What problem might occur if one should use a large test charge to measure an electric field?

2 ⤊

What problem might occur if one should use a large test charge to measure an electric field?

2007-01-25 07:13:38 · 2 answers · asked by sorida 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics

2 answers

The electric field, to be measured, will be influenced/modified/altered by this test charge leading to incorrect measurement/result.

2007-01-25 07:28:38 · answer #1 · answered by Sandeep K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋

The test charge has an electric field itself, which is "added" in a sense to the electric field that is being tested. This addition is addition of vectors, if you are curious, but anyway, any test charge used for this purpose distorts what you are trying to measure.

2007-01-25 15:31:59 · answer #2 · answered by Tony O 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋