Physlet Illustration: Electric Field Lines and Flux

 

 
Q1= mC  Q2= mC 
In this simulation, two charged particles are shown, along with electric field lines. Q1 is located at the point (1,0) and Q2 is located at the point (7,0).  Can you verify the rules for electric field lines? 

Hints:

  1. Which direction do the field lines go?  How is this related to the direction of the electric field?  The force on a positive test charge?
  2. Change the values of the charges (-10 mC < Q1 , Q2 < 10 mC) and see how the number of field lines entering or leaving them changes.
  3. Is this consistent with the rules?

Reference

See Walker, Section 19-5 & 19-7

Illustration written by Chuck Niederriter