why is the force on the -ve charge is opposite to field on it (i ask about the physical meaning not the mathematical)

Question

anonymous · Answer

dear friend atually electric field is defined for a unit positive charge this is the key line now try to understand if u dont get that then i will tell u in detail..........

anonymous · Answer

The direction of electric field is defined for a positive charge..for example if you see the direction of electric field from left to right it means if you a place a positive charge in it the charge will go in the right direction, and if you place a negative charge it will follow the opposite path i.e. towards left

kainui · Answer

Yeah, electric field lines show the direction a positive test charge should go. Messed up, but too late to change because people didn't know electrons existed. Oh well, how was Benjamin Franklin supposed to know?

anonymous · Answer

as a convention electric field lines are defined as the path that a positive charge would follow when placed in a magnetic field. since force on the positive charge is towards the direction of the electric field so the force on a negative charge is opposite to it