Note that the electric field is defined for a positive test charge q, so that the field lines point away from a positive charge and toward a negative charge. (Figure \PageIndex2) The electri...Note that the electric field is defined for a positive test charge q, so that the field lines point away from a positive charge and toward a negative charge. (Figure \PageIndex2) The electric field strength is exactly proportional to the number of field lines per unit area, since the magnitude of the electric field for a point charge is E=k|Q|/r2 and area is proportional to r2.
