The Point Charge Electric Field JavaScript model shows the electric field from one or more point charges. The simulation displays the electric field using color-coded unit vectors together with a draggable an test charge and its force vector. The field magnitude is shown in a yellow message box near the bottom of the view as the test charge is dragged.
The Coulomb's Law and Electric Field JavaScript model was developed using version 5 of the Easy Java Simulations (EJS 5) modeling tool. Although EJS is a Java program, EJS 5 creates stand-alone JavaScript programs that run in almost any browser.
Electric Field with Moving Test Charges
Explore electric field properties by allowing test charges to move under the influence of the field. download 295kb .zip
Last Modified: August 27, 2016
Point Charge Electric Field Source Code
This source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Point Charge Electric Field JS Model. Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run this model using EJS 5. Although EJS is a Java program, EJS 5 creates a stand alone JavaScript program from this source code. download 85kb .zip
Last Modified: August 18, 2016
previous versions
Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions (MS-PS2)
Students who demonstrate understanding can: (6-8)
Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces. (MS-PS2-3)
Disciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)
Types of Interactions (PS2.B)
Electric and magnetic (electromagnetic) forces can be attractive or repulsive, and their sizes depend on the magnitudes of the charges, currents, or magnetic strengths involved and on the distances between the interacting objects. (6-8)
Attraction and repulsion between electric charges at the atomic scale explain the structure, properties, and transformations of matter, as well as the contact forces between material objects. (9-12)
Crosscutting Concepts (K-12)
Patterns (K-12)
Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships. (6-8)
Different patterns may be observed at each of the scales at which a system is studied and can provide evidence for causality in explanations of phenomena. (9-12)
Cause and Effect (K-12)
Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural systems. (6-8)
Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system. (9-12)
Structure and Function (K-12)
Complex and microscopic structures and systems can be visualized, modeled, and used to describe how their function depends on the relationships among its parts, therefore complex natural structures/systems can be analyzed to determine how they function. (6-8)
Scientific Knowledge Assumes an Order and Consistency in Natural Systems (1-12)
Science assumes that objects and events in natural systems occur in consistent patterns that are understandable through measurement and observation. (6-8)
Science assumes the universe is a vast single system in which basic laws are consistent. (9-12)
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)
Analyzing and Interpreting Data (K-12)
Analyzing data in 6–8 builds on K–5 and progresses to extending quantitative analysis to investigations, distinguishing between correlation and causation, and basic statistical techniques of data and error analysis. (6-8)
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena. (6-8)
Analyzing data in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to introducing more detailed statistical analysis, the comparison of data sets for consistency, and the use of models to generate and analyze data. (9-12)
Analyze data using computational models in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims. (9-12)
Developing and Using Models (K-12)
Modeling in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural and designed worlds. (9-12)
Use a model to predict the relationships between systems or between components of a system. (9-12)
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)
11. Common Themes
11B. Models
6-8: 11B/M1. Models are often used to think about processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small a scale to observe directly. They are also used for processes that are too vast, too complex, or too dangerous to study.
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)
4. THE PHYSICAL SETTING
G. Forces of Nature
4G (9-12) #3. There are two kinds of charges?positive and negative. Like charges repel one another, opposite charges attract. In materials, there are almost exactly equal proportions of positive and negative charges, making the materials as a whole electrically neutral. Negative charges, being associated with electrons, are far more mobile in materials than positive charges are. A very small excess or deficit of negative charges in a material produces noticeable electric forces.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/OSP/items/detail.cfm?ID=14060">Christian, Wolfgang, and Anne Cox. "Point Charge Electric Field JS Model." Version 1.0.</a>
W. Christian and A. Cox, Computer Program POINT CHARGE ELECTRIC FIELD JS MODEL, Version 1.0 (2016), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455).
W. Christian and A. Cox, Computer Program POINT CHARGE ELECTRIC FIELD JS MODEL, Version 1.0 (2016), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455>.
Christian, W., & Cox, A. (2016). Point Charge Electric Field JS Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455
Christian, Wolfgang, and Anne Cox. "Point Charge Electric Field JS Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455 (accessed 3 December 2024).
Christian, Wolfgang, and Anne Cox. Point Charge Electric Field JS Model. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2016. 3 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455>.
%A Wolfgang Christian %A Anne Cox %T Point Charge Electric Field JS Model %D August 16, 2016 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455 %O 1.0 %O text/html
%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %A Cox, Anne %D August 16, 2016 %T Point Charge Electric Field JS Model %7 1.0 %8 August 16, 2016 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14060&DocID=4455
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The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the Coulomb's Law and Electric Fields JS Model.
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