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The positively charged particle shown in the diagram at left creates an electric field vector at location a. What is the direction of the vector at location a?

1) Upwards
2) Downwards
3) Towards the left
4) Towards the right

User ImGroot
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The direction of the electric field vector created by a positively charged particle at a given location is radially outward from the charge. It points away from the particle in a straight line.

Step-by-step explanation:

The direction of an electric field vector around a positively charged particle is radially outward from the charge. So, if a positively charged particle is creating an electric field at location a, the direction of the electric field vector at location a will depend on the position of a relative to the charged particle. If the location a is above, below, or to any side of the positively charged particle, the electric field vector at location a will point directly away from the particle in a straight line, along a radius extending from the particle. Therefore, if a is to the right of the positively charged particle, the electric field vector at location a would be pointing to the right.

User Xupitan
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