Coulomb field from static charge
In vacuum electrostatics, a point charge q at r′ produces E(r)=q(r−r′)/(4πε₀|r−r′|³).
Key knowledge
In vacuum electrostatics, a point charge q at r′ produces E(r)=q(r−r′)/(4πε₀|r−r′|³). Extended charge fields follow the corresponding integral over ρ(r′); scalar potential is the integral of ρ/(4πε₀|r−r′|), with the chosen infinity boundary condition.
Values and equations
E(r)=∫ρ(r′)(r−r′)/(4πε₀|r−r′|³)d³r′; φ(r)=∫ρ(r′)/(4πε₀|r−r′|)d³r′
- E
- Electric field V m⁻¹
- φ
- Electric potential V
- ρ
- Charge density C m⁻³
- r,r′
- Position vectors m
- ε₀
- Vacuum permittivity F m⁻¹
Conditions and scope
- Static charges in vacuum, integrable localized source and zero potential at infinity; point-source position is excluded from the ordinary field formula.
- Conductors, dielectric interfaces and other boundaries require induced charges or a boundary-value solution; simply substituting a permittivity is not generally sufficient.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Richard Fitzpatrick / University of Texas at Austin2 sources
Evidence and review
Classical Electromagnetism (2014): Coulomb's law: Equations 148–152: point-charge field and superposition. Classical Electromagnetism (2014): Poisson's equation: Whole-space zero-at-infinity Green solution, equation 147.
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial review: All 136 unique authored Physics compact statements, all hypotheses and displayed equations/variable/units tables, all 192 Physics-origin semantic links, exact 165 author inspection matrix and mapped retained conceptual claims have been independently read. Three Physics-tagged Measurement realization records are delegated to root Measurement review. Scientific source verification combines exact author section inspection with independent whole compact-content/semantic review and targeted primary rechecks recorded below; it does not claim each full source body was independently reread. Independent AI editorial review is not human specialist certification or experimental replication. Field inventory is approved after independently reviewing the two added source-inspected band-construction methods. Receipt: physics-independent-content-inventory-review.1.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- physics-coulomb-source-field
- Revision
- university-core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion