An electric field is a region in which an electric charged particle experiences an electric force.
Electric field is represented by a number of lines with arrows, called electric lines of force or electric field lines.
The direction of the field at a point is defined by the direction of the electric force exerted on a positive test charge placed at that point.
The strength of the electric field is indicated by how close the field lines are to each other. The closer the field lines, the stronger the electric field in that region. Example
The lines of force are directed outwards for a positive charge and inwards for a negative charge.
The electric line of force will never cross each other.
The figure shows a few examples of the field pattern that you need to know in the SPM syllabus.
