Electric charge — Describe

Describe the electric field pattern, including direction, (a) around a point charge, (b) around a charged conducting sphere, and (c) between two oppositely charged parallel plates.

(a) Around a point charge, field lines radiate outward from the charge (if positive) or inward towards it (if negative), like spokes, spreading further apart (weaker field) with increasing distance. (b) Around a charged conducting sphere, the pattern is the same as for a point charge - field lines radiate radially outward (positive) or inward (negative), as if all the charge were concentrated at the centre. (c) Between two oppositely charged parallel plates, the field lines are straight, parallel and evenly spaced, pointing from the positive plate to the negative plate, showing a uniform field.