What measure describes the size of an electric field?

Electric field strength is the measure that describes the size of an electric field. It quantifies how strong the electric field is at a given point and is defined as the force experienced by a unit positive charge placed in the field. This strength is typically measured in newtons per coulomb (N/C) and indicates how much force would act on a charged particle in that field.

Understanding electric field strength is essential as it helps to visualize the influence that charges exert on one another, guiding the analysis of how charged objects will interact within the field. The greater the electric field strength, the stronger the force experienced by a charge placed in that field.

While electric energy refers to the potential energy associated with electric charges, and electrical force describes the interaction between charged objects, these concepts do not directly quantify the electric field itself. Electric field lines provide a visual representation of the direction and relative strength of the electric field but do not serve as a measure of its size.