Question

What are the basic similarities and differences between an electric field and a magnetic field?

Answer 1

Similarities;

Electric Field	Magnetic Field
It is generated around electric charge	It is generated around moving electric charges and magnets
The electric field strength is measured in units Newton/Colomb or Volts/meter	The magnetic field strength is measured in units Gauss or Tesla

Unlike charges repel, like charges repel each other	Unlike poles attract, like poles repel each other
It is a vector field	It is a vector field
Field strength decreases with distance from the source	Field strength decreases with distance from the source
Exists even when there is no current flow	Doesn't exists without current flow

Differences;

Electric field	Magnetic field
Electric force acts in the direction of electric field	Magnetic force acts perpendicular to the magnetic field
F=qE	F=qvBSin
It is perpendicular to magnetic filed in a coil	it is perpendicular to electric field in a coil
a charged particle moves in a straight line along electric field	a charged particle moves perpendicular to the magnetic field in a circular motion
The electric field does work in displacing a charged particle	The magnetic field does no work when a charged particle is displaced
It is shielded by conducting objects such as metals, trees, buildings	Not easily shielded