An electron's electric field points in which direction?

An electron's electric field points in which direction?

• A. Toward it
• B. Away from it
• C. Perpendicular
• D. Circular

Answer: (A)

Electric field direction is defined as the direction a positive test charge would experience a force. An electron is negatively charged, so its field lines point toward the electron, attracting positive charges. Therefore, the electric field around an electron points inward toward the electron at every point in space. The field from a negative charge is radial and inward; fields pointing away, perpendicular, or circular do not describe the field of a lone point charge like an electron.

Electric field direction is defined as the direction a positive test charge would experience a force. An electron is negatively charged, so its field lines point toward the electron, attracting positive charges. Therefore, the electric field around an electron points inward toward the electron at every point in space. The field from a negative charge is radial and inward; fields pointing away, perpendicular, or circular do not describe the field of a lone point charge like an electron.