Elektriväljal

Elektriväljal is the Estonian term for an electric field, a vector field that represents the force exerted on electric charges at each point in space. The field originates from static electric charges or time‑varying magnetic fields according to Maxwell’s equations. The magnitude of the electric field at a point is defined as the force experienced by a unit positive test charge placed at that point and is measured in volts per meter (V m⁻¹).

Mathematically, for a point charge Q the electric field vector E is given by Coulomb’s law: E = (1/4πϵ₀)(Q/r²) r̂, where ϵ₀ is the vacuum permittivity, r the distance from the charge, and r̂ a unit vector pointing outward. For distributed charges, the field is obtained by integrating the contributions of all infinitesimal elements. In the presence of a conductor, the field is perpendicular to the surface and its component parallel to the surface is zero. In media with relative permittivity ϵ_r, the field is reduced by the factor ϵ_r compared to vacuum.

Practical applications of electric fields include electrostatic precipitators in pollution control, electrophoresis in biochemistry, and various sensing technologies such as electric field sensors used in aircraft navigation and communication systems. In electronics, the electric field governs the operation of capacitors, transistors, and other semiconductor devices.

Safety considerations: sustained exposure to high‑intensity electric fields can lead to neurological and muscular effects in humans. International guidelines set occupational exposure limits around 10 kV m⁻¹. Adequate shielding, grounding, and adherence to safety standards protect workers from harmful effects.