F = kQ1Q2/r². The constant k is 8.99 x 10^9 N m²/C². Convert charges to Coulombs and distance to metres. F = (8.99 x 10^9 * 2.0 x 10^-9 * -3.0 x 10^-9) / (0.040)². This gives F ≈ -3.37 x 10^-5 N. The negative sign indicates an attractive force.

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Common mistakes

1Confusing the direction of the electric field with the direction of the force on a negative charge. Electric field lines show the direction of the force on a *positive* test charge. The force on a negative charge, like an electron, is in the opposite direction to the field lines.
2Mixing up electric potential and electric field strength. Electric field strength is a vector quantity (force per unit charge), whereas electric potential is a scalar quantity (energy per unit charge).
3Incorrectly calculating the force in a uniform field. In a uniform field between parallel plates, the electric field strength E is constant, and the force on a charge q is simply F = Eq. The inverse square law does not apply here.

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Frequently asked questions

What is an electric field?
An electric field is a region of space around a charged object where another charged object will experience an electrostatic force. It is a vector field represented by field lines.
What is electric potential?
Electric potential at a point is the work done per unit positive charge in bringing a small test charge from infinity to that point. It is a scalar quantity measured in volts (V).

What is Electric Fields?

Step-by-step explanation

Worked examples

Worked example

Common mistakes

1Confusing the direction of the electric field with the direction of the force on a negative charge. Electric field lines show the direction of the force on a *positive* test charge. The force on a negative charge, like an electron, is in the opposite direction to the field lines.

2Mixing up electric potential and electric field strength. Electric field strength is a vector quantity (force per unit charge), whereas electric potential is a scalar quantity (energy per unit charge).

3Incorrectly calculating the force in a uniform field. In a uniform field between parallel plates, the electric field strength E is constant, and the force on a charge q is simply F = Eq. The inverse square law does not apply here.

Frequently asked questions

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a region of space around a charged object where another charged object will experience an electrostatic force. It is a vector field represented by field lines.

What is electric potential?

Electric potential at a point is the work done per unit positive charge in bringing a small test charge from infinity to that point. It is a scalar quantity measured in volts (V).