what are the basic similarities and differences between an electric field and a magnetic field?

Answer 1

~Alfalfa grows well in either, but corn won't grow in a magnetic field and oats will, but oats won't grow in an electric field and corn will.

Answer 2

Both produce forces on charges.

The charges have to be moving in the case of the magnetic field in order for there to be a force.

In the case of the electric field, the force is either parallel (for positive charges) or antiparallel (for negative charges) to the electric field.

In the case of the magnetic field, the force is always perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the direction of motion.

The "slap rule" give you the direction of the force for the magnetic field. The "slap rule" goes like this: you put your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field lines (lots of lines, lots of fingers), your thumb in the direction of the motion (one direction of motion, one thumb) and then you slap in the direction of the force (use a backhanded slap if the charge is negative).

An electric field is produced by a static or moving charge.
A magnetic field is produced by moving charges.

Changing electric fields produce magnetic fields.
Changing magnetic fields produce electric fields.