Calculating Electric Potential : Example Question #6 Three point charges are arranged around the origin, as shown. Calculate the total electric potential at the origin due to the three point charges. To find the total potential at the origin due to the three charges, add the potentials of each charge.

Answers and Replies. There is no charge at the origin. In the formula E = kQ/r2, Q is the charge that is producing the electric field.

The electric field intensity at a point is the force experienced by a unit positive charge placed at that point.

1. Electric Field Intensity is a vector quantity.
2. It is denoted by ‘E’.
3. Formula: Electric Field = F/q.
4. Unit of E is NC-1 or Vm-1.

Properties of Electric Field Lines. Electric field lines never intersect. In an uniform electric field, the field lines are straight, parallel and uniformly spaced. The electric field lines can never form closed loops, as line can never start and end on the same charge.

The electric field strength is exactly proportional to the number of field lines per unit area, since the magnitude of the electric field for a point charge is E=k|Q|r2 E = k | Q | r 2 and area is proportional to r2.

Field lines should always be crossing each other. Field lines should always be perpendicular to each other.

When charged particles are close enough to exert force on each other, their electric fields interact. The lines of force bend together when particles with different charges attract each other. The lines bend apart when particles with like charges repel each other.

of electric field lines determines the electric field strength sign of charge determines whether lines originate or terminate on a charge.