The electric field direction due to a positive point charge at a location is:

The electric field direction due to a positive point charge at a location is:

• A. Away from the charge
• B. Toward the charge
• C. Tangential to the radius
• D. Perpendicular to the radius

Answer: (A)

The electric field from a positive point charge points directly away from the charge. This follows from the field definition E = F/q: a positive test charge placed in the field experiences a force in the same direction as the field, so it would be pushed outward, away from the source. The field lines for a positive charge radiate outward in all directions. Directions tangent to the radius or perpendicular to the radius do not match this radial, outward direction, so they are not correct descriptions of the field for a positive point charge.

The electric field from a positive point charge points directly away from the charge. This follows from the field definition E = F/q: a positive test charge placed in the field experiences a force in the same direction as the field, so it would be pushed outward, away from the source. The field lines for a positive charge radiate outward in all directions. Directions tangent to the radius or perpendicular to the radius do not match this radial, outward direction, so they are not correct descriptions of the field for a positive point charge.