I am studying for a physics exam next Monday and I need tounderstand this concept a hell of lot better than I do. Hopefullysomeone on here can dumb it down for me.
My textbook says the following:
1. If the probe charge q is positive, the electric fieldvector points in the same direction as the force on the charge; ifnegative, the electric field vector points opposite theforce.
What is this really saying? I don't understand.
2. For the equation, Electric field = K|q|/r^2 , theelectric field is going away from q if q>0, and the electricfield is going toward q if q<0.
I don't understand this either. Is the electric field going awayfrom q because the electric field is negative and q is positive,thus q is attracted to the field? If q is negative then the fieldis going to be going toward q because it's being repelled from thenegative field?
I just want tounderstand the two bolded concepts above and how they relate toeach other, if they in fact do. My job does a horrible job atexplaining it.
Thanks.
