1. What is the Electric Field Equation?

The electric field equation \( E = \frac{\sigma}{2 \varepsilon_0} \) calculates the electric field near an infinite plane of charge, where σ is the surface charge density and ε₀ is the vacuum permittivity.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electric field equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Electric field (V/m)
• \( \sigma \) — Surface charge density (C/m²)
• \( \varepsilon_0 \) — Vacuum permittivity (8.85 × 10⁻¹² F/m)

Explanation: The equation shows that the electric field is directly proportional to the surface charge density and inversely proportional to the permittivity of free space.

3. Importance of Electric Field Calculation

Details: Calculating electric fields is fundamental in electromagnetism, important for designing capacitors, understanding atmospheric electricity, and analyzing charged particle behavior.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter surface charge density in C/m² and vacuum permittivity in F/m (default value is 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F/m). All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is surface charge density?
A: Surface charge density (σ) is the amount of electric charge per unit area on a surface, measured in coulombs per square meter (C/m²).

Q2: What is vacuum permittivity?
A: Vacuum permittivity (ε₀) is a physical constant that describes how electric fields interact with the vacuum of space, approximately 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F/m.

Q3: When is this equation valid?
A: This equation is valid for an infinite plane of charge or when the distance from a finite plane is much smaller than the plane's dimensions.

Q4: What are typical electric field values?
A: Electric fields vary widely, from about 100 V/m in Earth's atmosphere to millions of V/m in capacitor dielectrics or lightning.

Q5: How does medium affect the electric field?
A: In materials other than vacuum, replace ε₀ with ε = ε₀εᵣ, where εᵣ is the relative permittivity of the material.