Trajectory of a Test Charge in an Electric Field

negative (blue) charge

q

1

1

positive (red) charge

q

2

-1

test charge

negative

positive

This Demonstration computes the path a test charge would take in the electric field of two fixed-point charges. Blue and red indicate a negative and positive charge, respectively. Use the controls "

q

1

", "

q

2

" and "test charge" to change the magnitudes of the charges. Drag the locators to change the positions of the charges. The path is shown as a black curve.