In a region where the electric field is uniform and points in the +x direction,the electric potential is -2000 V at x = 8 m and is +400 V at x = 2 m.What is the magnitude of the electric field?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electric field is given by the change in potential over the change in distance:
E = ΔV/Δx

ΔV = (+400 V) - (-2000 V) = 2400 V
Δx = (2 m) - (8 m) = -6 m (magnitude)

Note that the magnitude of Δx is used, since we are only interested in the magnitude of the electric field.

Therefore, the electric field is:
E = (2400 V) / (-6 m) = -400 V/m

However, since the electric field is given to be in the +x direction, we take the magnitude:
|E| = 400 V/m

In a Region Where the Electric Field Is Uniform and Points