Electric field E is defined as the force Fe on a test charge q0 divided by q0, and its direction corresponds to the force on a positive test charge.

Electric field E is defined as the force Fe on a test charge q0 divided by q0, and its direction corresponds to the force on a positive test charge.

• A. E is a scalar quantity.
• B. E has no direction.
• C. E equals the potential energy per charge.
• D. E is a vector defined as Fe/q0 with direction equal to the force on a positive test charge.

Answer: (D)

Electric field is a vector field that tells us the force a unit positive test charge would feel at each point in space. It is defined as E = Fe / q0, and its direction is the same as the force on a positive test charge. This means E has both magnitude and direction, so it isn’t a scalar and it isn’t directionless. It isn’t the potential energy per charge—that quantity is electric potential (voltage), not the field. The statement that matches the definition describes E as a vector given by Fe divided by q0, with its direction aligned with the force on a positive test charge.

Electric field is a vector field that tells us the force a unit positive test charge would feel at each point in space. It is defined as E = Fe / q0, and its direction is the same as the force on a positive test charge. This means E has both magnitude and direction, so it isn’t a scalar and it isn’t directionless. It isn’t the potential energy per charge—that quantity is electric potential (voltage), not the field. The statement that matches the definition describes E as a vector given by Fe divided by q0, with its direction aligned with the force on a positive test charge.