Question

What does the symbol ε₀ represent in the electric field formula?

Options

• The total electric charge in the system

• The distance from the charge to point P

• Permittivity of free space

• The unit vector direction

Answer 1

The symbol ε₀ (epsilon naught) represents the permittivity of free space, which is a fundamental physical constant. It appears in the denominator of Coulomb's constant, \[\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\], which has a value of approximately 9 × 10⁹ Nm²C⁻².