IGCSE 0625 / Section 4.2.1 / Extended
Supplement (Extended) content

The reach of a charge.

A charge does not need to touch another to push it. It fills the space around itself with an electric field, a sort of invisible reach, and any charge that wanders in feels a force at once.

The key idea

An electric field is a region where an electric charge experiences a force. Field lines point in the direction of the force on a positive charge, so they point away from a positive charge and toward a negative one. Around a point charge the field is radial; between parallel plates it is uniform.

Definition · learn the exact words

An electric field is a region where an electric charge experiences a force. The field lines show the direction of the force on a positive charge, pointing away from positive and toward negative.

away from + · toward −

Around a point charge the field is radial; between two oppositely charged parallel plates it is uniform.

Section 01

Map the field around charges.

Place charges and plates and watch the field lines and the force on a small positive test charge.

Stage 1 · Learn

Check electric fields

Four quick checks. Each correct answer earns XP and lights this skill on your star map.

Quick check+10 XP

An electric field is a region where a charge experiences...

Quick check+10 XP

Electric field lines point...

Quick check+10 XP

The electric field around an isolated positive point charge is...

Quick check+10 XP

Between two oppositely charged parallel plates the field is...

Section 02

Two patterns to know.

A single charge gives a radial pattern, parallel plates give a uniform field.

Examiner trap

Field lines show the direction of the force on a positive charge, so they leave a positive charge and enter a negative one. They never cross, and where they are closer the field is stronger.

Stage 2 · Exam

Exam-style questions

Unlocks once the four checks above are done. Worth more XP, written in the style of Paper 2.

Finish the four checks above to unlock the exam questions
Exam style+20 XP

A small positive charge is placed between a positive plate and a negative plate. The force on it points...

Exam style+20 XP

Field lines are drawn around a negative point charge. They point...

Exam style+20 XP

Two electric field lines are shown crossing. This is wrong because field lines...

Skill unlocked

Electric fields, mastered.

Electric fields are mapped. Keep the chain going.

-Rank -Level -Score -Topics
Go deeper · practice
Six original Cambridge-style questions
The electric field as a region of force, field line direction, and the radial and uniform patterns. Attempt each, then reveal the worked solution.
Stage 3 · master the unit
Electricity and magnetism challenge
Mixed questions across the whole unit, each one worth XP. Start this only when you feel confident across every topic in the unit, not just electric fields.
Start the unit challenge →