Question

In the electric field formula, what does the symbol \[\hat r_i\]P represent?

Options

• The unit vector from q_i to point P

• Distance from charge q_i to point P

• The resultant electric field at point P

• The i-th source charge in the system

Answer 1

The symbol \[\hat r_i\]P represents the distance between the i-th source charge (q_i) and the point of interest (P). This distance is squared in the denominator of the electric field formula, reflecting the inverse-square nature of Coulomb's law.