Test Charge

Definition

A test charge refers to a small positive or negative charge used to measure electric fields or determine properties of charged objects. It is typically assumed to have negligible influence on the electric field itself.

Related terms

Electric Field: A region around a charged particle or group of particles where other charged particles experience a force.

Coulomb's Law: Describes the electrostatic interaction between two charged objects based on their charges and distance between them.

Electric Potential Energy: The energy associated with an electrically charged particle due to its position relative to other charged particles in an electric field.