How can I find the energy stored in a static electric field?

Question

badhi · Answer

fields does not contain energy only the particles can have energy. For example in gravitational field a particle with a mass can contain energy. In a electric field, a particle with a electric charge can have energy. Also, we cannot represent energy as a absolute value. It is relative to a reference.

vincent-lyon.fr · Answer

This is not correct.
Where there is field, there is energy.

In case of an electric field, energy per unit volume is:

$\LARGE \frac {\epsilon_oE^2}{2}$

In case of a magnetic field, energy per unit volume is:

$\LARGE \frac {B^2}{2\mu_o}$

This is how you work out for instance the energy carried by an electromagnetic wave, but it also applies to static problems.

anonymous · Answer

note: you might want to derive the above eq with the fact that W=QV so that you can get a more thorough understanding.