In: Physics
Answer: Electric field is defined as the space around a charge within which its effect can be felt. Electric field is expressed or explained in terms of electric lines of force. The region in the field where the field lines are closer, there the electric field is stronger and vice versa. For a positive charge, these electric field lines act outwards from the charge. The positive charge appears as the source of electric lines of force. The tangent to these lines at any point gives the direction of electric field at that point. Therefore the direction of electric field will be outwards at any point for a positive charge. As the sign of the charge is reversed, the field lines will act inwards and hence the direction of electric field will also be inwards. The negative charge then appears as the sink of these electric lines of force. This is how electric field is changed as the charge of the source of the field is reversed.