A proton's electric field points in which direction?

A proton's electric field points in which direction?

• A. Toward it
• B. Perpendicular
• C. No direction
• D. Away from it

Answer: (D)

The electric field of a positive point charge points away from the charge. Since a proton is positively charged, it creates a field that pushes positive test charges outward. By definition, the electric field at any point is the force a positive test charge would experience per unit charge, so the field lines radiate outward from the proton. That means the direction of the field is away from the proton. The other choices would imply attraction, a direction perpendicular to the radial line, or no field at all, which don’t describe the field of a positive point charge.

The electric field of a positive point charge points away from the charge. Since a proton is positively charged, it creates a field that pushes positive test charges outward. By definition, the electric field at any point is the force a positive test charge would experience per unit charge, so the field lines radiate outward from the proton. That means the direction of the field is away from the proton. The other choices would imply attraction, a direction perpendicular to the radial line, or no field at all, which don’t describe the field of a positive point charge.