Question

What is the basic unit of electric field intensity?

Answer 1

The basic unit of electric field intensity in the International System of Units (SI) is the volt per meter (V/m).

To understand this, it's helpful to break down the concept of electric field intensity itself:

1. **Electric Field Intensity**: This is a measure of the force per unit charge exerted on a positive test charge placed in an electric field. It describes how strong the electric field is at a particular point in space.

2. **Unit Breakdown**:
   - **Volt (V)**: This is a unit of electric potential. One volt is defined as one joule of energy per coulomb of charge.
   - **Meter (m)**: This is the unit of distance or length.

3. **Relation**: Electric field intensity \( \mathbf{E} \) is defined mathematically as the force \( \mathbf{F} \) per unit positive charge \( q \) placed in the field. Its formula is given by:
   \[
   \mathbf{E} = \frac{\mathbf{F}}{q}
   \]
   - The unit of force is the newton (N).
   - The unit of charge is the coulomb (C).

   So, the electric field intensity can be expressed in terms of these units as:
   \[
   \text{Electric field intensity} = \frac{\text{Force (N)}}{\text{Charge (C)}}
   \]
   Since 1 volt is equivalent to 1 joule per coulomb, and 1 joule is 1 newton meter, you can also express the electric field intensity as:
   \[
   \text{Electric field intensity} = \frac{\text{Voltage (V)}}{\text{Distance (m)}}
   \]
   Therefore, the unit of electric field intensity is volts per meter (V/m), which directly relates the potential difference (voltage) to the distance over which it acts.

Answer 2

The basic unit of electric field intensity is the volt per meter (V/m). This unit measures the force per unit charge experienced by a charged particle in an electric field.