However, both the concepts are wonderfully correlated and have played important roles in plenty of path breaking innovations. The electric field is actually the force per unit charge experienced by a non moving point charge at any given location within the field, whereas the magnetic field is detected by the force it exerts on other magnetic particles and moving electric charges. The strength of an electric field is represented by Newton per Coulomb or Volts per Meter. The strength of the magnetic field is represented by either gauss or Tesla. The units which represent the strengths of the electric and magnetic field are also different.
![magnetic fieldlines magnetic fieldlines](https://ds055uzetaobb.cloudfront.net/image_optimizer/b9f63655e490a0340fc79f3ba26b921908e1ada0.jpg)
In an electromagnetic field, the directions in which the electric and magnetic field move, are perpendicular to each other. A magnetic field is one that’s created around a permanent magnetic substance or a moving electrically charged object. Electric fields can also be shielded by many objects, such as trees or the walls of a building.Īn electric field is essentially a force field that’s created around an electrically charged particle. The strength of an electric field decreases rapidly as you move away from the source. Electric field strength is measured in volts per meter (V/m). You can think of electric voltage as the pressure of water in a garden hose – the higher the voltage, the stronger the electric field strength. Electric fields are created around appliances and wires wherever a voltage exists. Magnetic fields are measured in milliGauss (mG).Īn electric field occurs wherever a voltage is present. As the amount of current flowing increases, the level of magnetic field increases. This can also be thought of as the flow of water in a garden hose. Magnetic fields are created whenever there is a flow of electric current. Without the electric field, the magnetic field exists in permanent magnets and electric fields exist in the form of static electricity, in absence of the magnetic field.įrom the website of Puget Sound Energy (PSE), here are explanations for electric and magnetic fields, what they are and how they are produced: However, they are not dependant on each other.
![magnetic fieldlines magnetic fieldlines](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3F2qp.png)
In this field, the electric field and the magnetic field move at right angles to each other. Therefore, they are inter-related in a field called the electromagnetic field. They are two different fields with nearly the same characteristics. Positive charges are drawn towards it, while negative charges are repelled.Ī moving charge always has both a magnetic and an electric field, and that’s precisely the reason why they are associated with each other. Electric fields are generated around particles that bear electric charge. Magnetic fields also generate power in particles which come in contact with it. When iron particles are placed over a magnet, the flux lines can be clearly seen. The closer the lines, the stronger the magnetic field and vice versa. The direction of the magnetic field is also indicated by these lines. The presence and strength of a magnetic field is denoted by “magnetic flux lines”. It is produced by moving electric charges.
![magnetic fieldlines magnetic fieldlines](https://www.jagranjosh.com/imported/images/E/Articles/Magnetic-field-lines-due-to-a-bar-magnet-and-solenoid.1.png)
The area around a magnet within which magnetic force is exerted, is called a magnetic field.